Mikhail Golubev has played the Sicilian as Black and White for the whole of his chess career, specializing in the sharpest and most aggressive systems. Here he presents the whole undiluted truth - as best he sees it - about this most popular and cut-throat of openings.
The quality of the games is striking. Even the list of opponents in junior tournaments features Kramnik and Shirov, while more recent opponents include Ponomariov and Svidler. Ivanchuk’s extraordinary ideas crop up repeatedly. But we also see Golubev facing more ‘normal’ opposition, where as the higher-rated player the top priority was to create winning opportunities.
There is much to learn from Golubev’s honest ‘warts and all’ presentation. We see the process of discovery and experimentation, and develop a feel for the spirit of the Sicilian. There is a wealth of original analysis (all scrupulously computer-checked), novelties and strategic guidance. For Dragon, Sozin/Najdorf and Velimirovi\'e6 players in particular, this book is an absolute must-read, but Anti-Sicilian and Taimanov players are among those who must also watch out. All Sicilian lines are covered, with the exception of those that have never occurred in the more than 440 Sicilian games from Golubev’s professional career.
Mikhail Golubev is a grandmaster from Odessa, Ukraine. He is a noted expert in several opening systems, including the King’s Indian and the Dragon. His previous book for Gambit, Understanding the King’s Indian, has been praised for the quantity and quality of its original analysis, and for Golubev’s objectivity in identifying the critical lines.
Content
004 Symbols
005 Introduction
008 1. e4 c5 Miscellaneous
014 Closed Sicilian: 2. Nc3
020 Alapin System: 2. c3
030 2. Nf3 Miscellaneous
034 2. Nf3 e6 Miscellaneous
038 Kan System
044 Taimanov System
059 2...Nc6 3. Nc3 e5
065 Rossolimo Variation: 2...Nc6 3 Bb5
073 Sveshnikov System
077 Accelerated Dragon
082 2. Nf3 d6 Miscellaneous
091 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+
099 Dragon System: Miscellaneous
105 Classical Dragon: 6 Be2
113 Dragon Yugoslav Attack: 7...a6
117 Dragon Yugoslav Attack: 9 g4
122 Dragon Yugoslav Attack: 9 0-0-0 Nxd4
124 Dragon Yugoslav Attack: 9 0-0-0 d5
128 Dragon Yugoslav Attack: 9...d5 10 Qe1
132 Dragon Yugoslav Attack: 9...d5 10 exd5
136 Dragon Yugoslav Attack: 12...e5 13 Bc5
142 Dragon Yugoslav Attack: Bc4 Miscellaneous
150 Dragon Yugoslav Attack: ...Bd7 and ...Qa5
156 Dragon Yugoslav Attack: Soltis Variation
161 Dragon Yugoslav Attack: 10 0-0-0
168 Sozin Attack: Miscellaneous
176 Scheveningen: 6 Bc4 Be7
179 Fischer Attack: Early ...Be7
187 Fischer Attack: 7 Bb3 Nbd7
196 Fischer Attack: 7 Bb3 b5
213 Fischer Attack: 7 Bb3 Nc6
227 Velimirovic Attack
236 Index of Variations
The quality of the games is striking. Even the list of opponents in junior tournaments features Kramnik and Shirov, while more recent opponents include Ponomariov and Svidler. Ivanchuk’s extraordinary ideas crop up repeatedly. But we also see Golubev facing more ‘normal’ opposition, where as the higher-rated player the top priority was to create winning opportunities.
There is much to learn from Golubev’s honest ‘warts and all’ presentation. We see the process of discovery and experimentation, and develop a feel for the spirit of the Sicilian. There is a wealth of original analysis (all scrupulously computer-checked), novelties and strategic guidance. For Dragon, Sozin/Najdorf and Velimirovi\'e6 players in particular, this book is an absolute must-read, but Anti-Sicilian and Taimanov players are among those who must also watch out. All Sicilian lines are covered, with the exception of those that have never occurred in the more than 440 Sicilian games from Golubev’s professional career.
Mikhail Golubev is a grandmaster from Odessa, Ukraine. He is a noted expert in several opening systems, including the King’s Indian and the Dragon. His previous book for Gambit, Understanding the King’s Indian, has been praised for the quantity and quality of its original analysis, and for Golubev’s objectivity in identifying the critical lines.
Content
004 Symbols
005 Introduction
008 1. e4 c5 Miscellaneous
014 Closed Sicilian: 2. Nc3
020 Alapin System: 2. c3
030 2. Nf3 Miscellaneous
034 2. Nf3 e6 Miscellaneous
038 Kan System
044 Taimanov System
059 2...Nc6 3. Nc3 e5
065 Rossolimo Variation: 2...Nc6 3 Bb5
073 Sveshnikov System
077 Accelerated Dragon
082 2. Nf3 d6 Miscellaneous
091 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+
099 Dragon System: Miscellaneous
105 Classical Dragon: 6 Be2
113 Dragon Yugoslav Attack: 7...a6
117 Dragon Yugoslav Attack: 9 g4
122 Dragon Yugoslav Attack: 9 0-0-0 Nxd4
124 Dragon Yugoslav Attack: 9 0-0-0 d5
128 Dragon Yugoslav Attack: 9...d5 10 Qe1
132 Dragon Yugoslav Attack: 9...d5 10 exd5
136 Dragon Yugoslav Attack: 12...e5 13 Bc5
142 Dragon Yugoslav Attack: Bc4 Miscellaneous
150 Dragon Yugoslav Attack: ...Bd7 and ...Qa5
156 Dragon Yugoslav Attack: Soltis Variation
161 Dragon Yugoslav Attack: 10 0-0-0
168 Sozin Attack: Miscellaneous
176 Scheveningen: 6 Bc4 Be7
179 Fischer Attack: Early ...Be7
187 Fischer Attack: 7 Bb3 Nbd7
196 Fischer Attack: 7 Bb3 b5
213 Fischer Attack: 7 Bb3 Nc6
227 Velimirovic Attack
236 Index of Variations