GM Sveshnikov says Dragon and Najdorf will die out, writing new Rossolimo book

I recently got the book Sveshnikov vs the Anti-Sicilians, a decent book especially for people who play the 2...Nc6 Sicilians like me. A disappointment I had is that the Rossolimo isn't covered. I found out why when I read the conclusion at the back, where GM Sveshnikov writes that he's planning a massive Rossolimo book that will perhaps even be in two volumes.

He also writes that the Dragon will die out and that the Paulsen and Najdorf, although they'll stay around longer, will ultimately follow the Dragon into extinction. He writes that it will be hard for the Najdorf to survive "in the face of computer programs and multi-million game databases".

He belives that the 2...Nc6 Sicilians are the future, and that against this 3.Bb5 is the best move and should be the main line. Thus if his vision of the future is correct, the Rossolimo Sicilian will become the most common opening played.

What do you think?

I really hope that he's right, as then I'll be justified in not playing the Open Sicilian as White, since any Open Sicilian theory I learn now will have to change once the refutation to the Najdorf is found out, and once the Najdorf becomes less popular that theory would hardly be used anyway.

I don't play the Najdorf or Dragon but I think what could happen is that they will get worked out to the endgame in some variations

I think some transpostions I think can occur with ...Nc6 if black does 2...e6 first in the open Sicilian

Sveshnikov is dogmatic and has been for 40 years, he made those claims years ago and has been constantly proven wrong (chess is far more flexible and rich than he would like), nothing new under the sun. The upside is that dogmatic players like Rauzer, Fischer, Berliner and Sveshnikov have made huge contributions to opening theory by following their chess beliefs.

To me his prediction has a ring of truth to it, because consider that the Ruy Lopez has been found to be the best opening against 1...e5 and the Rossolimo is similar in a lot of ways to the Ruy Lopez with the bishop coming out to b5 and positional pressure. I've always thought the Rossolimo was best and should be the main line even before I found out Sveshnikov thought that too.

I just hope he's right about the Najdorf. Go away Najdorf!

I think GM Sveshnikov overreacting. The Najdorf doesn't have refutation and remains the quickest equalizer against 1.e4.

Generally chess is dying cause of computer work and Sveshnikov book about Rossolimo depends on engine evaluation, so...lets stop pretending the innocent discovery of the Sicilian evolution.

As for you Dolphin, I admit that you are a true believer of your delusions. Why don't you sent an email to GM Sveshnikov to write a book about the Budapest gambit? Who knows? Perhaps he has found how black can lose in less than thirty moves!😜

Sveshnikov also thinks that thanks to his less extensive opening preparation, Magnus Carlsen will never be a great player, like Polugaevsky was. The case rests.

Sveshnikov also said Magnus' "future doesn't look promising" and that Nakamura "plays opening superficially and makes mistakes quite frequenctly" and that "their chances to fight for the title is small". Nuff said. End thread.

How to lose in the Budapest in less than 30 moves? That's easy, just play it like Bishop_g5 did by hanging pieces and ignoring simple threats. Then after the games blame the opening for your own blunders and switch to something else. (And if you really want to add that extra authentic Bishop_g5 feel to it then keep doing this every month until you've played every single opening there is, then go back to the opening you started with and repeat for infinity).

I went and read the full quote where Sveshnikov is talking about Carlsen and the above snippets are taken out of context. He said that Carlsen is a very talented player and was just saying his weakest point was his opening preparation based on the games that had just been played. He didn't say Carlsen wouldn't become champion he just said that Kasparov needed to coach him on his opening prep in order for him to become champion.

Is the theory of the Najdorf still developing? If so at what rate?

Listen to your self Dolphin. You are speaking for thinks it's impossible to understand. Your thoughts around chess are obsessions! You are an illusionist. You don't play chess to understand the truth, only to serve what you believe it is so. It's hopeless...

He said Carlsen would not have enough winning chances in world championship matches if he doesn't play the most promising lines, however, Carlsen is nevertheless able to go into equal/quiet positions and able to win through his practical play.

Furthermore, you are at a level of play far from where these things matters. I highly doubt you would reach 2700 level, let alone GM. In OTB chess, no one (not even Kasparov) can memorise all the lines let alone play perfectly, being practical is the way to win.

Open Sicilian is crucial to play for anyone seeking mastery (it's a Korchnoi Quote). It's emphasize alot of aspect of chess from positional chess to understanding dynamic play. If you want any chance to be a master, open sicilian positions is very important for your development.

Secondly, computers have far from solving chess, and I doubt these openings will be "disproved" in our lifetime. Furthermore, current ICCF (correspondence chess) competitive games allows use of engines, and most top players there have opening theory years ahead of modern chess. Open sicilian is still common in these computer assisted games. There is no indication of that a solid opening like nadjorf is being discredited. In fact computer analysis have shown that nadjorf stood the test of time.

