Starting Out Closed Sicilian

STARTING OUT: CLOSED SICILIAN
Author: Richard Palliser
$20.95
192 pages
Everyman Chess (2006, www.everymanchess.com)

Reviewed by John Donaldson

STARTING OUT: CLOSED SICILIAN is hardly the first book on this aggressive way to counter the Sicilian. Previous authors, including GM Danny King and IM Gary Lane, have emphasized the practicality of the White setup which combines easy to learn plans while still preserving attacking chances. It also doesn't hurt that it yields additional utility in that it can be employed with Black as well against the English.

STARTING OUT: CLOSED SICILIAN has done a good job explaining the basics of how White counters Black's various setups with ...d6 and Nf6, or ...d6, ...e6, and ...Nge7, or ...e5 and ...Nge7. He does a particularly good job with lines where Black dispenses with a kingside fianchetto and aims to control the center with ...e6 and ...d5 -- lines where White has been having trouble showing an advantage.

As with previous works in the popular Everyman Chess STARTING OUT series, the reader is helped throughout with a plethora of notes, tips and warnings highlighting the vital characteristics of the relevant opening. Everyman has been producing its STARTING OUT series for some time now and they have been constantly improving. They don't produce clunkers and this volume on the Closed Sicilian is no exception.

Recommended for players from 1800-2400.

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