The Complete Kalashnikov

If you are looking for a deadly weapon against 1.e4, the Kalashnikov Sicilian could well be your best choice!

The Kalashnikov is a special opening were theoretical knowledge plays an important role. It’s in 1834 that the French champion Labourdonnais played 4...e5 for the first time. But theKalashnikov is a decidedly modern opening. 

That’s why the opening only started gaining in popularity in the late 1980’s, in particular thanks to the famous Russian grandmaster Evgeny Sveshnikov. Ever since, many top level players have added it to their repertoire: Pavel Tregubov, Alexei Fedorov, Etienne Bacrot, Alexander Moiseenko and Teimour Radjabov.

Grandmasters Cornette and Libiszewski always thought that the Kalashnikov, which promises Black dynamic compensation in exchange for the apparent weakness of the d5 square and the backwards d6 pawn, was not well-known enough and that its potential was underestimated.

Iinitially they were planning to only build a Black repertoire, but they quickly realized it would be a shame to not reveal all of the lines and ideas that are concealed within the Kalashnikov. 

They present objective and exhaustive analyses of every line, with numerous novelties. Readers can build a complete Black repertoire and do not any longer need to be afraid of facing the Kalashnikov with White. 

This book will be of interest for both amateurs and experts of this variation as it includes many new ideas for White and Black. 

Matthieu Cornette (1985) is a French GM who is respected both as a player and as a coach. He wrote this book together with his friend, French GM Fabian Libiszewski (1984).

GM Glenn Flear, Yearbook 106:
"The investigative project goes well beyond what can found elsewhere, novelties abound, as do umpteen pages of their own ideas. The explanations, with text and symbols, hit the mark and are backed up by some amazing analyses."

• Casa editrice Chess Evolution
• Code 6487
• Anno 2013
• Pagine p. 264
• Isbn 9788393700912