by Kiril Georgiev and Atanas Kolev, 25.02.2007, 272 pages.
 

This ambitious book aims to arm you with a complete repertoire against 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3. It is based on the Najdorf system with Black employing the ...e5 approach against most major choices of White. The only exception is the open fianchetto variation 6 g3, where 6...e6 is the main line. Chapters about the English Attack 6 Be3 and the Classical 6 Be2 as well as 6 a4 are written by grandmaster Atanas Kolev. He has played many times for Bulgarian Olympic team. He also worked as a coach of Bulgarian women’s team. His current Elo is 2538. The rest of the book is a work of grandmaster Kiril Georgiev. He has been for 20 years in the chess elite with rating above 2650, currently 2661. He participated in 12 Olympiads, mostly as Bulgarian first board. In 2006 he took the bronze at the European championship.

The book follows the structure of another Chess Stars publication – The Safest Sicilian. Every system is examined in a separate part which contains three chapters. While “Quick Repertoire” provides only vital information, that you need to start playing the variation, “Step by Step” is the reference chapter with all branches covered in depth. The “Complete Games” chapters include altogether 50 commented games which display typical ideas or pawn structures. You’ll find a lot of original analysis on the most critical positions of the Najdorf. The material is up-to-date to February 10 2007.

by Alexander Khalifman, December 2006, 320 pages.
The first part of the book analyzes some seldom played lines on move two for Black. The author devotes special attention to 2…b6, which is in fact much better than its reputation as well as to the Nimzovic – Rubinstein system 2…Nf6, in answer to which Khalifman recommends 3.Nc3, after which the game usually transposes to the main lines in most of the cases.
The second part of this book is devoted entirely to the O’Kelly system - 2…a6. It is worth mentioning that although it is a rare guest in the serious tournaments, it is frequently played in blitz games (including in Internet too). The author recommends 3.c3, which in the majority of cases leads to not so typical Sicilian positions, but the move a7-a6 often turns out to be just a loss of time.
The third part of the book deals with some rarely played lines after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4. Systems like 2…e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 (4…Bc5) as well as the Sicilian attack (2…e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4) require from White exact knowledge of long forced lines.
Finally, the fourth part of this book is devoted to the Paulsen-Kann system (2…e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6). This variation is regularly played by Svidler, Ivanchuk, Kamsky, Rublevsky, Smirin and many other strong grandmasters and it is one of the really popular lines of the Sicilian Defence. That system has the reputation of being like the “Najdorf system” but for the lazy players: on the one hand you can obtain a dynamic position with various available resources to seize the initiative and on the other hand it requires considerably less concrete knowledge of forced variations unlike the Najdorf system. Khalifman recommends to White to counter it with 5.Bd3, after which there arises a “hedgehog” pawn-structure in the majority of cases. The order of moves is often not so important in that pawn-structure, but you must have an excellent idea about the possible plans for you and your opponent. The author has found plenty of new and fresh ideas in the most popular variation nowadays - 5.Bd3 Bc5 which doubtlessly will be of special interest for the reader.

by Alexander Khalifman, April 2007, 276 pages.
In this volume 14th world champion Khalifman continues the analysis of the Sicilian Defence. The first part covers variations arising after the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 and especially the Kalashnikov. In answer to 2...Nc6, just like after the majority of the basic lines, he recommends the most principled answer for White – 3.d4.
Parts 2 and 3 deal with systems arising after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6. In the basic tabia of the Paulsen system 5.Nc3 Qc7 Khalifman advocates the aggressive set-up, which has become nowadays an almost universal plan in numerous lines of the Sicilian Defence. It includes Be3, followed by Qd2, castling long and a kingside attack. All that is too schematic, since Black has numerous plans at his disposal, but the author believes that White can rely on obtaining the advantage thanks to several very important original novelties and principally new ideas in the main lines.