Though the vast majority of books reviewed on this site are published by the "big three" companies of Gambit, Everyman, and Batsford, we shouldn't overlook New In Chess, which puts out the greatest chess magazine in history (named, appropriately, New In Chess) and the wonderful NIC Yearbooks. During the last few years, though, NIC has quietly created a few very highly thought of titles like SECRETS OF OPENING SURPRISES by Bosch (click to see Silman's review), RUSSIAN SILHOUETTES by Sosonko (click to see reviews by Donaldson and Watson), and THE RELIABLE PAST by Sosonko (look for that review in the weeks ahead).

NIC's latest, TACTICS IN THE CHESS OPENING 1: SICILIAN DEFENSE (this is the first of a six part series on various openings) makes a study of all common tactical themes found in the Sicilian. This idea is not new, having been covered in many older books, and again in the 2003 Gambit publication ESSENTIAL CHESS SACRIFICES by LeMoir (click to see Donaldson's review of this book) - and though the Gambit book's focus isn't only on Sicilians, examples from that opening make up the meat of that book.

Since we've seen this before, what does TACTICS IN THE CHESS OPENING 1 offer that others don't? To me, what makes this book useful is the use of whole games and the listing of these games in order of systems. Thus, games from the Najdorf are first explored, followed by Dragons, Scheveningens, Sozins, Rauzers, Sveshnikovs, Taimanovs & Paulsens, Four Knights, Accelerated Fianchettos, Rossolimos, Alapins, and finally various off-beat tries.

By using whole games, the authors enable the reader to take note of common traps and move orders that they themselves might wish to employ. And by mixing variation-specific chapters with these whole games, we end up with a useful opening guide for those playing against these systems for White, or for those who wish to make use of any individual line as Black.

Of course, the main focus is on tactics, tactical themes, and even common Sicilian traps. The authors don't disappoint, having picked 250 games (all nicely annotated) that will never bore you. For those that would like to get a taste of some of this tactical fare, click HERE to see a tactical quiz that is completely composed of games from this book.

TACTICS IN THE CHESS OPENING 1 can be enjoyed by players rated 1400 right up to master. Many examples will prove too complicated as a learning device for the non-master, but they will still be entertaining and, in some cases, even exhilarating. On the other hand, there are lots of opening ideas that can be assimilated by everyone, and many tactics that will undoubtedly be within the grasp of the lower range of the rating spectrum.

In my opinion, if you intend to play any Sicilian line as Black, or if you regularly face the Sicilian with the White pieces, this book should be quite useful.