Valeri Bronznik

The Basman-Sale Variation is a relatively unexplored weapon for Black in the Sicilian Defence. After the perfectly normal moves 1.e4 c5, 2. Nf3 e6, 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Black lashes out with 4...Bc5 English IM Michael Basman and Croatian IM Srdjan Sale were the pioneers of this cunning chess opening system. The advantages are clear: it is surprising, aggressive and easy to learn. Compared to the complexity of mainstream Sicilian variations it requires little theoretical preparation, while you don't run excessive risks. That is why The Lazy Man's Sicilian is ideal for club players who don't have much time to study opening theory (or are not too fond of hard work anyway). This easily accessible and up-to-date book offers everything you need to get started with the Basman-Sale Variation. In well-organized chapters it describes the history and underlying ideas of the variation and explains the pawn-structures, the strategies and the tactical themes. What's more, if you play the Basman-Sale system, there is plenty of room for your own creativity as well

Techniques of Positional Play, an improved edition of a Russian classic, teaches amateur chess players 45 extremely effective skills in a crystal-clear manner. It is reliving quite heavily and doing very well after a 2023 video by famous YouTube star Andrea Botez. Quite a few of the techniques will be revelations for club players, as they offer solutions for problems amateurs are often only subconsciously aware of. The techniques are easy to understand and memorize. The authors present a wealth of practical examples and do not burden the reader with unnecessary deep analysis. There is a special training section at the end of the book where you can test your newly acquired skills.