Modernized: The Open Sicilian

Publisher: Metro, 2015, Pages: 568, Paperback

IM Zhanibek Amanov of Kazakhstan and FM Kostya Kavutskiy of Los Angeles present a repertoire vs. the Sicilian Defense, one of the most complex and powerful defenses available to Black, and the choice of many top players.

The critical test is to attack it directly with 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 followed by 3.d4, the Open Sicilian.

The dynamics of the resulting positions are such that White will get a lead in development while Black will have an extra central pawn. This leads to very sharp middlegames.

The main goal in choosing lines was to reach positions with well-defined plans for both sides, then illustrate how to handle a typical middlegame in each variation through the use of well-chosen instructive games..

The choices against the most frequently seen Sicilians are:

The Najdorf: 6.h3
 The Kan and Taimanov: 6.g3
 The Classical: 6.Bc4
 The Dragon: 9.O-O-O
 The Accelerated Dragon: Maróczy Bind
 The Sveshnikov: 9.Nd5

The purpose of this book is not only to provide a complete repertoire for the White side of the Open Sicilian, but also to ingrain a number of thematic positional and tactical motifs as well.