The Sicilian Four Knights: A Simple and Sound Defense to 1.e4

Product Description

A Straightforward and Solid Way to Meet 1.e4

With all the many books and articles on the Sicilian Defense, there is surprisingly little about the Four Knights Variation. Its starting position is reached after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6. It may also be reached after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6. Some prefer 2…e6 to 2…Nc6 because it avoids 3.Bb5.

The fundamentals of the Sicilian Four Knights are not hard to learn. Black reaches the middlegame quickly and safely, with lively piece play in the dynamic positions which arise. There is no easy ride for White here, and, in particular, if he gets over-ambitious, he can find himself on the receiving end of a powerful attack very quickly.

The material is very well structured, and the assessments are objective and backed with accurate analysis which will not cause the reader fatigue by becoming exceedingly elaborate … But, above all, this is an opening that is definitely sound and this work proves it. It will improve your ability to score against both weaker and stronger opposition, offering clear-cut and occasionally bold play.

“Author David Willis has done a fine job of clearly presenting the analysis, providing us with comprehensive explanations and sound lines in an opening that deserves more attention and popularity. I can wholeheartedly recommend the Four Knights to all levels of players.” — From the Foreword by Vassilios Kotronias

About the Author:

Correspondence senior master David Willis is one of the strongest American correspondence chessplayers. He is also a master in over-the-board play and has been relying on the Sicilian Four Knights as his go-to defense against 1.e4 for years. He lives with his family in San Diego. This is his first book for Russell Enterprises.

About the Author

Correspondence senior master
David Willis is one of the strongest American correspondence chessplayers. He is also a master in over-the-board play and has been relying on the Sicilian Four Knights as his go-to defense against 1.e4 for years. He lives with his family in San Diego. This is his first book for Russell Enterprises.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter 1
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Ndb5
This is White’s most popular sixth move. It attacks the dark squares in Black’s position and threatens 7.Bf4, furthering the attack.

The main line is 6.Ndb5 Bb4 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.Nxc3 d5 9.exd5 exd5 10.Bd3 0-0 11.0-0 d4 12.Ne2 Bg4.
[Diagram]
This position is examined in Sections 11, 12, and 13. The many side variations of this line are examined in Sections 1 through 10:

Section 1: 6…Bc5 (p. 21); Section 2: 7.Nd6+ (p. 27); Section 3: 7.Bf4 (p. 31); Section 4: 9.Bd3 (p. 42); Section 5: 9…Nxd5 (p. 47); Section 6: 10.Bg5 (p. 53); Section 7: 10…d4 (p. 58); Section 8: 11.0-0 Sidelines (p. 62); Section 9: 12.Ne4 (p. 67); Section 10: 12.Ne2 Sidelines (p. 71); Section 11: 12…Bg4 Sidelines (p. 79); Section 12: 13.f3 (p. 83); and Section 13: 13.Bg5 (p. 92).

Overview
After 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Ndb5, Black has three playable replies:
(1) 6…d6 leaves the Sicilian Four Knights and transposes to the Sveshnikov after 7.Bf4 e5 8.Bg5. Good books are available for those interested in this popular defense;
(2) 6…Bc5 is sometimes played. It preserves Black’s strong bishop, but grants White a free hand to attack Black’s dark squares with either 7.Nd6+ or 7.Bf4. It is covered in Section 1; and (3) 6…Bb4 is standard. It counterattacks by threatening 7…Nxe4. It is covered in Sections 2 through 13.

Other sixth move replies are bad:
6…d5? 7.exd5 Nxd5 (7…exd5? 8.Bf4i) 8.Nxd5 exd5 9.Bf4y, Szalanczy-Wandy, Budapest, 2020.

6…a6? 7.Nd6+ Bxd6 8.Qxd6 Qe7 9.Bf4y, Kashdan-Vidmar, Prague 1931.

6…Bb4 7.a3
[Diagram]
White forces Black to give up his strong dark-square bishop for a knight. This will leave White with the powerful advantage of the two bishops in an