Why would you respond with a6? Even so, why would you exchange the e pawn for the d pawn?
Furthermore, black is still winning after this, but why the f would you play d4?
a6 was your move that punishes white with ease. It is also stupid internet win now win quick move that you can say you are smart cause you read the internet.
Follow the engine to find out the rest....including black is "winning".
#20. After 5.Bb3 the position is equal
Agree that Bc4 isn't particularly challenging, but it is a developing move, so it can't be that bad!
No, a6 is the follow-up if white played as I have shown.
When white plays this horrible variation, black is up to half a pawn. At my level, half a pawn often decided a game.
That is yet again incorrect, so many chances for both sides to outplay each other in that position. Youre not as good as you think.
e6 d5 and black almost equalizes... (assuming they play Nf3 not Nc3, Nc3 -> a6->b5
#18
Who is ignorant?
Bc4 is a developing move it cannot be wrong. It is a viable sideline.
Here are 2 games from the Dutch Championship
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=2109498
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1327100
You are proving my point perfectly about who is ignorant, and it is not me.
The topic clearly states "Countering 2. Bc4 in the Sicilian". The games you posted both have Bc4 played on the 3rd move, which if you read my last post, has a big difference, as Black has committed to something!
The games you showed were played 15 and 17 years ago - if the Bowdler was a viable sideline as you have claimed then it would have been played on a regular basis, which it is not compared to other Sicilian sidelines.
I am done arguing with you, as (like other members have done on other forum posts proving your points wrong), it is clear that you are impossible to reason with.
e6 d5 and black almost equalizes... (assuming they play Nf3 not Nc3, Nc3 -> a6->b5
they may equalize but there are so many chances for both sides to be outplayed.
e6 d5 and black almost equalizes... (assuming they play Nf3 not Nc3, Nc3 -> a6->b5
they may equalize but there are so many chances for both sides to be outplayed.
True. Is that the argument here? We're just trying to get a playable position as black.
No, a6 is the follow-up if white played as I have shown.
When white plays this horrible variation, black is up to half a pawn. At my level, half a pawn often decided a game.
That is yet again incorrect, so many chances for both sides to outplay each other in that position. Youre not as good as you think.
Still chances, but white blue the advantage they have of the first move.
doesn't matter at your level though. that's like for Titled players in otb. Even a 2000 uscf played that line against me we got a very unclear and fun position.
e6 d5 and black almost equalizes... (assuming they play Nf3 not Nc3, Nc3 -> a6->b5
they may equalize but there are so many chances for both sides to be outplayed.
True. Is that the argument here? We're just trying to get a playable position as black.
You're also kind of overextended sometimes.
...a6 loses a tempo: white continues to develop with d3.
The right plan is indeed ...e6 and ...d5.
However, white can interfere with that plan: 1 e4 c5 2 Bc4 e6 3 Nc3 Nc6 4 d3 Nf6 5 Bf4 d5 6 Nb5
White can also allow d5 and either retreat Bb3 or Bb5. In the latter case of Bb5 white plays a reverse Nimzovich Indian Defence. Bf1-c4-b5 loses a tempo, but e2-e4 gains of a tempo relative to ...e6 and ...e5 in the Nimzovich Indian Defence. So it is a reverse Nimzovich Indian Defence one tempo up.
2 Bc4 is a developing move and thus cannot be wrong. It violates the principle of developing knights before bishops, but so do the London 1 d4 d5/Nf6 2 Bf4 and the Bishop's Opening 1 e4 e5 2 Bc4.
Firouzja has played it in the Asian Championship and if he starts playing it regularly, then it may become a hype, just like the previously shunned Scandinavian and London became a hype after some top players picked it up.
Bc4 is a hilarious blunder that can be punished easily.