Least complex sicilian opening?

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dylana64
I'm at around 1250 rapid and I like to play the sicilian dragon as black. I like being able to attack and its given me some nice wins, but I've also lost more than a few games with it and I feel like I have less than optimal space to work with. I tried to research the dragon but most sites have said it's one of the most complex Sicilian lines. I still want to play a Sicilian opening, but I feel like the dragon is too complex for someone my level. is there a Sicilian line with less theory that would be easier for someone like me to play?
bong711

The Dragon is recommended for Sicilian beginners by Kasparov himself. Just study Dragon games and practice. If Masters games is too deep for you, study games of 1800-2000 players. Dragon ECO is B70-B79.

dylana64

bong711 wrote:

The Dragon is recommended for Sicilian beginners by Kasparov himself. Just study Dragon games and practice. If Masters games is too deep for you, study games of 1800-2000 players. Dragon ECO is B70-B79.

oh really? I didn't know that. Would it also help to look at a couple main lines or would just looking for ideas in games be enough?

bong711

If you want to know the moves in the sidelines, use opening explorer.  Masters games play the main lines. And keep studying tactics. Dragon games are rich in tactics for both sides. Download Dragon pgns from pgn mentor.

kaspariano

 

The sicilian is not a simple opening in itself, and you will need to also learn how play against the anti-sicilians

Tja_05

dylana64 wrote:

I'm at around 1250 rapid and I like to play the sicilian dragon as black. I like being able to attack and its given me some nice wins, but I've also lost more than a few games with it and I feel like I have less than optimal space to work with. I tried to research the dragon but most sites have said it's one of the most complex Sicilian lines. I still want to play a Sicilian opening, but I feel like the dragon is too complex for someone my level. is there a Sicilian line with less theory that would be easier for someone like me to play?

The Dragon is fine. You'll get more losses than wins at first, but that's normal. As you learn, you'll get better and better with it. Plus, it's nice surprise value!

MickinMD
dylana64 wrote:
I'm at around 1250 rapid and I like to play the sicilian dragon as black. I like being able to attack and its given me some nice wins, but I've also lost more than a few games with it and I feel like I have less than optimal space to work with. I tried to research the dragon but most sites have said it's one of the most complex Sicilian lines. I still want to play a Sicilian opening, but I feel like the dragon is too complex for someone my level. is there a Sicilian line with less theory that would be easier for someone like me to play?

I'm an 1800 player and have studied the Dragon lately and come to the conclusion that there are a lot of variations that need to be memorized to be successful.  I'm now looking at the Kan - which doesn't require memorizing a lot of variations - and the Sveshnikov.

Here's something I posted in October in a comment on chess.com:

The best Sicilian Defense for each person depends on how many variables, including how much time you plan to use to study the variations and what your tactics/positional abilities and habits are.

If you have limited time for memorizing variations, something like Sicilian Kan (1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 a6, book rec: GM John Emms, Sicilian Kan c.2002) may be best for you since there isn't a lot of theory.

Or, you may want to play the Sicilian that is "strategically simple" to understand as GM's Kolev and Nedev claim in The Easiest Sicilian (c.2008), based on the Sicilian Sveshnikov (1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e5!?). It also explores answering the Rossolimo (3 Bb5) variation and some other “rare” lines.

Another book, The Safest Sicilian by GM Delchev and IM Semkov (c.2008), uses a line where names are often confused. It uses a “Sicilian Taimanov” which many authors call the “Sicilian Paulsen” which begins like but avoids the Sicilian Najdorf (which is defined by 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6) and recommends 5…Qc7, which 365chess.com’s Opening Explorer calls “B40 Sicilian, Anderssen Variation,” which prevents some tricky moves by White.

The Qc7 is a theme in 6 of the 9 chapters of the book, so it does present a unified theme of play. The book also has answers for anti-Sicilians and Karpov’s 3 Nb5 openings.

Personally, I’m a Caro-Kann player who is considering - at least for variety - trying the Sicilian Defense and don’t have time to memorize a lot of variations and I’m studying the Sveshnikov - I like Black trying to challenge in the center with his 2-center-pawn advantage. But I’m also going to study the Kan (a favorite of GM John Emms in his younger days) because of the lack of theory and Black’s waiting move, 4…a6, gives him an extra move to see what White plans to do.

In ANY case, most of these opening books usually do NOT address in detail openings like the 2 c3 (Alapin) Sicilian or the Closed Sicilian or the 3 Bb5 Sicilian, so you have to have a plan for handling them.

If you have time to memorize variations and the reasons behind them, you may want a variation where you are likely to know more than your opponent, including traps.

The Taimanov (defined here as the common English definition: 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Qc7) according to IM James Rizzitano in The Taimanov Sicilian, “is one of the most flexible options for Black in the Open Sicilian. Black avoids committing himself to a rigid setup…This can lead to a great variety of central structures, and the player with the better understanding of Sicilian themes will often emerge victorious - Taimanov positions need to be understood well to be played well.

The “Pure Paulsen” and “Pure Taimanov” Sicilian variations: 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Qc7 (Paulsen) or 5 Nge7 (Taimanov) are featured in The Taimanov Sicilian by FIDE Master Graham Burgess (c.2000) who notes EVERY world championfrom Tal onwards has played it as Black.

The Sharpest Sicilian 2012 by GM’s Georgiev and Kolev (c.2012) bases it’s themes on the Sicilian Najdorf (1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6) and includes dealing with the English Attack against the Sicilian, the Moscow/Rossolimo (3 Bb5) and some other rare moves. It involves lots of variations and is over 300 pages long.

The Najdorf is popular and well-known by many and there are more variations to know - but it’s doable. Another book, The Easy Guide to the Najdorf by GM Tony Kosten (c.1999) goes into great detail as to how to respond to lots of White 6th moves in just over 100 pages and may be a good place to begin study. Of course, this book doesn’t present anything except the Najdorf and variations with White’s 6th move.

