Dreev's Deep Classical Sicilian: A Complete Repertoire for Black – Part 1
For GM Alexey Dreev, the Sicilian has never been a phase but a lifelong choice. He has played 1...c5 throughout his career, and among all its branches he considers the Classical Variation the most healthy one.
His reasoning is simple. Black develops naturally, fights for the centre and plays for a win, without the volume of forced theory that surrounds the Najdorf. What the Classical demands instead is understanding.
The Rauzer: There Is No Way Around It
Anyone who plays 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 knows which move comes next most often: 6.Bg5, the Richter-Rauzer Attack. As Dreev puts it, a Classical Sicilian player will meet it in every second game.
That is why Part 1 of this repertoire is devoted entirely to 6.Bg5. Black answers with 6...e6, the classical main line. It requires real knowledge, but it gives a repertoire built to last, one that can be played against any opponent.
Authors and Approach
The course is the joint work of GM Alexey Dreev and GM Pier Luigi Basso. Their method puts understanding before memorisation. Chapter 1 is a general overview covering move orders, typical structures and the plans of both sides, and it is meant to be watched before any concrete line.
From there, the choices follow a clear practical logic. Against 7.f4, Black heads by force into a favourable endgame with 7...Qb6. Against 9.f3, Black takes at once with 9...Nxd4, and against the main line 11.Kb1, the recommended 11...Bc6 keeps the position under control with less theory than the usual ...Qc7 setups.
The centre of the whole system is the main tabiya of the Rauzer. White plays against e6, while Black counters on the queenside.
Map of Variations
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 → Chapter 1 (general overview)
7.Qd2 a6 8.O-O-O Bd7 9.f4 Be7
- 10.Be2 and other 10th moves → Chapter 2
- 10.Nf3 b5 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Kb1 Qb6 13.f5 O-O-O 14.g3 → Chapter 3
- 10.Nf3 b5 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Kb1 Qb6 13.Bd3 → Chapter 4
- 10.Nf3 b5 11.e5 b4 12.exf6 bxc3 13.Qxc3 gxf6 → Chapter 5
- 10.Nf3 b5 11.Bd3 and other sidelines → Chapter 6
7.Qd2 a6 8.O-O-O Bd7 9.f3 Nxd4 10.Qxd4 Be7
- 11.h4 and other sidelines → Chapter 7
- 11.Kb1 Bc6 12.Qd2 h6 → Chapter 8
7.Qd2 a6 8.O-O-O Bd7 9.Kb1 → Chapter 9
7.Qd2 a6 8.Nxc6 and other 8th moves → Chapter 10
7.f4 Qb6 → Chapter 11
7.Qd3 Bd7
- 8.Ndb5 and other sidelines → Chapter 12
- 8.O-O-O a6 9.f4 → Chapter 13
7.Bb5 Bd7
- 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.Qf3 and other alternatives → Chapter 14
- 8.Qd3 Nxd4 9.Bxd7+ Qxd7 10.Qxd4 → Chapter 15
Premium Course Features
This is a Modern Chess Premium course, built as a complete training system:
- 15 theory chapters
- Video instruction throughout
- 50 test positions: critical moments with tactical and strategic solutions
- 5 training positions for interactive practice against the engine
- 4 model games showing the ideas in high-level play
- 5 things to know: the typical patterns and concepts of the repertoire
- Memory File: the 15 chapters condensed into one, holding the most important lines
- Memory Booster for long-term recall of the key ideas
- To-Go Version of every chapter: condensed files for fast pre-game review
- Multilingual PGN files in English, German, French and Spanish
- Full download access: all materials are yours to keep
Completing the Picture Against 1.d4
For players who want to build their whole Black repertoire on Dreev's ideas, his work against 1.d4 follows the same practical philosophy. Against 3.Nc3, he built a Nimzo-Indian repertoire in two parts (Part 1 and Part 2). Against 3.Nf3, there is the Bogo-Indian Defense with ...Qe7 for Black.
Start Your Classical Sicilian Repertoire
The Rauzer will come, often and early. Dreev's Deep Classical Sicilian – Part 1 makes sure you meet it with clear plans, practical solutions and a repertoire built to serve for many years. Explore the course and make 6.Bg5 a position you look forward to.