Showing posts with label Chess Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chess Books. Show all posts

Friday, May 17, 2024

English Opening - Reversed Sicilian (King's English) A20-A29

Rembrant inspired AI image of a chessboard with a mirrored chess position done with oil and a colorful background
"Balance is key."
 

A Guide to the English Reversed Sicilian
  Beyond the Basics


 Take your game to the next level with this advanced resource archive!

  • Deep Dive into Critical Lines: Uncover hidden nuances, master strategic concepts, and refine your opening repertoire.

  • Expert Analysis & Insights: Gain valuable knowledge from chess professionals and elevate your positional understanding.

  • Sharpen Your Chess Skills: Challenge yourself with complex positions and decision-making scenarios. 

Focusing on (King's English) variations A20-A29, this collection offers in-depth analysis and strategic insights to elevate your chess.



Chessboard with the opening moves of the Reversed Sicilian or (Kings English) have been played. 1.c4 e5  is played.
English Opening - King's English


Books & Courses

This section delves into resources designed to equip you with a strong foundation in the Reversed Sicilian (1. c4 e5).

Courses:

  • Chessable: Short & Sweet: Reversed Sicilian (Free)
    • Author: GM Arturs Neiksans
    • Length: 27 Variations with 66 Minutes of Video
    • Description: Don't be fooled by the "Short & Sweet" title. This course by GM Neiksans explores 27 critical variations, giving you a deep understanding of the opening's strategic themes and the dynamic possibilities that arise in the middlegame.

Books:

  • Starting Out The English (PDF available on Internet Archive) by Neil McDonald
    • Pages: 61 (Reversed Sicilian coverage on pages 115-126)
    • Description: While this book primarily focuses on the English Opening (1. c4), it dedicates a section (pages 115-126) to the Reversed Sicilian (1. c4 e5). This can be a valuable resource, especially for beginners, providing a foundational understanding of how the English ideas translate when Black meets them with 1...e5.


Chess Articles


Reversed Sicilian: How Bojkov Created Beating the English - Chessable Blog The article discusses GM Dejan Bojkov’s chess opening repertoire, “Beating the English,” which is based on the reversed Sicilian.




Reverse Sicilian LiChess Studies

Sharpen your skills in the Reversed Sicilian with these interactive Lichess studies!

 

  • The English - Reverse Siciclian - 14 Chapter Study (White plays w/out g3) - This comprehensive study delves into White's repertoire when they choose not to play the typical g3 move. Explore various positional and tactical ideas that arise in these lines.

  • English Sicilians: Reverse Sicilian Open - 4 Chapter Study - This study focuses on the different variations that can branch out from the Reversed Sicilian Open (lines without an early Nc3 for White).

  • Reversed Sicilian (1.c4 e5) (for Black) - 6 Chapter Study - Equip yourself with a strong understanding of the Reversed Sicilian from Black's perspective. This study explores key ideas and potential plans for Black to take advantage of the initiative.

New to Lichess studies?

 Lichess studies are a fantastic way to learn and practice chess concepts in an interactive format. You can explore different variations move-by-move, test your understanding by solving puzzles, and review key points with explanations provided.



Game DatabasesExploring the Reversed Sicilian in Action

Delve into real-game scenarios with these valuable resources from 365Chess.com! 

365Chess.com

A20: English opening 1. c4 e5 - 58,783 Games  (+ 2 sub-variations)
A21: English opening 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 - 41,552 Games (+5 Sub-variations)
A22: English opening 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 - 26,828 Games (+4 Sub-Variations)
A23: English, Bremen system, Keres variation 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 c6 - 1767 Games 
A24: English, Bremen system with ...g6 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 g6 - 501 games
A25: English, Sicilian reversed 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 - 12,431 Games (+5 Sub-Variations)
A26: English, closed system 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 - 
2106 Games (+1 Sub-Variation)
A27: English, three knights system 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 - 4807 Games
A28: English, four knights system 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 Nf6 - 14,080 (+8 Sub-Variations)
A29: English, four knights, kingside fianchetto 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 - 6040 games



Puzzles: Sharpen Your Reversed Sicilian Tactics


WTHarvey.com Puzzle Collections:

English (ECO A20) 1.c4 e5 w/o 2.Nc3 - 17 puzzles
English (ECO A21) 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 - 11 Puzzles
English (ECO A22) 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 - 9 Puzzles

English, Bremen System, Keres Variation (ECO A23) - 26 Puzzles 
English, Bremen System with ...g6 (ECO A24) - 14 Puzzles
English (ECO A25) 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 - 16 Puzzles

English (ECO A26) 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 d6 - 17 Puzzles
English, Three Knights System (ECO A27) - 14 Puzzles
English (ECO A28) 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 Nf6 - 18 Puzzles
English, Four Knights, Kingside Fianchetto (ECO A29) - 19 Puzzles


LiChess Opening Puzzles



Reversed Sicilian Video Lessons

Dive deeper into the Reversed Sicilian with these insightful video lessons from various chess instructors!


