A Bust to the Sicilian Defense
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I realize Fischer's article and comment are common knowledge to many, including obviously the OP, but I don't think it was attributed to him and some may not know that Fischer's statements were "borrowed".
It's amazing if it's not a joke.
Just researched a little: "A Bust to the King's Gambit" by Bobby Fischer was published in Volume One, Number One of The American Chess Quarterly (Summer 1961). Fischer's last statement in that article was "Of course, White can always play differently, in which case he merely loses differently. (Thank you, Weaver Adams!)"
So apparently Fischer didn't originate the phrase but attributed it to Weaver Adams.
So apparently Fischer didn't originate the phrase but attributed it to Weaver Adams.
HolographWars wrote:
U-ummm.... Should I tell him that draws exist a well?
SpiderUnicorn wrote:
ma boy, the title to this pointless forum is already wrong, as you have already mentioned, you have lost 26% of your games with the Alapin, that proves that it is not a refutation to the Sicilian, m'boy
Well, i would play the Alapin any day if it gave me a 74% chance of a win!
Interestingly, near the beginning of Fischer's analysis, he also states "In my opinion the King's Gambit is busted. It loses by force."
The OP's first two sentences are a "cut and paste" with a different opening substituted.
The OP's first two sentences are a "cut and paste" with a different opening substituted.
Apr 20, 2019
0
#806
Zugerzwang wrote:
Interestingly, near the beginning of Fischer's analysis, he also states "In my opinion the King's Gambit is busted. It loses by force."
The OP's first two sentences are a "cut and paste" with a different opening substituted.
The OP's first two sentences are a "cut and paste" with a different opening substituted.
Great minds think alike!
Apr 20, 2019
0
#807
Since this thread was first published the number of people playing the Sicilian as black has plummeted, and the number of people choosing the Alapin against the Sicilian has skyrocketed.
Hahaha. Good thing for Fischer and Kasparov that their opponents never had access to such analysis.
Apr 20, 2019
0
#809
The Sicilian Defense is just about extinct these days. You’re welcome chess.com
Ok, time for FACTS. In chess.com+titled OTB, the sicilian stands at above 1.8M games. Of that, 950K are 2.Nf3 and ONLY 55K is the Alapin. So no, you haven't changed anything. While its true that KPO is more used, its only by 300K (KPO at 2.1M). And I suspect thats all the <1200 players not using the sicilian as they cant understand it
The April 2019 issue of Chess lists the top twenty openings compiled from a list of 2514 February games where both players were rated over 2400 Elo. One can not take position on this list too seriously because it is greatly influenced by how the openings are grouped. For example, all the Retis are grouped together, while English is separated into 1...c5, 1...e5, etc. Nevertheless, for what it is worth, some of the list entries are: 170 Retis, 121 King's Indians, 113 Caro-Kanns, 93 declined Queen's Gambits, 89 Nimzo-Indians, 84 Najdorf Sicilians, 84 Slavs, 60 2 Nf3 d6 sideline Sicilians, 58 1...c5 Englishes, 56 Berlin Ruy Lopezes, 55 1...e6 Englishes, 53 1...Nf6 Englishes, 53 1...e5 Englishes, 53 Queen's Indians, 49 3 Nxe5 Petroffs, 46 Giuoco Pianos, 45 Catalans, and 44 2 Nf3 sideline Sicilians.
"... the 2 c3 Sicilian, which in the Danish chess lexicon was called the Alapin Sicilian. ..."
https://web.archive.org/web/20140626235437/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen41.pdf
It's impossible to be busted in the first move as black. And I mean ANY MOVE. Inferior yes. But not busted.
So 1...c5 can never be a bust.
....sorry not sorry.
What database are you using? If it is chess.com's database than it is no wonder you are getting those results. White scores slightly better than Black according to both chessbase and chess365 databases. The only potential problem with the Alapin Sicilian is the percentage of draws which is rather high, so that might not suit everyone, but then again, a whole lot of games in the open sicilian end in draw as well.
Apr 22, 2019
0
#815
I’ve posted more than 30 games on this thread showing how black loses by force against the Alapin
"staples13 ... U showed your own analysis, with some nonsense and bad moves from black which don't prove anything. U just proved u lack some objectivity and skill to assess moves/positions." - IM pouncin (September 26, 2018)
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/a-bust-to-the-sicilian-defense?page=12
Apr 22, 2019
0
#817
kindaspongey wrote:
"staples13 ... U showed your own analysis, with some nonsense and bad moves from black which don't prove anything. U just proved u lack some objectivity and skill to assess moves/positions." - IM pouncin (September 26, 2018)
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/a-bust-to-the-sicilian-defense?page=12
Yes Poucin was kind of rude to me. Same with Pfren.
It it matters not, I appreciate both of their analysis
IronIC_U wrote:
Mrmerbs57 wrote:
staples1
I think if we are going to post a sample game with the statement... Sicillian is Busted then at least post a decent effort by Black his play in this starting with a poor 3...a6 proves little . 2.d5 is still best by test and even 2.Nf6 is better than what was played, personally I have never lost against c3 v Sicillian and if one Google's this at G.M level white only scores 43% which is probably why it's rarely used at high level against the Sicilian, don't get me wrong at 1500 -2000 over the board club level it's ok!!?
In my opinion the Sicilian Defense is busted. It loses by force.
The opening move of the Sicilian Defense violates just about every opening principle. It fails to develop a piece, fails to put a pawn in the center, and fails to open up a bishop for development. It allows white to immediately open up the center and to do so with greater development. The Sicilian Defense has nevertheless remained popular despite all of this for one reason and one reason only; in order for white to open up the center it comes at the cost of having to trade its D pawn for black's C pawn. This is why the ideal response to the Sicilian is the Alapin Variation 2. C3! It says to black no you can't have my center pawn. Now white is ahead in both development and control of the center , and black has absolutely no compensation.
You don't believe me? Look at the game explorer then. I have played 581 games here on chess.com using the Alapin. I have won 68% lost 26% and drawn the other 6%. That is a score of 71%. No other opening is capable of scoring 71%. But to prove all this let's look at some games. First, we have a 3 minute no increment blitz game I played. Look at the massive advantage white immediately gets both in piece development and in center control. Both are problems which stem from black's first move.
Here's another 3 minute no increment blitz game I played. Notice how easy white's development is and how black's position is already completely unplayable by move 10.
Finally, I'm sure you want to see a master level game so here we have Deep Blue vs. Kasparov (1996). For a little historical context this was the first match between them and Kasparov annihilated Deep Blue +3 -1=2. Deep Blue's lone victory came as you might guess playing the Alapin Variation. Kasparov faced a horrible position straight out of the opening and Deep Blue wasted no time converting it. Notice that the most powerful chess player of all time got destroyed playing against a computer much weaker than him.
After 2. C3 black is in my opinion lost. White refuses to allow black to exchange its c pawn for white's d pawn giving black no compensation for white's lead in development and center control, which ultimately always proves decisive in the end.
I'd like to close by saying that of course black can always play differently than in the games shown, in which case he merely loses differently.
So, is that the Alapin pawn move to c3 for white?
staples13 wrote:
I’ve posted more than 30 games on this thread showing how black loses by force against the Alapin
Okay....u win. Goodbye.
doyouacceptdraw wrote:
What database are you using? If it is chess.com's database than it is no wonder you are getting those results. White scores slightly better than Black according to both chessbase and chess365 databases. The only potential problem with the Alapin Sicilian is the percentage of draws which is rather high, so that might not suit everyone, but then again, a whole lot of games in the open sicilian end in draw as well.
Was in a rush so chess.com database...