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Anti Sicilian Openings


  • 11 months ago · Quote · #1

    Shivy3899

    Hello everyone. I was wondering if anyone could please post some Anti-Sicilian for White to play. I have read other posts and i was wondering if there were any other lines besides the Smith Morra and the Alapin. I used to play the Wing Gambit, however I don't see how its effective. 

    Thanks!

  • 11 months ago · Quote · #2

    DrSpudnik

    The Closed is OK, but I prefer the Bb5 (+) lines. However, Black can foil these with 2. ...e6 or ...a6 or ...g6

  • 11 months ago · Quote · #3

    chessblood

    1. d4

  • 11 months ago · Quote · #4

    finalunpurez

  • 11 months ago · Quote · #5

    DrSpudnik

    When you play Bb5, about a quarter of the games at least will be with 3...a6, which is lame if not outright bad.

  • 11 months ago · Quote · #6

    finalunpurez

    Its playable just not as good compared to other lines.

  • 11 months ago · Quote · #7

    ponz111

    Yes, if they play a6 after my B gets to b5 they are usually making a big mistake.

     

    I noticed some very high world class gms playing these Bb5 lines.

  • 11 months ago · Quote · #8

    ponz111

    If you play the Bb5 lines vs the Sicilian then you must have answers for

    2. ...a6  or  2. ...e6  or 2. ...g6

  • 11 months ago · Quote · #9

    finalunpurez

    thats right!!!

  • 11 months ago · Quote · #10

    chessolite

    i always play bb5 . i love this opening

  • 11 months ago · Quote · #11

    TonyH

    dont be scared of sicilains . if you play e4 for an attacking position why avoid a game that allows you more space and piece activity? People THINK that everyone who plays a siclian has spent hours studying lines and memorizing stuff. They could not be more wrong. If a player is your rating there is a reason! they have problems with certain things just like you do. If you strengthen your ability to deal with an open sicilain then you have that knowledge and ability to add to your other areas. the result is that you gain in understanding and strength.

    Bb5 is ok but doesnt work against everything. like certain move orders in the taimanov. c3 sicilian works great against certain levels but I can promise you that its not going to surprise players who are more advanced (it certainly doesnt concern me and I understand the structures better than most c3 players because of my experience with italian and guccio piano positions and IQP) Closed sicilans either since imo that just shows me a player is afraid of tactical complications. They rarely understand the actual structures that occur and typical counter playing ideas by black. (...f5 for instance) I am not saying its bad to learn them BUT if your doing it out of fear or lack of understanding then thats bad.

    Karpov crushed players in the sicilan for decades with his quiet approach (Be2) Check out his games and approach. Only Kasparov could deal with Karpov's approach consistently but that doesnt invalidated it for the rest of us. 

  • 11 months ago · Quote · #13

    ponz111

    Regarding the Smith Morra Gambit. I used to play it a lot some 30 plus years ago. In fact, Ken Smith called me "my hero" because I had so many good games that he published.

    Having said all that, The Smith Morra is probably unsound and should not be played if you are serious of gaining master level or above. It certainly can be played for fun however or to improve your tactics.

  • 11 months ago · Quote · #14

    TonyH

    just to clarify. the main anti sicilains approaches are legit but I dislike the mental approach of avoiding mainlines because of an unfounded fear.

    I feel that many class players pick them out of fear to avoid open sicilains against players they think are booked up and can beat them based on this alone. I feel that no one should fear any particular opening if a players results are poor in a particular position then study it and improve at least to a level they can make an educated choice.

    I for instance do not like wild complications and avoided sicilains for many years. I started to play and study them more recently and I can say that my confidence level has grown and my understanding of the structures as well.

  • 11 months ago · Quote · #15

    AnthonyCG

    TonyH wrote:

    just to clarify. the main anti sicilains approaches are legit but I dislike the mental approach of avoiding mainlines because of an unfounded fear.

    I feel that many class players pick them out of fear to avoid open sicilains against players they think are booked up and can beat them based on this alone. I feel that no one should fear any particular opening if a players results are poor in a particular position then study it and improve at least to a level they can make an educated choice.

    I for instance do not like wild complications and avoided sicilains for many years. I started to play and study them more recently and I can say that my confidence level has grown and my understanding of the structures as well.

    It's much simpler than that. Why go into the open sicilian when I don't have to? In the rare case that I do meet some class player that knows something about the open sicilian it's only going to be because he's seriously lacking elsewhere. So I'll just take my chances elsewhere and save my memory for more important things like birthdays.

    I'd probably play the Smith-Morra if it wasn't so easy to avoid. So many players think that the game is over after the move ...a6 that it would be a shame not to take advantage of it.

  • 11 months ago · Quote · #16

    TonyH

    I guess you didnt read my post. Ill cover the highlights for you

    the purpose of playing an open sicilan is to learn, by gaining knowledge and understanding you get stronger. you get stronger your rating increases. 
    dont play the open sicilan results in gaps in knowledge UNLESS you study it independently which most players dont. learn it a bit and you will start to understand more over all.

    I do Judo and there are blackbelts you swear would only know 1 throw. thats ALL they use. but trust me they would still throw you around even if you didnt allow them to use it. it might not be as elegant or as  smoothly executed or as cleanly as they would like but you still would end up on your back.. theyunderstand all the other throws and ideas they just made a choice AFTER they learned all of the basics. This is the same reason in college you take survey courses to have a balanced knowledge base. if you lack in one area it is noticable. 

  • 11 months ago · Quote · #17

    AnthonyCG

    TonyH wrote:

    I guess you didnt read my post. Ill cover the highlights for you

    the purpose of playing an open sicilan is to learn, by gaining knowledge and understanding you get stronger. you get stronger your rating increases. 
    dont play the open sicilan results in gaps in knowledge UNLESS you study it independently which most players dont. learn it a bit and you will start to understand more over all.

    I do Judo and there are blackbelts you swear would only know 1 throw. thats ALL they use. but trust me they would still throw you around even if you didnt allow them to use it. it might not be as elegant or as  smoothly executed or as cleanly as they would like but you still would end up on your back.. theyunderstand all the other throws and ideas they just made a choice AFTER they learned all of the basics. This is the same reason in college you take survey courses to have a balanced knowledge base. if you lack in one area it is noticable. 

    The difference between a blackbelt and a class player is that the blackbelt has already proven their knowledge. A class player has done no such thing.

  • 11 months ago · Quote · #18

    Shivy3899

    Thanks for all the help

  • 11 months ago · Quote · #20

    chessolite

    i did not know that a3 was such good


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