The Most Flexible Sicilian

Publisher: Chess Stars, 2014, Pages: 340, Paperback 

"A Black Repertoire with 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6"

This book offers a double repertoire for Black based on the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6!. It is divided in several parts:

This book is a follow up of The Safest Sicilian. It offers a repertoire based on 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6. This time It covers both the Taimanov and the Kan. The pawn structures are almost identical so many ideas work in both variations. At the same time the different move order offers subtleties which may turn decisive for the outcome of the opening battle. Delchev believes that the Sicilian players should know the full range of set-ups after 2...e6. That would allow to choose the most unpleasant system against any particular opponent. For instance, if the White player is narrowly specialised in the English Attack, you may choose to delay ...Nc6. This approach effectively discourages White's set-up with Be3. It is also very good against the fans of an early f4 or the fianchetto with g3.

The book is divided on several parts: playing against Be2; against f4; g3; the third rank set-up Be3+Bd3; the English Attack; the hedgehog structures. Every part begins with a chapter named "Pros and Cons" which discuses the main ideas of the Taimanov and the Kan approaches and offers advice what to choose. The next chapters "Step by Step" present detailed theory. Finally a chapter "Complete Games" offers deep annotations to important games.