Upgrade to Chess.com Premium!

The Sicilian

Jump to forum:
 
7th January 2009, 06:36pm
#1
by chessowns
Saskatoon Canada
Member Since: Jan 2009
Member Points: 231

First of all - I need to know a few variations of the Sicilian.

Second of all, what is the point of the Sicilian generally? I play the Dragon, and all I know of is the quick development by Bg2 and then O-O. It also, in my opinion, opens up kingside and queenside. But what moves afterwards, and I need to know the theory behind it.

7th January 2009, 06:57pm
#2
by ELBEASTO
Corvallis United States
Member Since: Oct 2008
Member Points: 595

here are a few variations.  The point of the sicilian is to unbalance the center by attacking with an asymmetrical position.  The theorey is to get a sharp attack for black quickly in the opening, and to seize the initiative.  Hope this helps!

7th January 2009, 07:17pm
#3
by lastwarrior2010
Seattle, Washington United States
Member Since: Dec 2008
Member Points: 899

This is the Sicilian Dragon

7th January 2009, 07:19pm
#4
by xMenace
Rothesay, NB Canada
Member Since: Aug 2008
Member Points: 846

Here's some interesting theory: http://sharpchess.wordpress.com/

7th January 2009, 07:39pm
#5
by maximus_dragon
Iowa United States
Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 196
lastwarrior2010 wrote:

This is the Sicilian Dragon

 

 


yugoslav variation to be exact

7th January 2009, 08:21pm
#6
by Percyval
Citizen of the world United States
Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 506

 najdorf variation! you can check for the book: ''starting out: the sicilian''   by author: John Emms

7th January 2009, 09:04pm
#7
by ELBEASTO
Corvallis United States
Member Since: Oct 2008
Member Points: 595

I personally think the sicilian is weak.  It doesn't get a good share of the center, and leaves many pieces undeveloped.

7th January 2009, 09:18pm
#8
by forkypinner
Phelan United States
Member Since: Nov 2008
Member Points: 137

I play the dragon as well,wish I understood it better.I live in constant fear of the dark squared bishops getting traded with the enemy queen supporting the diagonal intrusion weakening the dark squares around my king 

7th January 2009, 09:23pm
#9
by townesquare
Birmingham United States
Member Since: Jan 2008
Member Points: 73
ELBEASTO wrote:

I personally think the sicilian is weak.  It doesn't get a good share of the center, and leaves many pieces undeveloped.


 I hope your joking. Otherwise it wouldn't be the most used defense in GM games vs e4.

7th January 2009, 09:44pm
#10
by rexbo
tasmania Australia
Member Since: Nov 2007
Member Points: 430

The main thing you have to decide when playing the  sicilian is what variation you will play.

This is the most classical and one of the safer sicilians most people start out playing this (note it can transform in the kalashnikov which is one of the most dynamic sicilians)

 

 

 

 

The next is the paulsen sicilian where the black side takes on a light squared weakness in exchange for a stronger pawn structure that should prove useful in the endgame.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next one of which I don't know the name was a favourite of fischers and kasparov (can't go wrong there!) notably because of the agressive najdorf,dragon and pelikan systems  but also due to it's dynamic ability to transpose into nearly any other sicilian dynamic and non-commital.

7th January 2009, 09:53pm
#11
by BorgQueen
Adelaide, South Australia
Member Since: Aug 2008
Member Points: 19532
ELBEASTO wrote:I personally think the sicilian is weak.  It doesn't get a good share of the center, and leaves many pieces undeveloped.

I dunno, I hate it when playing white :p

7th January 2009, 11:05pm
#12
by Percyval
Citizen of the world United States
Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 506
ELBEASTO wrote:

I personally think the sicilian is weak.  It doesn't get a good share of the center, and leaves many pieces undeveloped.


 My friend I must say that you are wrong, while it os true that white developes just a little bit more quickly, c5 does claims the center controling the d4 square and black have the advantage of a better pawn structure and the idea its to create asymmetry to unbalance the position so it does not end in a draw

8th January 2009, 02:30pm
#13
by chessowns
Saskatoon Canada
Member Since: Jan 2009
Member Points: 231

So much good theory :O thanks guys. I haven't really gotten serious in chess, except for just a few months ago. The Sicilian looked pretty good in games, so I'm interested in it. Also, in my level of play, the Sicilian is unprepared for.

 

Add your comment:

Join Chess.com for free to add your comment! Already a member? Then login now to comment.