Hi, I'm trying to get familiar with the basic openings, and all the various versions of the sicilian have got my head spinning...
anybody got any advice on where to start, or personal preferences? (if anyone could point me to an annotated guide, that would be ideal, but any advice at all is welcome...)
I dont know what books or other material you have access to, but yes the sicilian can be a pretty scary beast. As white i usually play a closed sicilian, it has served me well over the years. Playing the black side is a whole other story i like the Najdorf, but it is all up to the individual if you try to learn them all you will go crazy.
Sorry i cant help you there, i play online but when it comes to my study and working om my game i am still oldschool. I have about $4000 worth of books here at home and have to get some use out of them. Besides thats how i grew up during the Fischer era, and actually enjoy using the books.
For the black side, my favorite is the Sveshikov. Not one of the more common variations, but a very dangerous one.
As for white, I do play the open. There are many antis out there, so make sure to check them all out before deciding to play the open.
You are welcome, good luck with the Sicilian.
Hey nice site, just what I need, thanks Chongui
Someone posted this link sometime back in another thread: http://www.csm.astate.edu/~wpaulsen/chess/index.htm
lovely stuff, thanks mate
In addition, I also found it useful to review the winning games of some of the better players on this site (Reb, BillWall, Lubo, etc.) when they played Sicilian with black. Even though these games are not annotated, I seem to understand their moves better than reviewing some of the GM's games. Since these better players are playing people close to my ability on this site, I see the moves that I would typically make (but should not) in those games.
When I'm black and I decide to use sicilian, I usually go with the Dragon variation, since your competing against the other opponent to attack the king on opposite sides; quite fun~.
While when I let them start with sicilian, I often see, Closed sicilian, Najdorf, Accelerated dragon, and so many countless others @_@.
Basically, I just learn a few that I enjoy, and with the others, I'll use basic principles to bring them out of the book and into positional play, where I might have a chance xD.
Join Chess.com for free to add your comment! Already a member? Then login now to comment.