* chessbug@chessbug.com

Quote: "A look at the structure quickly reveals that Black is vulnerable to f4-f5, but which advances should he be concentrating on?  He can sometimes even play...f5 without waiting for g4, but ...d5 is often not especially effective.  White tends to have e4 well defended and, not minding a further closing of the position, isn't too unhappy to see the black d-pawn on to d4." p.6

Review:

According to the book's cover, Richard Palliser is a "young International Master who is carving out a reputation as a skilled and prolific chess writer."  While there may be some debate about describing Palliser as skilled, there is absolutely no debate about his prolificacy.  A search on Amazon.com reveals that Palliser has written at least 6 chess books since 2003.  Given IM Palliser's penchant for pumping out chess books faster than Americans pump gas into their SUVs, one wonders whether quality is being sacrificed for quantity.  The quote selected and reprinted above is indicative of IM Palliser's sometimes less than clear explanations.  In Palliser's defense, that quote appears on the second page of writing in the book.  Perhaps, he is just enticing the reader for forge ahead. 

I also have a quibble with organization.  For example, it is not until page 9 that Palliser tells us what a Closed Sicilian is. Palliser finally writes, "The Closed Sicilian is brought about by 1 e4 c5 2 Nc3, followed by a white kingside fianchetto." p.9.  This seems like a much more logical place to start his investigation of the Closed Sicilian than beginning with the typical pawn structure and asking which pawn levers are to be employed.  Another organization mistake is that this quote appears in a section entitled "Does Black have to fianchetto?" The game chosen for this section is curiously a game where black does, in fact, fianchetto.  Are you confused yet? 

In spite of a few organizational problems and some less than stellar writing, Palliser seems to accomplish what he set out to do, which is write a repertoire book for the intermediate to advanced  player who is either sick of playing the open Sicilian or is looking for a solid weapon against booked-up players of the Sicilian.  The book is written in the typical Everyman style with chapters detailing various systems, tips and warnings in bold print, generous use of diagrams, and a "points to remember" summary at the end of each chapter. 

However, if you are a beginner or lower intermediate player and do not have a good grasp of how to learn a new opening, where specific variations and move order often trump general principles, then this may not be the opening for you.  For example, Palliser does a great job of advocating Spassky's 6 f4 against Black's adoption of a kingside fianchetto.  The moves would be 1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 g3 g6 4 Bg2 Bg7 5 d3 d6 6 f4.  In fact, the first 96 pages of the book are devoted to white's adoption of this move order, and Palliser even recommends some strong attacking lines that would promise practical success at the club level.  But, if you are still at the point in your chess development, where you are still concentrating on the principles of development, castling early, and learning tactics, then you may be confused by playing such an early f4, especially when your king will, almost certainly, end up on the kingside. 

Another important question to ask is what if black does not adopt the kingside fianchetto?  Can white simply continue with the idea of f4 and king-side assault?  The answer is quite complicated because Black, not White, dictates the play.  Black could decide, for example, to play play 2...e6 and then d5, where an isolated queen pawn structure appears.  In fact, Palliser writes that the 2 e6 3 g3 d5 is a "tough nut to crack." p. 182.  Unfortunately, a more thorough exploration of this variation is not within the scope of the book.  After all, it is a rare response to the Closed Sicilian.  Consequently, there are only a few pages reserved for this sideline.  Therefore, as a player of the white pieces you will have to study every page of this book to understand what White should play in response to different attempts by Black to refute the opening.  I am not convinced by Palliser's statement that a "good understanding of important attacking and positional motifs is more important than knowledge of specific moves and variations."  pg. 5.

In conclusion, if you are looking to stay as far away as possible from mainline Sicilian systems this is an excellent overview book that will get you started.  However, be prepared to study and find the lines you like to play.  If you are not yet well versed in other aspects of the game, then it may be better to concentrate your efforts elsewhere. 

The Good Things:

• The Everyman style with lots of diagrams and clear division of opening branches

• Palliser suggests variations that club players may find exciting and are not played at the GM level (and therefore opening theory does not change fast in these lines)

The Bad Things:

• Extensive coverage of the Spassky variation, with little coverage of other important black sidelines

• The strategic ideas could be communicated clearer in a separate chapter

• Overstatements regarding White's initiative and control of the game

The Bottom Line:  

A reasonable book for the 1600+ player who wants a solid system to play against the Sicilian and is willing to study the book.

Rating: 7/10

Review written by e4skeptic.

e4skeptic@chessbug.com

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