Is the Sicilian meant for chess experts only?

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BonTheCat

Ashavapthi: The OP could hardly be called a pure beginner. He's clearly strong enough to start learning an opening like the Sicilian.

SeniorPatzer: Yes, Bent Larsen was a very wise man. In his writings he imparted many a gem of chess wisdom. He also said: 'The important thing isn't what you exchange, what matters is what remains on the board.' and the paradoxical 'It's not important to be winning, the important thing is to have winning chances.' (obviously not to be taken quite that literally).

Ashvapathi

I didn't mean the OP or anyone in particular. Just saying in generally, it is too much load for beginners.

Chessflyfisher

Yes.

kindaspongey

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627112552/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen24.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627063241/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen145.pdf

https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/946.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20140627122350/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen123.pdf

LouStule

Another win with the Sicilian by "Not An Expert".  This one was especially satisfying because it came after 2...c3, the "Anti-Sicilian".  BTW, if you are tempted to reply with something clever such as "Your opponent played terrible" or the always humorous "You didn't play it correctly",  Please refer back to the title of this thread.  Thank you.

 

 

 

LouStule

Another win with the Sicilian by "Not An Expert"

 

LouStule
Mike_Aronchuk wrote:

This is what will happen if a non-expert plays the sicilian

or or the even more advanced
 
These are examples from my students' games [they are white] against weaker opposition . We must have a good knack of the tactical ideas of the opening . We must be sicilian experts !

 

He lost on move 4

LouStule
NervesofButter wrote:

That wasn't a win because of the opening.  That was a win because your opponent had n idea how to play a R+P ending.

Ya cant play if you don't open...

LouStule
NervesofButter wrote:
LouStule wrote:
NervesofButter wrote:

That wasn't a win because of the opening.  That was a win because your opponent had n idea how to play a R+P ending.

Ya cant play if you don't open...

True.  Im just saying that win wasnt because of the opening. 

I suppose if I had gone 2...e5 his endgame skills would have magically improved?  Openings are designed to GET you to the endgame.  Above a certain skill level, chess games are not won or lost because of the opening. I started posting some of my wins with the Sicilian defense in this forum over four years ago simply to reply to the original question "Is the Sicilian meant for chess experts only?"  The obvious answer is "no". In this example I blundered 3 times but my opponent blundered 5 times. I won and I opened with the Sicilian, once again proving that the Sicilian is NOT for experts only.

 

TheMsquare

Play everything you want to learn more about mate.. 

LouStule
Optimissed wrote:

It's meant for experts or for people whose opponents blunder. According to the useless or crazy engine assessment, my opponent here didn't blunder. He merely made a mistake.




Hey, somebody had to win!  HeHe.

Chessflyfisher

For the most part, yes.

RoobieRoo

Ive kinda missed kindaspongey, how are you spongey bobs?

zvaosamjeemily

:)

GMegasDoux

I don't recall ever playing anyone who fianchettoed the king's bishop as white in the Sicilian. That looks interesting. I shall have to look up that line. Not sure why the Knight was traded for the pawn, didn't look like a positional advantage and seemed to be the deciding factor in the game as no further resources could be utilised in the attack which was weathered quite nicely. Thanks for posting that Optimissed.

Chuck639
Gamificast wrote:

I have become a better player over the past few years, but I still shy away from Sicilians due to the massive amount of theory and preparation required.

I believe that my record with the Sicilian is worse than with my other preferential moves against 1. e4. This is despite the fact that I have read that 1... c5 is Black's best scoring response to White's 1. e4. So does this mean that you need to be of a certain skill level to play 1... c5 successfully?

I don’t know man? It’s what I was taught since I was 800 and all I know how to play. I learn well, keep engaged and have fun playing off ideas such as imbalance and counter play.

https://www.chess.com/game/live/46507165087

https://www.chess.com/game/live/46501142609

https://www.chess.com/game/live/39166177061

https://www.chess.com/game/live/19074986763

Don’t kid yourself, kids 1600+ can play a Sicilian game. You don’t have to wait to 2000+ to learn openings nowadays. 

What happens with middle game planning, tactics, inaccuracies, mistakes and blunders is on you so I’m not losing any sleep or deterred from continually  learning and playing.

I see IMs losing to 1700 online players; take it for what it is.

I don’t own one chess book and never mind a chess set which is sufficient for a travelling drunk like myself.

Its all in your head.

SmyslovFan
LouStule wrote:
Optimissed wrote:

It's meant for experts or for people whose opponents blunder. According to the useless or crazy engine assessment, my opponent here didn't blunder. He merely made a mistake.




Hey, somebody had to win!  HeHe.

As I’ve said before, you can play any opening for fun!

You have not improved your rating since this thread began. 

But if you are having fun and that is your main goal, you’re doing great! 

The main reason to play any game is to have fun. I tend to have more fun when I win, but that’s me. 

JuergenWerner
generickplayer wrote:

The Sicilian is not only for experts - some lines lead to super sharp but fun positions. For example, take a look at the Sicilian Dragon:

1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 d6
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 g6
6.Be3 Bg7
7.f3 0-0
8.Qd2 Nc6
9. Bc4
 

 

This is a race to see who gets checkmated first. A blunder fest.

TheMsquare

No

TheMsquare
JuergenWerner wrote:
generickplayer wrote:

The Sicilian is not only for experts - some lines lead to super sharp but fun positions. For example, take a look at the Sicilian Dragon:

1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 d6
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 g6
6.Be3 Bg7
7.f3 0-0
8.Qd2 Nc6
9. Bc4
 

 

This is a race to see who gets checkmated first. A blunder fest.

I love playing against dragon players.. if you have a win against a master your welcome to join the Slayers