This book is in every way a definitive guide: Efstratios Grivas provides the inside story on a variation of the Sicilian Defence that he has worked for more than 20 years to perfect, and which rightly bears his name. The Grivas Sicilian (1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Qb6) has proved itself sound and reliable in practice, but is also far less well investigated than most Sicilian systems. This gives it an extra sting in practice, which readers will be able to use to their advantage over the board - it is most unlikely that their opponents will have a well-worked-out response ready. The Grivas Sicilian generally leads to positions akin to the Scheveningen, but with some subtle differences. Grivas explains these subtleties at length, helping readers to exploit all their chances to seize the initiative.

Grandmaster Efstratios Grivas lives in Athens and is also a Senior FIDE Trainer, International Arbiter and Organizer. He has represented his country on a great many occasions, winning an individual gold medal at the 1989 European Team Championship and an individual silver medal at the 1998 Olympiad. He is a federal trainer and an experienced writer, though this is his first book in the English language.

Download a pdf file with a sample from the book.

"This was a charming book." - GM Simen Agdestein

"A very well written book. A good option for those looking for active counterplay against 1.e4 while still on the safe side. A must for e4-players and of course for players, who already play the Grivas Sicilian." - IM Robert Zysk

"As a resume I recommend this book to all chess enthusiasts and even to my grandmaster colleagues. Efstratios is really very kind to share almost all the conceptions and guidelines in brainchild and now what we have to do is to read this piece of art carefully and pay him back by picking it up in a tournament or play it at least from time to time." - GM Suat Atalik, www.chessville.com

"In our computer age it is very difficult to produce any fresh ideas in the opening, and even more difficult to create a good and reliable opening guide. However, this particular book is an extraordinary exception! ... I have read this book with great pleasure and learned a lot of useful things! I am convinced that you too will like it!" - GM Boris Avrukh

"Verdict: another high-class opening manual from GAMBIT. If you like Scheveningen-centre positions for Black, this could be a very useful route for you to reach them. Recommended. " - Phil Adams, 3Cs website

"Conclusion: Grivas has clearly poured his heart and soul into this work. I suspect that there is nothing that he knows about this line that has not been provided. It does not pretend to be a 'secret system' leading to winning positions for Black, but rather an interesting and provocative lesser-known line that is playable. If one is familiar with d6/e6 Sicilian lines, this will be of high interest. Highly Recommended." - Don Aldrich, Chess Today

"This system must certainly be viable and 'correct'." - Dr W. Schweizer, Rochade

"All in all my impression is: a solid work, which ought to be interesting and useful, above all for players of the black pieces who like the above-mentioned types of positions." - Gerd Treppner, Rochade

"Recommended for all fans of the Sicilian Defence, who want to add a new variation to their repertoire." - Jerzy Konikowski, Fernschach International

Gambit books by Grivas: A Complete Guide to the Grivas Sicilian, Beating the Fianchetto Defences, Chess College 1: Strategy, Chess College 2: Pawn Play, Chess College 3: Technique, Modern Chess Planning.