Repertoire books of the subject matter type Beating the Sicilian (i.e. advocating White side of Open Sicilians) have interested me over the years, even though I now as a veteran play Anti-Sicilians at least as much (easier on study time and the nerves, and Kaufman, plus his engine, has recommended some). Shaw rejects Anti-Sicilians as not putting enough pressure on Black, but immediate pressure is not everything in chess.
Shaw's Playing 1.e4 series deals with Sicilian Main Lines in one volume (sidelines by Black are lumped in with the French volume). The book does the expected (= hatchet job) to uncommon-at-elite-level 'main lines' that include Four Kts, Lowenthal, Kalashnikov and Accelerated Dragon (the latter the only one with any sort of history of success for Black at elite level, although success has often been just a draw for the second player). The Sveshnikov has fallen on hard times due to the positional main lines - Black is pretty well fighting to avoid facing more than a micro-disadvantage if White knows what to do, and hardly wins anymore at elite level. The cornerstone of the Sicilian, the Scheveningen, by the traditional move order (and as a whole), has become marginalized, mostly due to the Keres Attack (6.g4 - when objectively best is no doubt 6...h6 - I think Black has a sporting chance, fwiw), although this book advocates the English Attack setup wherever it can be used (Scheveningen players can avoid the Keres by tricky move orders, too, although these can have drawbacks). The book likes White's practical chances, without finding a true theoretical edge a purist would demand. It's a similar story with the Najdorf English (6.f3 e5) but here Shaw often loves White's position in endgames, in spite of 0.00 by engine(s) - here I've looked a bit myself (with Houdini alongside), and with CA16 database, and there are various interesting tries to avoid the book's analysis before said endgames arise. The book doesn't give Black much respect in the Classical variation vs. the English Attack, but this seems (to this old-timer) hard to trust - I meant to check a number of things, if I ever hope to play the Classical as Black.
The book does give respect to the so-called Taimanov (aka Paulsen, really), but notes Black faces ample dangers. There is no respect for the Kan shown (due to 5.c4), some of the abuse simply being verbal expression of faith in the White side, but CA16 database and Houdini both comfort me with numerous ideas for Black in a number of lines, as I play this defence now and then. The Dragon historically goes in and out of theoretical trouble, but barely looks okay to me, in spite of what the book says. It advocates the 9.0-0-0 Yugoslav, when, sadly, 9...Nxd4 and 9...Be6 (besides other, weird, sidelines) look thoroughly refuted. I have some hopes for 9...Bd7, but clearly the main line is 9...d5 - not much respect for it shown by the book, but between older books I have and some computer insights, I keep hope for Black (it's another Sicilian I use at times).
Last edited by Kevin Pacey; 01-08-2022 at 02:41 PM.
Reason: Adding content
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
Hamlet (1.5.167-8), Hamlet to Horatio.