is the Sicilian Sveshnikov considered aggressive?
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Tals-pet-rabid-chipmunk
Apr 12, 2017
0
#1
Compared to other Sicilian variations, is the Sicilian Sveshnikov considered aggressive? Any other opinions or info would be helpful as well
Apr 12, 2017
0
#2
For the record, I'm asking COMPARED TO OTHER SICILIAN VARIATIONS
It's considered sharp, which can translate to aggressive to some. It's also unforgiving if you play badly.
TalSpin wrote:
I this this is right especially when yhu play badly so unforgiving
It's considered sharp, which can translate to aggressive to some. It's also unforgiving if you play badly.
A player can play any opening he likes. The Sveshnikov is a fine choice if it suits your play. But I wouldn't worry about learning reams of theory at your rating - just the general concepts. It's slightly strategically risky due to the d5 hole and potentially the d6-pawn. A break with ...f5 (with suitable development) is a motif, as are ...Bg5 trying to stop Ne3-d5 and the standard Sicilian ...b5-b4 ideas. Your nightmare endgame is a White Knight on d5 against Black's dark-squared Bishop - you must not allow him to get this or else you will suffer a slow and very painful death.
Apr 12, 2017
0
#7
The Sveshnikov is not aggressive and the most difficult to play among sicilians. Black either accepts weakness on d5 or doubled pawns on f7 and f6. I have played it on both sides and I lost as black more.
How do you define "aggressive"? If you mean dropping material and that turning into a deep sacrifice in the long run, then...no, it isn't.
It is a fine, very sound opening, which needs a great deal of memorization and superb positional understanding: Playing against your "Bolseslavsky hole" at d5 without a well planned counterplay will (almost) never work. A recent example is the game Caruana- Kamsky from the US championship. Kamsky, who is an excellent strategist, picked the Sveshnikov/ Novosibirsk without a proper opening preparation, played a couple of sub-par moves, and was wiped without being able to put any real resistance, other than a quasi-attack which was doomed before it started.