Reversed Sicilian - Discussion with GM Pavel Eljanov - 77 Min - Modern Chess -  He will present a selection of his most instructive games in this opening. During the analysis, GM Eljanov will talk about basic positional ideas, pawn structures, and theoretical trends.

The Reversed Sicilian: 1.c4 e5 · English Opening Theory - 1.5 Hr - Hanging Pawns - A comprehensive guide on the Reversed Sicilian, specifically the English Opening with 1.c4 e5. It discusses various strategies, pawn structures, and responses to different black moves highlighting the benefits of playing with an extra tempo as white.

English Opening Reversed Rossolimo Variation (Chess Openings) - 13 Min - Chess Mode - Today, we have looked at the reversed rossolimo with 4.Bb4. This is a pretty interesting way for black to play

Chessbase India


English Opening Reversed Dragon Variation (Chess Openings) - 18 Min - Chess Mode - Show you basic ideas and plans for for white and black in this variation of the English.
English Opening - Reversed Dragon - 17 Min - MKS Chess - Dragon reversed is an excellent way to meet blacks most popular move against the English opening of 2...Nf6. 

Playing Against the Reversed Sicilian


Game Videos (w/Analysis)

Observe top chess players navigate the complexities of the Reversed Sicilian with these annotated game videos!


English Opening - King's English Variation - 4 Video playlist

English Opening (Reversed Sicilian) | The Sensei Speedrun | GM Naroditsky - 10 Min

Master Class | English: Reversed Sicilian | Chess Speedrun | Grandmaster Naroditsky - 34 Min

Reverse Acc. Dragon | English Opening | GM Naroditsky’s Top Theory Speedrun - 63 Min - 
 presents a comprehensive guide to the English Opening in chess, focusing on principled play and the importance of controlling the center. He discusses various strategies, including the accelerated dragon setup

Reversed Sicilian problems - Ding Liren vs Hikaru Nakamura - 14 Min

NEW IDEAS in the Reversed Sicilian! - FF2 (in SF ) vs Stockfish 15 - Kramnik-Shirov Counterattack - 19 Min - Jozarov's Chess Channel - engine game.

Standard Chess #138: Seibt vs. IM Bartholomew (English Opening) - 31 Min

Blitz chess postmortem #481: English opening - Reverse Sicilian - 7 Min - Jim's Chess Channel

Blitz chess postmortem #985: English opening - Reverse Sicilian - 19 Min - Jim's Chess Channel

Blitz chess with live commentary #985: English opening - Reverse Sicilian - 21 Min - Jim's Chess Channel




Saturday, December 30, 2023

Silman Article Archive Part 3 - Chess Books & Magazines



Treasury of FREE Chess Articles By IM Jeremy Silman

501 Chess Articles from 2009 - 2023

So many of these Articles are Lessons, Games and Positions to Test and Teach the Reader.


Chess Books & Magazines
Recommendations on Some interesting Books

Classic Books - Here are a few that I feel will keep the reader spellbound (all are out of print and can be found online or in many used bookstores for very low prices). They discuss why players became addicted to the game, how different time periods influenced their game and their way of life, and the adventures that the chess greats regularly experienced.

Chess Books And Youth vs Old Age - Lengthy Article (Silman, Watson, Donaldson and Lakdawala ) All talk Chess-books. If you want some recommendations here are 4 authors with theirs

The Best Chess Books Ever - (Lists of Books Recommended By Other Famous Players) Serwain, Donaldson, Anthony Saidy, Danny Rensch, Jack Peters , Cyrus Lakdawala, David Pruess, John Watson, Jeremy Silman. Lengthy Article with a Lot of Info on Chess Books and Authors.

How To Understand Chess Openings - Opening Book Recommendations

Questions by the Mysterious NNs - Middle game Book Recommendations

Building a Chess Library - Recommendations

Speaking Prep & the English Opening - English Opening Book Recommendations

Non-Master Assessments - Article about Lower Rated Players writing Opening Books.

Explanatory Opening Books and a Reader Pet Line
 - 2 Questions, Opening Books for Lower Rated Players

Advanced Chess Books on Openings
- Articles about Book Strengths and List at end of recommendations.

My Favorite U.S. Chess Magazines: Part 1 - CHESS LIFE AND REVIEW - 8 Puzzles , Great History
My Favorite U.S. Chess Magazines, Part 2 - CHESS LIFE - 3 Annotated games , 2 Puzzles , History
My Favorite U.S. Chess Magazines, Part 3 - CHESS REVIEW - 4 Annotated games , 5 Puzzles , History

Chess Moves and Only Chess Moves - Makes the case that chess is made far richer by embracing the drama, personalities, and real world stories surrounding the game and its great players. He urges readers to delve into chess history, providing an overflowing reading list for those seeking to better know the giants of the past.

Chess Related Novels & Stories - Pretty In-Depth List of Chess Related Fiction and Stories

AI Created Graffitti image of a boy thinking with chess and books all around him on a wall in the style of Banksey.



( Reviews by Jeremy Silman, John Donaldson and John Emms )

(This is all reviews from books pre-2011 using the wayback machine)