DownloadThe Portobello Bookshop Gift Guide 2024

Playing 1.e4 - Sicilian Main Lines

John Shaw author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Quality Chess UK LLP

Published:30th May '18

Should be back in stock very soon

Playing 1.e4 - Sicilian Main Lines cover

In this, the last of three volumes on 1.e4, GM John Shaw completes his state-of-the-art chess opening repertoire for White by tackling the biggest challenge of all: the main lines of the Sicilian Defence. Just like the other two books in the series, this book is based upon a foundation of tried and tested main lines, boosted by a number of innovative suggestions that will cause no end of trouble to your opponents.

Including the Dragon, Taimanov, Sveshnikov and concluding with the nefarious Najdorf, this book provides everything you need to face all the major Sicilian systems with confidence.

"I recommend, for most ordinary players who lack extraordinary powers, to instead base their White repertoire around the John Shaw series. His lines are more likely to highlight manoeuvres and positional plans plus the inherent value of the pieces and structure. It helps us mere mortals when there is more margin for the occasional imprecision. As for the fact that the three volumes together add up to over 1400 pages, well I suppose that if something is worth doing, it's worth doing well! Shawly!?" -- GM Glenn Flear, New in Chess Yearbook


"I am highly recommending this series – I had used so many of these lines and have gotten good positions in virtually all the time where I have tested the theory coverage from these books. Shaw's writing style is fun to read, with flecks of dry humour littered throughout the book… these books have attained ‘must-have' status for all 1.e4 players." -- IM Kevin Goh


"Overall, this book offers a wealth of new, fresh ideas and a White repertoire against the Sicilian main variations which personally convinces me more than Parimarjan Negi's work on this complex… Those who are prepared to work through the book conscientiously will certainly achieve many good positions… I highly recommend this book!" -- IM Dirk Schuh

ISBN: 9781784830724

Dimensions: 240mm x 170mm x 30mm

Weight: 864g

456 pages