Opening trends changes all the time, and even old openings experience period revivals, especially if they suit a players style (e.g. the "losing" lines of KID were revived by Nakamura and Radjabov). While Rossilimo is definitely a solid line and a decent repertoire choice. But the opinion of a single grandmaster shouldn't be the be-all-end-all verdict. You aren't trying to be world champion. You aren't even close to a level where exactly opening study would determine all (nor am I). 

I really suggest for the sake of improving your overall chess understanding, open sicilians are positions you should play even if it is not your main choice of repertoire.

I have read or at least seen many of Sveshnikov's books and he has some very specific opinions.  Some of them I agree, others I think he's nuts.  Here's my take on things he's said in the past:

1) The French is a mistake for Black, and the Tarrasch is nothing for White.

The French is not refuted.  To say the French is a complete mistake is ludicrious.  That said, I did give up the French because of the problems that 3.Nc3 and 3.e5 have caused.  I do totally agree that the Tarrasch is nothing for White.  It doesn't lose, but Black gets complete equality after 3...c5.

2. The Rossolimo and the Alapin are the future wave against the Sicilian.

Baloney!  The Rossolimo is probably the most legit Anti-Sicilian, but that only works against 2...Nc6.  The Moscow (2...d6 3.Bb5+) is merely equal, and 3.Bb5 against 2...e6 is complete crap!  The Alapin is nothing beyond equal.

3. The Dragon, Paulsen, and Najdorf will die!

Baloney!  My take on it is that the Paulsen and Najdorf will continue to be played centuries, milleniums, beyond my death, and the Dragon, Yugoslav Attack will be figured out to a draw like checkers has been figured out to a draw within the next 25 years!  A wave of players will start playing the Classical Dragon, and the more risky players will try the Levenfish.  The Paulsen, alson known as the Kan, will continue to be played by those that don't want dense theory like the Najdorf or Dragon.  The Taimanov will continue to be played for the same reason.  As for the Najdorf, the English Attack will become the ultimate main line and 6.Bg5 will fade.  It has already started to go on the decline, but it will be official that the English Attack will be the main line in 25 years.

@CM Squishey

I've tried the Open Sicilian and I didn't feel comfortable against the Najdorf. I didn't study any theory of it, maybe that's why, but even if I did study the theory so many people  have been playing and studying the Najdorf for so much longer than me how would I ever catch up to them and be able to face them on even ground, much less get an advantage? You can see why I hope Sveshnikov is right and this opening diminishes over time.

What do you play against the Najdorf and why?

I play the c3 Sicilian and I'm very happy with it. (I came to play this opening through trying a bunch of things and going with the one I liked best, not trying to copy Sveshnikov, after all I play the Tarrasch against the French which he thinks is bad). In the Alapin White is frequently trying to win by using slight advantages in endgames. To me it seems that studying endgame theory is the most important thing for the Alapin while in the Open Sicilian the focus is more on opening theory. I like the Alapin better.

@Thrillerfan

I believe the theory in the Taimanov is increasing because they've found out you can use the English Attack set up against it too.

It's very interesting to see what will happen with these Sicilians. If theory in the Najdorf is still changing even after all these years, with the shift to the English Attack and all, then maybe there's still much more to find out about this opening, and perhaps one of the things they find won't bode well for Black.

"I believe the theory in the Taimanov is increasing because they've found out you can use the English Attack set up against it too."

That's another example of baloney because when black was playing Bb4 related lines in the english attack looking lines, white was actually playing against the queen-side pawn weakness and/or endgame. More recently black has been playing be7, and nxd4, and white's results in f3 system has become quite bad. Chess is not mathematics very little in opening theory is proved forever. It is more like an arms race. Thats at top level. Ar club player level doubt if average player knows more than fifty years ago. 

He said one day about chelyabinsk variation: I have exhausted the variation

And thanks for timoschenko who proved that this variation is still alive and not exhausted

Rossolimo is a temporary problem and chess is an unlimited world

I don't even know that Sveshnikov guy. Probably some weak GM who resorted to writing books to make a living because he's too weak to play. 

There is no way for White to get any advantage against the Najdorf, that is pretty much proven. Sure, there are many 'attempts' for White to claim an advantage, but if Black plays the best moves he will get equality. I respect Mr. Sveshnikov, but he shouldn't make such crappy claims. Najdorf variation is at least as correct as B33. Only if he has a clear refutation of Najdorf, he should make such claims.

All black lines are difficult to hold with. But Sheshnikov suffers from the belief that games are won out of the opening. While they can be they often aren’t. games are won with superior play in the middlegame and endgame. Too often crazy complications and unpredictable pawn sacrifices can sneak into a position completely unforeseen by even super strong GM’s. One only must look at AlphaZero and Leela to see perfect examples.

All the Sicilian lines and 1...e5 lines are not worse than any other openings.