Well, if we follow strictly the classical principles, it would hardly be possible to classify Black's set-up as positionally correct. It looks like White's undisputed dominance over the d5-outpost should provide him with a stable advantage. Still, things are much more complex in practice. Amazingly enough, Black always finds resources for active counterplay based on some already typical strategical maneuvers around White's basic outpost on d5.

My work with this book was a rather complicated task by itself. My colleagues asked me often (sometimes ironically, sometimes with genuine interest) whether I had managed to refute the Chelyabinsk variation and when that refutation would be published? Here, I must admit: no, I have not refuted the Chelyabinsk variation. Frankly speaking, I have not even tried to do that. As far as my experience and my understanding of chess are concerned, Black's opening set-up has a sound strategical basis and it can never be refuted outright. Having that in mind, I decided to try something different and that was to systematize the amassed material and knowledge and to point out the most unpleasant lines for Black.

In the first part of our book, we have analyzed some lines, which do not belong exactly to the Chelyabinsk variation (That is some rare tries for Black on move five after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3.), as well as some not so popular sidelines of the Sveshnikov variation. All these opening systems have long been outside of the favourable recommendations of theory and quite deservedly so. We did not need to add anything principally new, but still White should play very precisely. I hope that we have pointed out clear-cut and logical ways of obtaining the advantage for White in the opening.

The second part of the book comprises in fact its focus in the aspect of common sense. It deals with positions, which are being tested practically every month at all possible levels of competition. I agree completely with the majority of the grandmasters, who consider that the greatest problems which Black must face nowadays in the Chelyabinsk variation are in the system 5...e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Nd5 Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.c3. I have not tried to change radically any theoretical evaluations, but I have managed to discover some new ideas and I have to tell you that Black will need to solve difficult problems after them.