The Practical Sicilian Paulsen - Part 2: Completing the Repertoire
When GM Aydin Suleymanli released The Practical Sicilian Paulsen - Part 1, he addressed the sharpest theoretical battlegrounds of the Taimanov Defense after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6. Now, in Part 2, Suleymanli turns his attention to White's alternative approaches—the systems strong players encounter regularly but often prepare less thoroughly. The course operates on a practical premise: these deviations may be less critical than 6.Be3 a6, but they're far from harmless. Each requires specific understanding to convert comfortable positions into genuine winning chances.
A Complete Alternative Arsenal
Suleymanli's approach recognizes that a modern Paulsen repertoire must handle everything from solid positional setups to aggressive pawn storms. Part 2 systematically covers White's entire alternative arsenal at moves 5 and 6, including:
Variation Map:
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6
- Chapter 1: 5.Nb5 (immediate central pressure, c2-c4 ideas)
- Chapter 2: 5.Bf4 and 5.Nxc6 (solid development and structure transformation)
- Chapter 3: 5.c4 (space-claiming idea)
5.Nc3 Qc7
- Chapter 4: 6.Qd3 and rare sidelines (strategically interesting deviations)
- Chapter 5: 6.g4 (aggressive kingside pawn storm)
- Chapter 6: 6.f4 (taking space with quick-strike potential)
- Chapter 7: 6.g3 (flexible fianchetto system)
- Chapter 8: 6.Ncb5 Qb8 7.Bd3 (modern engine-recommended line with f4-f5 ideas)
6.Be2 Nf6
- Chapter 9: 7.Ndb5 (structural alteration for dynamic imbalance)
- Chapter 10: 7.0-0 (Scheveningen-type transpositions)
The unifying thread across these variations is Suleymanli's emphasis on transforming "solid equality" into active counterplay—understanding where White's alternative setups compromise coordination or create structural weaknesses Black can exploit
Course Structure
- 10 Chapters
- 20 Test Positions
- Memory Booster
- To Go Version of every chapter
- Video instruction
- Multilingual PGN availability (English, German, French, Spanish)
Together with Part 1, this creates a complete Paulsen repertoire grounded in practical reliability rather than theoretical optimism. Suleymanli's selection addresses the lines you'll actually face over the board, where preparation depth in "secondary" systems often determines outcomes.
Add The Practical Sicilian Paulsen - Part 2 to your repertoire and complete your understanding of White's alternative approaches.