Beat the Anti-Sicilians

Descripción

When I decided to write The Modernized Sveshnikov (June 2020) I knew that I was basically committing

myself to covering the Anti–Sicilians in a separate book as well. After all, what’s a book on the

Sveshnikov alone worth when your opponents decide to avoid the Open Sicilian? Especially since the

Sveshnikov is nowadays considered to be one of the most reliable options for Black in the Sicilian, White

players have been investigating new territories within the Anti–Sicilians. The book you are holding in

your hands, Beat the Anti–Sicilians, aims to provide a complete Black repertoire against all the critical

sidelines after 1.e4 c5. The biggest part of the book covers the Rossolimo and Alapin, but also the popular

lines at club player’s level like the Grand Prix Attack and the Morra Gambit, and other alternatives on

White’s 2nd move are also worked out in detail.

What I didn’t realize, however, is that it would take me much more time than I had expected. Having

worked out your analysis doesn’t mean that these are ready for publication. Besides my regular work as a

trainer/coach, most of my time in the last year has been spent busily editing my original analysis and

checking it again with the computer, following the latest games and adding these to my files, and

rechecking again etc. This repetitive procedure slowed down the entire process and explains why this

work is published later than I originally had in mind.

Speaking for myself, as a Sicilian player I mainly like to face the Open Sicilian and I was often

disappointed when my opponent decided to deviate from the sharp main lines. Well, at least that was

how I experienced it for a long period of time and I’m sure many other players have often felt the same.

But those who had invested time studying the Anti–Sicilians didn’t mind facing these sidelines, or were

even glad to see their opponents being afraid of their favorite variation within the Open Sicilians. That’s

actually the spirit we should look for, and hence I’m recommending you do the same: invest your time

and you’ll get rewarded!

I have aimed to find a good balance of verbal explanations without ignoring the hardcore variations you

have to know. In case you find some of the analyses a bit too long, don’t be discouraged! They have been

included mainly to illustrate the thematic ideas and show in which direction the game develops once the

theoretical paths have been left. That’s why I have actually decided to cover 37 games in their entirety,

rather than cutting off my analysis with an evaluation. I believe that model games help you to better

understand an opening, but certainly also the ensuing middle– and endgames.

Just as in the The Modernized Sveshnikov, also in this book I have made frequently use of

correspondence and engine games. With a lack of over the board (elite) tournaments, most elite players

made their switch to the world of online chess as well. These games with a shorter time control are often

full of mistakes, but the opening stage is still relevant. Hence, I have decided to include these online

games whenever I thought them to be a useful addition to our repertoire.

With the completion of this work and The Modernized Sveshnikov, I think I have succeeded in offering

the reader a complete, ambitious, and sound Black repertoire against 1.e4. I am incredibly satisfied with

the result of this work, as I think the mix of new ideas, beautiful variations, model games, extensive

analyses and explanation of key concepts will inspire many chess fans. I would like to wish you all

an enjoyable read and hope that you will be able to apply some of my recommendations in your own

games. You no longer have to fear any Anti–Sicilian!

Robert Ris

Sample Pages