Reviewed by John Donaldson

CHESS EXPLAINED: THE CLASSICAL SICILIAN by Grandmaster Alex Yermolinsky is the first in a series of new opening books by Gambit. Judging from this volume, the series is something different. This is not your traditional heavy duty theoretical work with lots of analysis and little explanation, rather it seeks to impart the essentials without dumbing down the material to the level of many introductory opening books. 

Yermolinsky, whose previous book, THE ROAD TO CHESS IMPROVEMENT, was well received by critics and public alike, shares his experiences on the Black side of the Classical Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6), acquired from several decades testing it against strong Grandmasters. He does this by presenting 25 deeply annotated games which examine each of White's tries including 6.g3, 6.f3, 6.Be3, 6.Be2 and the two most principled systems 6.Bc4 and 6.Bg5. In each of the games Yermo not only points out the theoretical niceties of the variation, but also takes special care to explain common middlegame themes such as the doubled f-pawn for two Bishops structure seen in some lines of the Richter-Rauzer (6.Bg5). There is more explanatory prose than variations given, but the commentary is insightful enough that the reader is quickly keyed into what is important.

As GM Yermolinsky points out in his introduction, the Classical Sicilian is not as popular at the top levels as it was 15 years ago. This objectivity extends to Yermo's evaluation of individual lines where it is clear that he feels the Richter-Rauzer is White's most testing response. He doesn't hide the fact that in many lines Black is looking for improvements. Not for nothing, Yermo calls the sequence 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.0-0-0 Bd7 9.f4 b5 10.Bxf6 gxf6 the Kozul Suicide Variation, named after the Croatian Grandmaster who has passionately but not always successfully championed the Black side. Prospective Classical Sicilian defenders can take heart in the numerous suggestions and improvements that GM Yermolinsky offers.

Can this book teach you enough to play the Black side of this opening? I believe the answer is an unequivocally yes for all rated from 2000-2400. Those below may find it a bit too detailed and will need to work harder to keep up. Experts and Masters will find this book just right. I think it may find an audience among stronger players, particularly those thinking of taking up the Classical Sicilian who are looking for some orientation before plunging into heavy duty study.

Recommended

Click to buy (or get more information about) CHESS EXPLAINED: THE CLASSICAL SICILIAN

Click to buy (or get more information about) THE ROAD TO CHESS IMPROVEMENT