Batsford has released a number of new titles since my last set of book reviews. One that I like very much is Chris Ward's Winning with the Sicilian Dragon 2. This is based upon his earlier 1994 Winning with the Dragon, a fact admitted to and referred to repeatedly by the author. What a pleasant change! The book is so thoroughly rewritten that he could almost be forgiven for claiming to have written a separate work. Dragon theory has expanded greatly, and Ward is particularly on top of things as the man in charge of the Dragon site at ChessPublishing.com.

I already have considerable experience using this book since a student of mine plays the Dragon. We have found it very instructive and easy to work with. Ward has a refreshing approach in many respects: revealing his own home analysis, showing a willingness to switch systems for the reader, exhibiting a pleasant and never obnoxious sense of humor, and giving extensive positional explanations. He offers two full systems versus the critical 9.0-0-0; and it would have been nice to see something similar, however short, versus the 9.Bc4 lines and perhaps against 6.Bc4 and the Classical Dragon; but that is asking a lot, and in any case might have required an extra 30 pages or more.

The chapters on all the lines just mentioned are particularly efficiently and tightly presented, with detailed and original analysis based upon Ward's own extensive experiences. It's hard to say more about such analysis without presenting examples. I haven't time for that and can only say that I would be surprised if any Dragon player wouldn't benefit greatly from it. Ward offers instructive commentary on general themes throughout the book, as well as in his introductory chapter.

Other reviewers have complained about the short last chapter of the book called Tips in the Anti-Sicilian, apparently added to justify the subtitle A Complete Repertoire against 1.e4 for Attacking Players. I agree wholeheartedly with them: better to eliminate the subtitle and chapter, or in any case the chapter. Ward's 'tips' are very abbreviated and often even his snippets are oddly irrelevant. But this is only a minor issue.

Bottom line: a high-quality and enjoyable book that reflects Ward's hard work and obvious enthusiasm. Any Dragon fan should definitely get this book, whether they have the older edition or not.

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