For decades, Lakdawala described himself as a "chicken" when it came to openings, preferring safe, quiet structures like the London System or the Caro-Kann. He had experimented with sharper Sicilians like the Dragon and the Najdorf in his youth, but after a string of humiliating losses, he abandoned them for a quarter-century.
The story behind Cyrus Lakdawala's is one of a "conversion" to an opening that initially terrified him. Known for his witty, personal, and conversational writing style, Lakdawala’s book on the Sveshnikov is not just a technical guide but a chronicle of how he overcame his own cautious nature. The Story of "Instant Faith" Cyrus Lakdawala Opening Repertoire The Sveshn...
: To their shock, Lakdawala won easily against the GM. He realized that the Sveshnikov was a Sicilian that even an "initiative-challenged" player like himself could comprehend because it forced him into bold action. About the Book For decades, Lakdawala described himself as a "chicken"
: The opening saw a massive surge in popularity after Magnus Carlsen chose it as his primary weapon during his 2018 World Championship match against Fabiano Caruana. Known for his witty, personal, and conversational writing
: It is designed for aggressive players who are confident in their tactical ability or, like Lakdawala, players who need an opening that "won't allow them to be overly cautious".