Started playing again a couple of years ago on the internet and
recently joined a good OTB club. I'm now at the level where I'm not
hanging pieces and I can see some short combinations etc. (My ICC
blitz is an astronomical 1600.) Anyway, I used to play the French, my
rationale was that after e6 White is on my ground, the problem is that
I reckon I might be better off playing open games so I'd like to try
the Sicilian. Is there a good book that covers the Sicilian in
general? Or do I need to look for a book on the Sveshnikov, a book on
the Rossolimo, etc.

Any advice gratefully received.

cheers

dd

(DDEckerslyke) wrote in message . com...
Started playing again a couple of years ago on the internet and
recently joined a good OTB club. I'm now at the level where I'm not
hanging pieces and I can see some short combinations etc. (My ICC
blitz is an astronomical 1600.) Anyway, I used to play the French, my
rationale was that after e6 White is on my ground, the problem is that
I reckon I might be better off playing open games so I'd like to try
the Sicilian. Is there a good book that covers the Sicilian in
general? Or do I need to look for a book on the Sveshnikov, a book on
the Rossolimo, etc.

Any advice gratefully received.

cheers

dd

Maybe something like Kallai, Basic Chess Openings (e4 stuff -- his
other book is on d4 stuff). A player at your level will get not much
good out of a specialized book, whereas this one will give you enough
variations and moves to get you into a middlegame, plus a few words of
advice on what you should be doing thereafter. Ask your library if
they can get it for you on Interlibrary Loan. If you like it, go to
www.bookfinder.com to look for prices.

Then, if you get a general-interest chess magazine such as Chess Life,
you can use the opening book as a tandem in following the games that
are published each month.

David Ames

On 2 Oct 2003 00:16:54 -0700, (DDEckerslyke)
wrote:

Started playing again a couple of years ago on the internet and
recently joined a good OTB club. I'm now at the level where I'm not
hanging pieces and I can see some short combinations etc. (My ICC
blitz is an astronomical 1600.) Anyway, I used to play the French, my
rationale was that after e6 White is on my ground, the problem is that
I reckon I might be better off playing open games so I'd like to try
the Sicilian. Is there a good book that covers the Sicilian in
general? Or do I need to look for a book on the Sveshnikov, a book on
the Rossolimo, etc.

Any advice gratefully received.

cheers

dd

There are several books that cover multiple varations of the Sicilian:

An older book is "How to Play the Sicilian Defense" by David Levy. A
recent book that would be suitable for your level of playing is:
"Starting Out: Sicilian" by John Emms. Both of these books describe
the basic themes, plans, ideas behind most variations of the Sicilian.

Two books that focus on typical attacking patterns that cross multiple
variations a "Tactics in the Sicilian" by Gennady Nesis and
"Sacrifices in the Sicilian" by David Levy. T

Lastly, if you want to look at multiple lines from White's point of
view, John Nunn and Joe Gallagher wrote a book called "Beating the
Sicilian", which attempted to provide a repertoire for White facing
the Sicilian.

The Levy books are out of print so you will have to get lucky at a
chess bookstore or on eBay. The other books are all available at
amazon.com.

Mike Ogush

Hey, you're right. Most of the sicilian books on my shelves are about
a particular variation. In fact, it is hard to find one on the
opening in general. Here are three:

1. If you can find it, I heartily recommend "How to Play the Sicilian
Defense" by David Levy and Kevin O'Connell. Its a bit dated, but
still relevant. The authors analyze the different Sicilian set-ups
and pawn structures, identifying middlegame plans and typical tactics,
and providing "golden rules" for both White and Black to follow.

2. Another instructive book is "Sicilian Love," which was published
by New in Chess. It is not an opening book. It is the tournament
book of Buenos Aires 1994, a theme tournament in which every game had
to start as an open sicilian. The books also includes a chapter on
the history of the sicilian defense and pays tribute to Lev
Poluygaevsky, in whose honor the tournament was held.

3. A recent book is "Starting Out: the Sicilian" by John Emms. I
can't actually recommend this book, as I have only had a brief chance
to flip through it in the bookstore, but Emms usually does good work.
There are reviews by John Watson and Randy Bauer on Jeremy Silman's
site (wwww.jeremysilman.com). Watson's review is short, but seems
positive. Bauer gives the book 5 out of 10, and seems to have liked
it less.

