by John Emms. 303pp. (Everyman 2009)

The Sicilian Defence is perhaps the most famous opening in the history of chess, and it’s certainly the most popular at every level. From the first move Black claims his share in the centre and constructs an asymmetrical pawn structure. Its greatest attraction is that it allows Black to unbalance the position and play for a win, without having to take any unjustified risks. Its many variations range from the super-solid Scheveningen to the dangerous and ultra-sharp Dragon: it should be easy to find one that suits your style.

In this user-friendly book, Grandmaster John Emms goes back to basics, studying the fundamental principles of the Sicilian Defence and its many variations. Throughout the book there are an abundance of notes, tips, warnings and exercises to help the improving player, while key strategies, ideas and tactics for both sides are clearly illustrated.

"For players who are beginning to learn about openings and want a good overview of the many lines that constitute the Sicilian complex, this book is the answer. The target audience is as high as 1900 and even stronger players can use some of the examples to enhance their understanding of particular lines. This is a great book." - Carsten Hansen