The Sicilian Dragon and Accelerated Dragon Variations are worth mentioning. Both are popular, well-known, and if White knows the Maroczy Bind variations well and you don’t, you’re in trouble!

But, in general, you’re not playing against masters often, so these potential swashbuckling defenses are worth a look. The easiest-to-study, give the ideas-behind-the-opening books I know are, The Sicilian Dragon by GM Gufeld and NM Schiller (c.2011) and Starting Out: The Accelerated Dragon by Andrew Greet (c.2008).

Finally, I’ve left out variations that don’t appeal to me now but may do so later. Two books that are worth a look to get a survey of what’s available in the Sicilian are Mastering the Sicilian by IM Danny Kopec (c.2002) which divides the variations into 7 groups: Dragon, Richter-Rauzer, Closed, Boleslavsky (including Najdorf), etc. It also looks at the c3. Closed, Grand-Prix, Bb5 and other White systems in brief detail.

An older book, How to Play the Sicilian Defence, by Levy and O’Connell (c.1987), groups the variations by features like: Positions with …e5, Bg5 Positions, Dragon Positions, Maroczy Bind, Little Center, and Closed Positions.

solaarr

I don't think the Dragon is too complex compared to other variations like the Najdorf. It's also easier to play than the Najdorf. A lot simpler is the Sveshnikov and a surprise is the Kalashnikov. I'm not really a fan of the e6 variations because I find it easy to play against but they are much simpler than any other Sicilian Variations such as the Najdorf,Dragon,Accelerated Dragon etc. I recommend you study the Kan or the Taimanov since they aren't too theoretical and almost 90% of players under 1600 don't know how to play against it.

pdve

There's no such thing as a non complicated Sicilian however, I am recently looking into the Taimanov and liking it so far.

poucin

The dragon not complex?

A 1200 level, u will be crushed and mated so many times that u will be disgusted of this opening.

Accelerated dragon is the way, yugoslav not working if u know your stuff.

Anyway, sorry but sicilian is complicated , whatever the line u chose.

There are many anti sicilians (which can be good), and black's position is not easy to handle. It is even worse in open sicilians...

U have to know many approaches.

Why do u want to play sicilian?

At your level, it is a mistake in my opinion to play this.

1.e4 e5 and 1.e4 e6 are simpler openings and not least effective : u will understand what happens, while sicilian is another story...

AlisonHart

The Taimanov/Kan complex is great. You're not going to be attacking all the time, but it allows for a systemic approach (where you aim for a preferred setup) rather than a specific variations approach (where you learn exact move orders for yourself and exact replies by white). I tried my hand at the dragon and got checkmated a lot....also tried the Najdorf - mated again. But within the Najdorf, I learned I DIDN'T get checkmated when I reached the Scheveningan structure:

 

 

This actually represents a failure on white's part to play the most critical lines of the Najdorf....the ones where I got horribly checkmated. But - as it turns out - this is very similar to the sorts of positions you get out of a Kan

 

 

Obviously, these aren't the best, most theoretical variations, but they demonstrate the quieter side of the Sicilian which is probably what you should be playing toward. The thing about the dragon is that it's known to 25 (at least), and - when you do encounter the guy who knows those moves - you will get eaten for breakfast. 

 

Also, spending the time to learn deep variations like the dragon will suck up study time that could be spent in other areas of the game. Openings are about getting a playable position.....the Taimanov is playable out of the box; the dragon is only playable if you know it. 

bong711

As long as one doesn't mind losing streaks at start, Sicilian Defense can be learned by intermediate players. I know Opening moves up 10-12 moves deep only. Including the popular English Attack against the Najdorf or Schevenigen. I studied tactics so I can play open Sicilian as black or white. Including antiSicilians. Ofc, if you don't keep up studying tactics, your knowledge of 20 moves deep is useless. My last Tactics book was ECC during the 90s.

chessrook_80

You should be comfortable with whatever opening you play. 

Muisuitglijder

The Classical Variation is a solid and dependable choice for Black and has been used at the highest level by players such as Kramnik and Anand. One of its appeals is that on the whole it's slightly less theoretical than the Najdorf or the Dragon and so it requires less learning from the Black player. Starting Out: The Sicilian.

FrogCDE

I like the O'Kelly (2...a6), a decent, little-known variation for club players though not much used at higher levels. Black will meet 3.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 by Nf6, pin the knight on c3 with the dark-squared bishop and aim for ...d5, equalizing. White has better options, 3.c3, 3.c4 and 3.Nc3, but most club players don't know this. If they do, Black still gets reasonable play, as described in Dangerous Weapons: the Sicilian, edited by John Emms and Richard Palliser.

pfren
bong711 έγραψε:

The Dragon is recommended for Sicilian beginners by Kasparov himself. 

Where?

"In my mind" does not count as a good answer.

bong711

pfren wrote:

bong711 έγραψε:

The Dragon is recommended for Sicilian beginners by Kasparov himself. 

Where?

"In my mind" does not count as a good answer.

I read about that in chess magazines during the 90s. I'm sorry I can't recall the magazine but I'm pretty sure the article exist.

bong711

In that article, Kasparov also mentioned the Kings Gambit as white opening recommended. The intermediate players are encouraged to practice their tactical skills in KG and Dragon.

pfren
bong711 έγραψε:

In that article, Kasparov also mentioned the Kings Gambit as white opening recommended. The intermediate players are encouraged to practice their tactical skills in KG and Dragon.

 

So, now the beginner became an intermediate?

OK, that's enough... we understand.

poucin

The sicilian should never be recommended for beginners.

I have serious doubts about this advice by Kasparov...