Regards,
Stanz

(DDEckerslyke) wrote in message
. com...
Started playing again a couple of years ago on the internet and recently
joined a good OTB club. I'm now at the level where I'm not hanging pieces
and I can see some short combinations etc. (My ICC blitz is an astronomical
1600.) Anyway, I used to play the French, my rationale was that after e6
White is on my ground, the problem is that I reckon I might be better off
playing open games so I'd like to try the Sicilian. Is there a good book
that covers the Sicilian in general? Or do I need to look for a book on the
Sveshnikov, a book on the Rossolimo, etc.
Any advice gratefully received.

Dear Mr. Eckerslyke,

First, you should study a book on the Sicilian Defence in general with two
purposes in mind: 1) to understand its general principles 2) to select a
main variation for further study. Next, you should study a book on that
specific variation. Then you should attempt to apply what you have learned
to the actual play of your games. Good luck.

'We pass one half our lives in doing nothing, and the other half in ruminating
upon what we have done.'
--from 'Genuine Memoirs of the Celebrated Miss Maria Brown'

--Nick

"Nick" wrote in message
om...
snip usual rubbish

Dear Mr. Eckerslyke,

First, you should study a book on the Sicilian Defence in general with two
purposes in mind: 1) to understand its general principles 2) to select a
main variation for further study. Next, you should study a book on that
specific variation. Then you should attempt to apply what you have
learned
to the actual play of your games. Good luck.

Aaah yes...but which books? Also how much say do you have in which
particular variation you play? Does everyone who plays the Sicilian walk
through this minefield/quagmire? Actually it looks like 'Starting Out:
Sicilian' might be the best choice after which I'll have a better idea.

cheers

dd

"Mike Ogush" wrote in message
...
On 2 Oct 2003 00:16:54 -0700, (DDEckerslyke)
wrote:
snip

Firstly thanks for taking the time to reply. The Levy books are available
used at amazon but I hesitate to buy them because of when they were first
published. Would you recommend them in spite of their age?

cheers

dd

Richard Stanz wrote (2003-10-02 12:06:56 PST):

... "How to Play the Sicilian Defense" by David Levy

... "Sicilian Love," ...

... "Starting Out: the Sicilian" by John Emms ...

_
Isn't there also a general book about the Sicilian
by Kopec?

"Louis Blair" wrote in message
om...
Richard Stanz wrote (2003-10-02 12:06:56 PST):

... "How to Play the Sicilian Defense" by David Levy

... "Sicilian Love," ...

... "Starting Out: the Sicilian" by John Emms ...

_
Isn't there also a general book about the Sicilian
by Kopec?

Yes, "Mastering the Sicilian" is a recent book that surveys all of the major
open variations. It concentrates on plans and pawn structures, with a
particular emphasis on which pawn structures can be improved, applying
Koch's concepts. It has a nice selection of example games, and is very
approachable for a mid-class player who has a decent positional
understanding. It is a good book for black.

BTW, if the Levy books are the older Batford series, I don't think they were
ever updated for algebraic notation.

David

"DDEckerslyke" wrote in message
...
"Nick" wrote in message
om...
First, you should study a book on the Sicilian Defence in general with two
purposes in mind: 1) to understand its general principles 2) to select a
main variation for further study. Next, you should study a book on that
specific variation. Then you should attempt to apply what you have
learned to the actual play of your games. Good luck.

Aaah yes...but which books? Also how much say do you have in which
particular variation you play? Does everyone who plays the Sicilian walk
through this minefield/quagmire? Actually it looks like 'Starting Out:
Sicilian' might be the best choice after which I'll have a better idea.

Dear Mr Eckerslyke,

I suggest 'Starting Out: The Sicilian' by GM John Emms. After you have completed
its 176 pages, you should have a better idea of which main variation to study
further. And you should supplement that study with the examination of current
GM games in that variation.

"Watch your enemy's eyes, not his blade."
--George Alfred Lawrence (Guy Livingstone)

--Nick