A Black Repertoire versus the Anti-Sicilians by Nicholas Pert

A Black Repertoire versus the Anti-Sicilians

The Sicilian is the most popular opening against 1.e4 because it is theoretically sound but offers Black double-edged play at the same time. Whilst you must know how to handle the main line (2. Nf3 and 3.d4), sidelines are also very important. In this video series I give a strong and practical Black repertoire against these sidelines such as the Bb5 Sicilian, the Grand Prix Attack, the Alapin and many more, from my years of experience playing the Sicilian.

The repertoire is designed for players who play 2...Nc6 against the main line Sicilian. This video series is the perfect complement to my Kalashnikov video series in order to give Black a complete repertoire against 1...e4, but it will also complement other Sicilian lines. For example if you play the Sveshnikov Sicilian (Magnus Carlsen’s recent choice), Accelerated Dragon, Grivas Sicilian, Taimanov Variation, Flohr Variation or Loewenthal Variation against the main line Sicilian, then this video series can be used to cover all of the important sidelines that White might play. There are also many useful chapters for players who play other Sicilian variations (not involving an early Nc6). I find that sidelines are more common than the main line at club level, and possibly at top level too, so having a strong repertoire against these sidelines is essential for any Sicilian player.

Sample video

1. Introduction
2. Bb5 systems
3. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
4. Bb5 Sicilian with 3...g6 4.Bxc6 dxc6
5. Bb5 Sicilian with 3...g6 4.0-0 Bg7
6. Bb5 Sicilian with 3...g6 4.0-0 and 9.Be3
7. 3...Nd4 4.Nf3 Nxb5
8. 3...Nd4 4.Bc4 e6 5.Nf3 Nf6
9. 3...Nd4 4.Bc4 e6 5.Nge2 Nf6
10. Alapin 2.c3
11. 1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5
12. White plays with early cxd4: 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.cxd4 d6/5.cxd4 d6
13. 4.d4 cxd4 5.Bc4/Qxd4 and Morra Gambit (2.d4) transposition.
14. White delays d4: 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 c4 7.Bc2 d6
15. White plays d4 and Bc4 sidelines: 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bc4 Nb6 7.Bb3 d5 8.exd6 Qxd6 Sidelines
16. White plays d4 and Bc4 with 10.Na3: 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bc4 Nb6 7.Bb3 d5 8.exd6 Qxd6 9.0-0 Be6 10.Na3
17. Grand Prix and Closed Sicilian
18. 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6
19. Grand Prix Attack – 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bb5 Nd4
20. Grand Prix Attack – 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 e6
21. Other f4 setups: 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.g3/a3/d3 and 2.f4 d5
22. Closed Sicilian – 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 d6 6. Be3 and 6.Nge2
23. Closed Sicilian – 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 d6 6.f4 e6
24. 2.d3 and 2.g3
25. Miscellaneous
26. 1.e4 c5
27. a3 Sicilian and Wing Gambit: 2.a3 g6 and 2.b4 cxb4
28. b3 Sicilian: 2.b3 g6 3.Bb2 Nf6
29. Miscellaneous
30. 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nge2 Nd4
31. 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 e5
32. Exercises
33. Exercise 01
34. Exercise 02
35. Exercise 03
36. Exercise 04
37. Exercise 05
38. Exercise 06
39. Exercise 07
40. Exercise 08
41. Exercise 09
42. Exercise 10
43. Exercise 11
44. Exercise 12