Starting Out: The Sicilian

Starting Out: The Sicilian by Emms, John. paperback edition. ISBN: 9781857442496.

The Sicilian Defense is perhaps the most famous opening in the history of chess, and it is certainly the most popular at every level. From the first move Black claims his share in the center and constructs an asymmetrical pawn structure. Its greatest attraction is that it allows Black to unbalance the position and play for a win, without having to take any unjustified risks. The many variations of the Sicilian range from the super-solid Scheveningen to the dangerous and ultra-sharp Dragon, so it should be easy to find one that suits your style. In this user-friendly book, Grandmaster John Emms goes back to basics, studying the fundamental principles of the Sicilian Defense in its numerous different guises. Throughout the book there are an abundance of notes, tips, warnings and exercises to help the improving player, while key strategies, ideas and tactics for both sides are clearly illustrated. (6 3/4 x 9 3/4, 176 pages, diagrams)