The Sicilian Defense, 1.e4 c5, is one of the popular chess openings. In this book several chess grandmasters present state-of-the-art analysis of lines where White meets the Sicilian by avoiding the Open variations. The editors, ex-British Champion GM Jacob Aagaard and three-time Scottish Champion GM John Shaw, have recruited a line-up of strong chess grandmasters to share their expert opinions both on how to play the Sicilian Defense and how to play against it.

The Sicilian Defense is the most popular chess opening at every level of tournament play. Here, a multinational line-up of leading experts gives recommendations against their own pet lines in the Sicilian Defense. The authors are all either Grandmasters or International Masters, and readers now have a complete guide to playing with White against the Sicilian.

The Sicilian Defence is the most combative way to meet 1.e4, but Black's hopes of reaching his favourite Dragon, Najdorf or Sveshnikov are often quashed at an early stage. In Beating the Anti-Sicilians, grandmaster Vassilios Kotronias provides full coverage against White's many attempts to steer the game away from Open Sicilian territory. Beginning with sidelines on move 2, the author provides expert recommendations against all White's sensible deviations - as well as some not-so-sensible ones!

The Sicilian is far and away the most popular chess opening, and many players prefer to side-step the Open Sicilian with one of the Anti-Sicilian systems at White's disposal. This book equips Black to fight against all these lines. The Anti-Sicilian systems include: positionally motivated lines such as the 2 c3 Sicilian and the 3 Bb5 systems; slow but tricky attacking lines including the Closed Sicilian and the King's Indian Attack; aggressive but loosening ideas like the Grand Prix Attack and a variety of gambits. In the most critical variations, Rogozenko provides a choice between a solid and an aggressive option. He caters for those who meet 2 Nf3 with the three main moves, 2...d6, 2...e6 and 2...Nc6.

The Sicilian Defence is Black's most popular reply to 1.e4. Most black players hope to get an Open Sicilian because of its unbalanced play and interesting opportunities to play for a win. But what if White avoids the Open Sicilian and does not play 2.Nf3? This happens more often than you would think, as in roughly one third of the cases White players opt for one of the numerous 'Anti-Sicilian' lines at their disposal. These Anti-Sicilians vary from primitive and obscure to wild and aggressive to respected but tedious. But they have one thing in common: they are all dragging Black into territory where he doesn't want to be, and where it is easy to get ambushed. Evgeny Sveshnikov offers help. The Russian grandmaster, who is one of the most respected chess opening experts in the world, presents practical and effective recipes against a broad range of annoying variations: 2.a3?, 2.Na3?!, 2.b4?!, 2.b3, 2.Nc3, 2.d3 and many others. Black players will learn how to fight back and throw a spanner in the works when White tries to spoil their game.

In this book Richard Palliser decides it's time for Black players to finally fight back against the Anti-Sicilians! Drawing upon his vast experience and understanding of Anti-Sicilians, Palliser devises a compact and practical repertoire for Sicilian players against each of White's many alternatives. Using examples from modern play, he examines tactical and positional ideas for both White and Black, and pays special attention to tricky move orders which are very much in the armoury of contemporary Grandmasters.

The Sicilian Defence is the most widely played chess opening, both at club level as well as among top grandmasters. Since Black gets dynamic play in almost all variations, black players of all levels will probably continue to play the Sicilian for a long time to come. It has been difficult for White to obtain any advantage in Sicilian sidelines, and this book therefore presents a complete repertoire for White in the most widely played main lines: the Open Sicilians with 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3. All of Black’s possible answers are covered. ‘Dismantling the Sicilian’ is clearly organized, and each variation is presented with its history, its main ideas, its typical tactics and strategies, and with instructive games. The authors thoroughly explain the relevant themes and always summarizes the most important features. This a completely new edition, updated and extended from the original 2009 publication.