The Bulgarian GM Delchev (current Elo 2661) proposes a sound yet aggressive Black Sicilian repertoire, based on the Taimanov system: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7. As Black, it is extremely difficult to get a playable position without accepting extreme risks. This book deals with reliable positional systems which will serve you for many years, without having to update your opening knowledge every two weeks. This setup is especially effective against the dreaded English attack. The author is one of the world's leading experts in that field and his recommendations are based mostly on his own games. Without hiding back his secrets, Delchev reveals many new ideas and novelties in his pet line. The authors pay also attention to White's deviations from the Open Sicilian. There are chapters about 3.c3, 3.d3, 3.Nc3, 3.b3, 3.c4 and other rare lines.

The book features a new form of presentation. Every system is examined in a separate part which contains three chapters: "Quick Repertoire"; "Step by Step"; "Complete Games". You start with the "Quick Repertoire". You'll find there all the vital information that you need to start playing the variation. "Step by Step" chapters follow the usual layout of Chess Stars books with main lines that branch to sub-lines. Finally, every part ends with "Complete Games".

Foreword to the Second Edition

The first edition of this book ap­peared in 2006 and I was soon to discover that it became too popular! Everyone of my opponents seemed extremely well prepared against the Taimanov, leaving me little room for surprise. Thus I decided to take a rest from the constant race for finding newer and newer novelties. It took me nearly two years to re­charge my batteries and return back to my pet line this year.

It was refreshing to have a new look at my old repertoire. The result of my work is this Second edition of The Safest Sicilian.

White players seem to believe that they can refute the whole sys­tem by the universal English attack 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Qd2. It is true that game 25 Vachier Lagrave - Vitiugov, Plo­vdiv, 02.05.2008 posed some prob­lems to Black, but, first, Black's play could be improved around move 19, and second, Black has elaborat­ed new ideas at earlier stages, like 11...Rb8!? or even 9...0-0 which I also examine. Thus, instead of get­ting theoretical advantage following in others' footsteps, White will have to prepare against three different lines which are nearly unexplored!

The Classical System 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2 has al­ways been unpleasant to face since White is very solid there and in some positions can play for a win without risk. I attempt to compli­cate his task by offering a wider choice to Black. Apart from patch­ing the old line 6...Qc7 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Be3 Bb4 9.Na4 Be7 10.Nc6 bc6 11.Nb6 Rb8 12.Nc8 Qc8 13.Bd4 c5, I also examine 13...Qc7!?. It is more flexible and will force your oppo­nent to think on his own.

Part 5: 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Bd3 has also underwent a major reconstruction. I added the system 7...Nf6 8.0-0 Ne5 9.Bd4 Bc5. It is simple, safe and suits the name of the book. It is proposed as an alternative to 7...Nf6 8.0-0 Ne5 which is more demand­ing to both sides.

I have also added new material to the Alapin system 3.c3 and to the 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.f4 variation. The rest of the book has only minor corrections.

Alexander Delchev July 2008

Content:
006 Foreword to the Second Edition

007 Introduction

012 About the Structure of This Book

Open Sicilian Systems

Part 1 The Hedgehog

014 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4

038 Part 2 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nb5 d6 6.Bf4

Part 3 The English Attack

049 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3

Part 4 The Classical System

075 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2

100 Part 5 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Bd3

123 Part 6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.f4

Part 7 The Fianchetto

144 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.g3

Part 8 Systems with Sxc6

165 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nc6 5.Nc6; 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Nc6; 6.Nb5

Anti-Sicilian Systems

Part 9 The Alapin System

180 3.c3

Part 10 KID reversed

200 3.d3

212 Part 11 Rare lines