"The Alapin (Sicilian with 2.c3) is a very safe way for White to play for a win", says someone who knows what he is talking about: Grandmaster Rogozenko has for almost ten years been commenting on the most important games in the Alapin for ChessBase Magazine. For this opening system he has now completed a CD-ROM that no friend of the Sicilian should miss.
There is little doubt that, with its numerous sub-systems, the Sicilian Defence represents a powerful challenge for anyone who plays 1.e4. Of course, it is particularly tempting to think you can master the sicilian defence with a single move 2.c3, otherwise known as the Alapin System. And also, objectively speaking, 2.c3 is in no way inferior to the open systems. But there is also a little downside here too: you can no longer surprise your opponent with the Alapin System, for there has been an enormous increase in the theory of 2.c3 in recent years. Yet Dorian Rogozenko's CD can help you construct a strong repertoire against the Sicilian. Because this is a major new work, which reflects the latest state of theory and even goes beyond it.
This exciting new CD has a lot of new lines and ideas in the Sicilian Alapin and contains:
-
54 database texts
-
500 games annotated by Dorian Rogozenko
-
Database with 75,000 Sicilian Alapin games
-
Training database
-
Reader based on ChessBase 9.0
The CD starts off on a page listing the different lines and sidelines along with the training database and opening key. You can click on a specific line you want to study (or just start at the beginning are read like a book) and a page (like the 2nd picture) will come up. This will explain the ideas and moves in this particular line and will have links to high-level and instructive games of which many of which are annotated by the author, Rogozenko. (Picture 4)
If you want to test yourself you can try the training database, it will have questions about specific lines or positions from the Sicilian Alapin for you to solve. You can also browse the games by... player, rating, date, position, material, piece manoeuvers, game results, tournaments, etc. Another cool possibility is searching players (Picture 3) or tournaments that have games from the Sicilian Alapin. All around, this program is easy and fun to use!
(Search games by players, ratings, date, and much more!)
(Example of 5...e5)
(Search the players and their games)
(One of the many annotated games)
This is a great CD! Whether you want an alternative to the open sicilian or need a response for black, this is a VERY useful tool.
NSG rating = 9.3 of 10