About books on the Sicilian Grand Prix Attack

I've noticed there hasn't been a huge amount to choose from. I guess that's due to the opening's contentious rep and the way focus has shifted away from the Bc4 variation towards Bb5 instead over the years. I was hoping to find a comprehensive overview of both (+ any other) variations in a single book. I checked out some descriptions and reviews online and thought that maybe Gary Lane's and Gawain Jones' books might be the nearest to what i'm looking for.

When i was playing OTB League chess in the 1980s i started playing the GPA after reading a section of Leonard Barden's book "Play Better Chess" and also some annotated games by Rumens, Hebden Hodgson etc. published in "Chess" magazine. I generally did well with the opening despite only having a vague idea what i was doing (my opponents were usually in the same boat)... A bit later i bought Hodgson/Day's book on the GPA which was a bit lightweight and dissapointing and i no longer have it. I see it got reprinted more recently and am guessing that it wasn't updated in any way(?)

Any thoughts and recommendations?

Isn’t there a relevant book by Sveshnikov?

The Grand Prix Attack by Evgeny Sveshnikov (2013)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140626232217/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen171.pdf
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/979.pdf

Maybe, there is something helpful in My First Chess Opening Repertoire for White by Vincent Moret.
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/9033.pdf

Thanks for the links, kindaspongey. I read a few reviews of Sveshnikov's book, which advocates a return to the more 'primitive' 2. f4 version of the GPA. That's interesting but i was just looking for more of an updated catch-up with the usual 2. Nc3 version.

"The Chess Openings For White, Explained" By Dzindzichashvili, Alburt, et al features the Grand Prix Attack as their weapon against the Sicilian. There's a lot of analysis there

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627032909/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen89.pdf

Thanks guys for the info. I wonder how people buy chess books these days. I used to mail-order some from Batsford in the 1980s but there were also more bookshops at that time that had little sections of chess books. That's no longer the case but i did mail-order a few books early this year via a bookshop in town. So far, haven't bought anything off e-bay but eventually i might try selling some vinyl LPs online...

How about this place?

https://shop.chess.co.uk/

Thanks Laskersnephew, some interesting titles!

I have never seen any authoritative claim that either side has a forced win.

This is very good...

Starting Out: Sicilian Grand Prix Attack by Gawain Jones...

https://www.amazon.com/Starting-Out-Sicilian-Grand-Attack/dp/1857445473/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1D109PDG5G06Z&keywords=starting+out+sicilian+grand+prix+attack&qid=1564836522&s=books&sprefix=starting+out+grand%2Cinstant-video%2C195&sr=1-1

whats wrong with a database and doing your own analysis?

I mentioned that book in my first post. It got a bad review in "Chess" magazine when it came out where the writer thought Hodgson was guilty of withholding key lines for his own use. Also the book was very short, but i ended up buying it anyway as there wasn't any other books on the opening at that time.

I think the 'glamorous' Bc4 variation has fallen out of favour at top levels but as far as i know the Bb5 variation is still ok(?)

Yes, it gets nothing but good reviews online but i'm slightly worried it could be a bit basic and avoid talking about 'awkward' lines for White

Most of us are too lazy to do our own analysis of every move from the start. If i'm learning a new opening i'm happy to let the author guide me for a bit then see what happens. In 2 of my Daily games though, i seem to be in uncharted territory. I just spent a whole week (on & off) mulling over a key position in an obscure line in the Blackmar-Diemer gambit...

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627012235/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen111.pdf

Read this review of Gawain Jones' book on the Grand Prix Attack

Vincent Moret's book provides an excellent tutorial (with example games), on how to properly play the GPA.  If you are not already skilled in playing it, this book is a very good place to start...