The Najdorf in Black and White

Publisher: Mongoose Press, 2017, Pages: 162, Paperback

In many ways, the Najdorf Sicilian is the ideal defense against 1.e4 - aggressive and leading to creative and exciting play, allowing Black to play for a win and yet unquestionably sound. Despite the Najdorf's great popularity and reputation as a theoretical labyrinth, Bryan Smith believes it is possible to play it "by the light of nature," with experience providing a guide. The play is concrete and sharp, but original positions can be obtained fairly early. The twenty-nine annotated games in this book were carefully selected for their instructional value, their theoretical relevance, and - most of all - their esthetic appeal. Designed both for players of the Najdorf and for those facing it, The Najdorf in Black and White is a collection of creative and unique battles that you can use to learn the ins and outs of this opening.

Grandmaster Bryan Smith is the only grandmaster from Alaska. Winner of the National Chess Congress in 2008, 2009, and 2017, the 2010 Philadelphia International, and the 2011 Limpedea Cup, he is the creator of numerous instructional chess videos including the course, "The 4 Pillars of Chess Strength."