Popular at the highest levels, the Classical Sicilian is surprisingly neglected in chess literature. Here, Grandmaster Demetrios Agnos finally reveals both the theory concepts behind this well-respected opening.
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Editorial Reviews
From the Back Cover
The Classical Sicilian is one of the most popular openings among top-class grandmasters as Black develops in straightforward and logical fashion. Whether White tries an immediate attack or chooses a quieter approach, Black retains the famed Sicilian counter-punch. The Classical is surprisingly neglected in chess literature; Grandmaster Yrjola finally reveals both the theory and concepts behind this well respected opening, making it accessible to players of all levels. This guide is written by a renowned Classical Sicilian expert, covers all of White's main replies and explains an opening played regularly by Anand, Kramnik and Shirov. (5 3/4 x 8 1/4, 128 pages, diagrams)
About the Author
Finnish Granmaster Youni Yrjola has played the Classical Sicilian with considerable success throughout his career. He has won the Finnish Championship twice, and regards Sochi 1984, where he shared third place with the legendary Mikhail Tal, as his best tournament result.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A good "Easy Guide",
By Armin Namini (Sweden) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Easy Guide to the Classical Sicilian: Including Richter-Rauzer and Sozin Attacks (Paperback)
This is indeed a solid book. It covers the theory very well in a nice way, since he offers explanations after many moves instead of just listing the variations followed by a "with advantage to black".Regarding all major variations, he presents general themes and plans for both sides. There are many diagrams, and in some cases the positions in the diagrams are closely related which helps you understand the connection between some plans.In my opinion, these are very instructive. After each variation is covered, he starts a discussion entitled "Which line to choose in the (for example) Sozin)", where he explains firstly his own view and experience and then generally the differences, which line suits the positional player, the aggressive player, the solid player etc. From someone who has tested different lines in various variations and then read his discussion afterwards, I can say that he is right on many points. Between me and some of my friends, we own all the Easy Guides in the different Sicilian Openings and a few others as well. In my opinion, this one is the best.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Repertoire Book I've Seen,
This review is from: Easy Guide to the Classical Sicilian: Including Richter-Rauzer and Sozin Attacks (Paperback)
Easy Guide to the Classical Sicilian does a good job of balancing the need for general information on an opening, as well as getting into the specifics of each variation. The main strength of this book is that it does not try to take huge shortcuts that would keep you from memorizing a lot of material for the sake of being easier. The main variations are all deeply covered, up to move twenty or so in the h6 Rauzer, which prevents doubled f pawns. Some of his suggestions are not technically the "main line," but they are all lines played by top grandmasters including Shirov, Leko, and Svidler. The variations themselves are easily understandable, even up to an advanced stage. This is because the author does a good job explaining the main ideas before each chapter, so you understand the basic early middlegame plan even if you don't know the exact move at the moment. Another plus is that while it is a repertoire book, there are about 6 different ways you could put the lines together to form a repertoire. For instance, in the Sozin you have both the 5. .. Qb6 line, forcing the knight away, but making the game less concrete, or the dangerous (for both players) early queenside activity lines in the sozin and Velimirovic, as well as the main lines. In the rauzer, you have the plan of h6 to kick out the bishop, or choice of several Bd7 lines, with doubled F pawns. This also isn't a book that tells you that everything you play will be able to counter white, in fact in some places the author tells you that at this point black doesn't have a foolproof answer, but it's going to be that way with every line. If you're not yet facing the open Sicilian much, concentrate on the Anti Siclilians, but if you are facing the open more and more, this is the book for you.
4 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Know thy ennemy like thyself.,
By Jean-Pierre Grenier (Rock Forest, Quebec Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Easy Guide to the Classical Sicilian: Including Richter-Rauzer and Sozin Attacks (Paperback)
As a club player, I am often confronted to Sicilian players. I bought this book to find out what I was supposed to play againt the Sicilian. "Easy guide to the Classical Sicilian" not only shows the main variations on many positions types but more importantly it explains the plans behind these positions (the whats and the whys). For each position-type, Jouni Yrjola present, in an easy to understand way, half a dozen or so "Typical methods for White" and "Typical methods for Black". So this book tricked me, in addition to show me how to play againt Sicilian players, it taught how to become one of them!
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