Sveshnikov Sicilian [Paperback]

Mikhail Krasenkov (Author)

Book Description

Series: Cadogan Chess Books | Publication Date: November 1996

Grandmaster Mikhail Krasenkov is one of the leading experts on the Sveshnikov variation of the Sicilian Defense, one of the shaprest and most combative of all chess openings. Krasenkov, also author of the bestselling The Open Spanish, discusses the main ideas of the Sveshnikov Sicilian and provides a highly instructive selection of illustrative games to explain the key ideas.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Everyman Chess (November 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1857441230
• ISBN-13: 978-1857441239
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,794,186 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Probably the best Sveshnikov book., July 12, 2000

By 

Paul Beach (New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sveshnikov Sicilian (Paperback)

This is an excellent book. The author says that he loves this opening and it shows. Special features of this book include a separate chapter at the back with 40 important annotated games (see Brodsky-Kramnik 1991 for a violent treat), comments in the introduction on strategies and piece placement, etc, and a two-page index of variations with assessments right there. The only minor problem I have is that the lines contain so many sublines and variants I can almost get lost. You can't play this opening with NCO alone. There are just too many savage alternatives for each side. Which brings me to my last point - are you considering taking up this opening but are not too sure about it? Then be warned, this is not the opening for those who believe in weak squares! You need to be an aggressive player who loves piece activity and despises draws.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars good book, strange format., February 18, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Sveshnikov Sicilian (Paperback)

The book is written in a format of mass variations, followed in the last chapter with annotated instructive games. the lines are well detailed and complete. All you need to buy to learn the opening. For a reference book I recommend The Pelikan Sicilian, by Sveshnikov himself.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good reference for key variations, June 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Sveshnikov Sicilian (Paperback)

The Sveshnikov Sicillian is an extremely dynamic agressive opening which has been used by top grandmasters including Kramnik, Shirov and Nunn. Black sacrifices pawn structure for dynamic piece play, and the middle game strategies can be very rich and complex as a result. White usually tries to get a grip on the light squares, to try and reduce black's counterplay, whilst black will try and exploit piece play, usually by trying for a violent king attack. This book by Krasenkov who is a loyal exponent of this opening, provides up to date coverage of this defence, and can increase the black player's confidence in playing this opening. Indeed it is the possibility of such as razor sharp defences like this, that is prompting White players to chicken out with moves such as 2. c3 :-)