Meeting 1e4

Rating:
Summary: Great opening, great book
Review: Bravo Alex Raetsky! Before this book, I had not even heard about this under-rated opening called the Four Knights Sicilian. Since I have started using it, my black score has improved a great deal. I haven't strayed into other black replies to 1.e4 since, because I love this opening so much. The Four Knights suit an aggresive positional player like me, who doesn't like to really get into the mating races that often happens in other sicilian defences. Another good thing about this opening is it has a basic theme running through it even when treating the c3 sic, closed sic, etc... The only reservation I can give is that if your a beginner this book will probably be over your head (lots of lines and variations), but if your an intermediate to advanced player like myself go for it! I promise you will not regret it. While your at it get the "meeting 1.d4" book too, it is great too but not as great :).

Rating:
Summary: Great opening, great book
Review: Bravo Alex Raetsky! Before this book, I had not even heard about this under-rated opening called the Four Knights Sicilian. Since I have started using it, my black score has improved a great deal. I haven't strayed into other black replies to 1.e4 since, because I love this opening so much. The Four Knights suit an aggresive positional player like me, who doesn't like to really get into the mating races that often happens in other sicilian defences. Another good thing about this opening is it has a basic theme running through it even when treating the c3 sic, closed sic, etc... The only reservation I can give is that if your a beginner this book will probably be over your head (lots of lines and variations), but if your an intermediate to advanced player like myself go for it! I promise you will not regret it. While your at it get the "meeting 1.d4" book too, it is great too but not as great :).

Rating:
Summary: Great opening , great book
Review: Bravo! Alex Raetsky! Before this book I hadn't even heard of this little underrated opening called the Four Knights Sicilian. I'm not so daring as to go into a mating race as sometimes happens with the other sicilians, I like aggressive positional games. And this opening is wonderful for my play, I have improved my black scores, and haven't strayed by playing other openings against 1.e4, I am so in love with it! The greatest thing about the book is it has a theme running through it and treats all other replies like the c3 sic. and closed sic. in similar ways, so it is in fact a complete answer to 1.e4. The only thing that may prevent a player from learning from this book is if they are a begginner-- it's probably over their heads (lots of lines and variations), but if your an intermediate to advanced player like me, go for it, you won't regret it! And buy the "meeting 1.d4" book too, it is great too (but not as good :]).

Rating:
Summary: A complete repertoire for a club player against 1.e4
Review: This is a nice book for a club player who is frustrated on meeting various responses from white after 1.e4 c5. As this book solely recommends a sicilian variation (four knights/classical sicilian), French-defence or Caro-kann players may be dissapointed with the material inside. However, sicilian players will rejoice to find a complete repertoire against sicilian c3, morra gambit, closed sicilian, grand-prix attack, etc.
All the variations are solid and theory approved, which is a good and a bad thing, for example 1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 against sicilian c3. The bad thing is that veteran 1.e4 players may be familiar with this repertoire. However, the author has put latest theory update on these variations and I find them very interesting.
Plus side: Solid repetoire, an honest evaluation of positions
Negative side: Familiar lines (less surprise value)