My email subscribers have already received the FREE version of 'Attacking The Sicilian', where, in Level 1, you've been learning the basic moves and ideas to fight for an advantage against the Sicilian and make your opponents as uncomfortable as possible!
Our very first student of the course, Corniek le Poole, was a lifelong 1.d4/2.c4 player. However, after studying Level 1, he tested 'Attacking The Sicilian', winning his very first game with the repertoire, and against a similarly-rated player at that!
Now it's time to go deeper, mastering the middlegame positions from the 'Attacking The Sicilian' repertoire and learning the Grandmaster repertoire in detail.
As an 1.e4 player, you will face the Sicilian Defence in around 40-50% of your games.
Imagine having a master level understanding and a Grandmaster-strength repertoire for one in every four or five games...do you think your results would significantly improve, with such a mighty weapon in your arsenal?
For those who are already part of The Chess Improvement Group family - 'Attacking The Sicilian' completes the 'Chess Improvement Repertoire' with 1.e4 for White. Now, you will be ready for everything your opponent can throw at you.
This repertoire is founded on two key principles, that comprise a world-class quality of play:
1. Playing the best moves possible in the opening.
2. Setting as many practical problems for our opponent as we can, to maximize their chances of making mistakes.
'Attacking The Sicilian' fulfils both of these requirements. This repertoire is very easy to learn and understand with my Grandmaster explanations behind the moves.
You'll notice that a lot of the same pawn structures, ideas and middlegame plans occur in the different variations, making it much easier for you to understand the positions and execute the key moves and plans correctly in your own games.
You may recall that in a previous Chess.com blog post, I shared how I used to struggle greatly against the Rossolimo (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5) as a junior, and it took me 17 years of playing and studying the Sicilian as Black to begin to overcome this hurdle!
Later, I also had many headaches dealing with the Moscow (2...d6 3.Bb5) and the Delayed Alapin (2...e6 3.c3). I was so frustrated about losing to lower-rated players in these lines, that I started playing them with the White pieces - with excellent results!
As a gift for my Chess.com followers and blog readers, here is a quick overview of the 'Attacking The Sicilian' repertoire:
You may also remember my story of trying to learn the Open Sicilian as White, starting in early 2005. It took me numerous failed attempts, and a total of five years, before the Open Sicilian as White finally 'clicked' for me - even though I was very successful and comfortable playing the Open Sicilian with the Black pieces as a junior!
In hindsight, I can say that I would have saved myself five years of suffering, frustration and struggle if I had played the 'Attacking The Sicilian' repertoire, with Bb5(+) and the Improved Alapin instead!
That's what excites me most about this repertoire - it's based on my experience with both colours in the Sicilian. I continue to be very successful playing this repertoire in my own games (including, against fellow Grandmasters in online blitz), but these same lines are also the ones I have the worst results against with the Black pieces!
While recording this 'Attacking The Sicilian' course this month, I tested the repertoire in several blitz games on Chess.com.
A pattern quickly emerged - when playing my 'Attacking The Sicilian' Grandmaster repertoire, I generally won. If I didn't play the Grandmaster repertoire, I usually didn't win!
My performance with the repertoire in September (thus far) is 8/10, beating all 3 GMs I played and performing at 2943 Chess.com blitz (nearly 100 points above my current blitz rating). In fact, I was winning before move 20 in both the games I lost, so even this 'setback' represents a success for the repertoire!
Here are the games:
You know what to do - play my 'Attacking The Sicilian' repertoire and learn how to beat the Sicilian players at your next tournament!
Are You A Chess Player Who Wants To Improve 100-200 Points In The Next 3 Months?
I'm looking for students who:
- Are passionate about chess;
- Are based in Australia, the Americas or East Asia;
- Are rated above 1600 (if you're below 1600, I have a curriculum to get you to 1600+ rapidly);
- Want to improve your chess as quickly, efficiently, and enjoyably as possible;
Once I reach my limit, I won't accept any more private students.
To discover more about how I can help you improve your play and subsequently, raise your chess ratings quickly, send me an email at illingworthchess@gmail.com, or direct message me on Facebook: m.me/max.illingworth.16
