Is the Sicilian meant for chess experts only?

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blueemu
AngryPuffer wrote:
blueemu wrote:
LouStule wrote:

...t does anyone know the line where black tries to go for a queenside castle?.

Here's a game of mine against Robert Hamilton, who later peaked at 2349 FIDE (that's a genuine FIDE rating, not online).

very often in the Richter-Rauzer and Bg5 najdorf castling kingside is too dangerous for black so he leaves his king in the center or goes queenside. that says something about how dangerous the Bg5 mainlines can be...

I've got a very nice Sicilian Najdorf just finishing now that I want to show you people. It's an ongoing vote-chess game (72 hours per move), and it's all over but the crying (we have a forced mate next move) but our opponents seem to be playing it out all the way to mate so it should be officially over in another eight days or so. I'll post it then.

As White, we sac'd a Pawn to open up the center. The Black King got squeezed out of the center early, and had to castle K-side because his Q-side bolt-hole wasn't ready. Carnage ensued.

AngryPuffer
blueemu wrote:
AngryPuffer wrote:
blueemu wrote:
LouStule wrote:

...t does anyone know the line where black tries to go for a queenside castle?.

Here's a game of mine against Robert Hamilton, who later peaked at 2349 FIDE (that's a genuine FIDE rating, not online).

very often in the Richter-Rauzer and Bg5 najdorf castling kingside is too dangerous for black so he leaves his king in the center or goes queenside. that says something about how dangerous the Bg5 mainlines can be...

I've got a very nice Sicilian Najdorf just finishing now that I want to show you people. It's an ongoing vote-chess game (72 hours per move), and it's all over but the crying (we have a forced mate next move) but our opponents seem to be playing it out all the way to mate so it should be officially over in another eight days or so. I'll post it then.

As White, we sac'd a Pawn to open up the center. The Black King got squeezed out of the center early, and had to castle K-side because his Q-side bolt-hole wasn't ready. Carnage ensued.

this game?

blacks game started to fall apart after 13.Bg5+

blueemu

Yup.

We've already voted Rg6 and mate next move.

blueemu
AngryPuffer wrote:

blacks game started to fall apart after 13.Bg5+

In fact, Bxg5+ is perfectly playable. It was Nf7 that pitched the game (Bb7 was the "please kill me" move, but the game was already lost after Nf7 anyway).

AngryPuffer
blueemu wrote:
AngryPuffer wrote:

blacks game started to fall apart after 13.Bg5+

In fact, Bxg5+ is perfectly playable. It was Nf7 that pitched the game (Bb7 was the "please kill me" move, but the game was already lost after Nf7 anyway).

yes it is, but i think its what led black to lose in the longrun due to an open g file and a exposed black king

blueemu
AngryPuffer wrote:
blueemu wrote:
AngryPuffer wrote:

blacks game started to fall apart after 13.Bg5+

In fact, Bxg5+ is perfectly playable. It was Nf7 that pitched the game (Bb7 was the "please kill me" move, but the game was already lost after Nf7 anyway).

yes it is, but i think its what led black to lose in the longrun due to an open g file and a exposed black king

When I post the game in a few days (should really wait until it's over, forced mate or not) I'll point out the line (after Bxg5+) that is considered almost equal for Black.

It's not for the faint of heart, though. The positions Black ends up in are no sight for a sober man, but they are survivable if you know what you are doing.

That Knight on e5 is a monster.

tlay80

I may be mixing up lines, but I think the last time I had the White side of the 13 ... Bxg5+ line, I underestmated Black's resources and wound up losing. It all looks so hopeless to have to defend, but Black always has a little more left in the tank than you think they will.

Maybe I should join that team. I love vote chess and would love to find a team that's up for the most critical Sicilian lines.

blueemu

I'm sure some fresh blood would be welcome.

It's interesting that I was playing razor-sharp theoretical Najdorf lines back in the 1970s...

A game I played nearly 50 years ago... - Chess Forums - Chess.com

... and I'm still playing those exact same razor-sharp theoretical Najdorf lines half a century later. Haven't even changed my opening repertoire.

blueemu

I've just realized...

The only FIDE-rated tournament I ever played in was half a century ago, in 1974. I was totally outclassed, losing seven games, drawing one and winning one.

... drawing one and winning one. BOTH were Sicilian Najdorfs. One as White, one as Black.

LouStule

Another nice win with the Sicilian by "Not an Expert".

SmyslovFan

Nice game, @LouStule !

LouStule

Thank you my friend! happy