Every Chess Player watching the first game of Beth Harmon against Mr. Shaibel in the basement of Metheun Home for Girls will remember that painful first defeat in the Scholar's Mate. As a result, for many, many players 1. e4 is the preferred opening move. Bobby Fischer said it was "best by test."

Black gets to play too, and he's not going sit there and take it. There are many defenses to 1. e4, and among masters the favorite defense is the Sicilian, 1. e4 c5. But masters are like cooks in the kitchen, they want to put everything into the pot. Understanding the Sicilian is like studying the stars, it is a labor that has no end.

This puts off many an amateur player, or anyone who doesn't like to spend 8 hours a day, 7 days a week, studying opening theory. Yet those same players want to play the Sicilian.

Alexander Raetsky, an international master, understands that desire and crafted this book for the amateur Sicilian enthusiast. At 160 pages and 72 games, he gives a good introduction to the Sicilian for the amateur player.

Worth every penny.

We include bonus material!