Mastering the Sicilian (Batsford Chess Books) [Paperback]

Danny Kopec (Author)

Book Description

Series: Batsford Chess Books | Publication Date: June 30, 2003

Explains the opening in terms of typical plans and themes.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Batsford (June 30, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0713484829
• ISBN-13: 978-0713484823
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,095,030 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Danny Kopec is one of the most talented home-bred players in the US. Dr. Kopec was New York High School Champion at 14, National Master at 17, Scottish Champion in 1980, 2nd-equal in the Canadian Closed in 1984, and International Master in 1985. He is an active player, journalist, writer, chess educator and scholar. His competitive results with top-flight chess professionals have always been remarkable. He has also delivered many chess courses, lectures, published seven highly recognized chess books, and has developed eight highly regarded instructional videos (18.5 hours). Over the past 16 years Kopec's Chess Camp, has become world renowned.

In parallel with his chess career, Dr. Kopec has pursued an academic career in computer science with research in artificial intelligence, software methodology, and computer science education. For more than 20 years Kopec has been testing and evaluating hundreds of human and machine chess players in the UK, Canada, and US in order to quantify their overall chess strength, their specific deficiencies and definite abilities. In bridging his chess and academic interests, Kopec has developed a reputation as perhaps the world's greatest exponent of chess knowledge.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good content despite omissions, July 5, 2003

By 

igetair (Chapel Hill, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mastering the Sicilian (Batsford Chess Books) (Paperback)

This book covers certain important aspects of the Sicilian well, namely the Dragon, Kan, and Scheveningen. It also includes a "one size fits all" system against the Closed Sicilian. However, certain aspects of the book are left wanting:

1) It does not provide a great deal of content on the Najdorf, which is one of the most important variations in the Sicilian. It just includes a few games and says "don't attempt without preparation."
2) While it provides a lot of information on the Scheveningen, it does not cover enough on the Keres Attack, which is a very deadly White weapon in this particular variation (in fact, because of it, many transpose into the Schev via the Najdorf by playing ...a6 first).
3) While its one-for-all system against the Closed Sicilian (which the author defines as anything other than 2. Nf3 and 3. d4) is adequate, it does not mention 2. ...d5 3. exd5 Nf6! against the Grand Prix attack, which is a very viable option for Black.
4) It repeats itself a lot in the "mastery" boxes.
5) It does not even mention the Accelerated Dragon.

Despite these pitfalls, the book is well worth reading, especially for those wanting to play the Dragon.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Sicilian strategy and great games., October 27, 2001

By 

Edwin Carcao Guerra (Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mastering the Sicilian (Batsford Chess Books) (Paperback)

As a Sicilian player this book was very helpfull. It will not cover a lot of lines but it will explain the strategy concepts of the different variations like the Scheveningen, the Najdorf, the Dragon, the Paulsen, the Closed Sistems, the Grand Prix attack etc. If you are alreday an experiencied sicilian player this book will help you very much to improve and understand the posotions arising during the games. On the other hand the games are vey good: Karpov, Kasparov, Kramnik, Fischer, Kopec, Taimanov, etc. All of them are real struggles and you will have a lot of fun. Enjoy.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mastering the Sicilian, February 14, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Mastering the Sicilian (Batsford Chess Books) (Paperback)

If you want a book the shows the major plans and themes in various c5 opens, then this is the book for you. If you already know the plans & themes you wont be pleased as this imformation. It is gearded toward the player who can play but aspires to have an intimate knowledge of the system being used. Plans for white and blk are given, the bias is toward black repectively. I fell in the "wanting to know more" category. This was a winner for me.