Customer Reviews

The Complete c3 Sicilian (New American Bratsford Chess Library)

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The c3 Sicilian has experienced an explosion of new interest in the past several years. I originally took it up because no one was playing it -- now everyone (and everything, ie., DEEP BLUE) is playing it! It was once easy to beat up on Sicilianites using Gary Lane's excellent book, The c3 Sicilian (the only other book on this line worth owning). But 1...c5 players have become more savvy since the 1990 publication of that book. To stay ahead, Chandler's book is a must. He uses 70 complete games and innumerable notes to illustrate the cutting edge of c3 theory as of the date of publication. But beware! Time marches on and some lines have already been reassessed -- the apparently promising idea of 6. Nbd2 in game nine has been torched (8...Qf5!) and the whole idea should be avoided.

This is a well-researched and fairly thorough guide to the Alapin Sicilian, a good opening for those who play 1.e4 but don't want to be overwhelmed by the demands of learning the book on the many "mainline" Sicilians. I have used the opening and this book with good results! While there are newer works on the same opening and the conscientious player must undoubtedly do some updating, this book is a very good place to start.