opening theory vs lower ranked player

Hi,

I am keen on learning various aspects of the Sicillian, but I was thinking, if I am playing black and a white player starts playing random opening moves, which aren't book moves from the Sicillian defence, am I still ok sticking with the Sicillian, or should I look at tranposing into something else, I suppose it depends on what my opponent is playing, also, what does the Sicillian often transpose into?  So I can study that too, if there are patterns around other similar openings.

Thanks,

Jamie.

Opponents of yours rarely playing critical lines isn't a reason to transpose or change openings entirely in future games. If anything it is a reason for the contrary. It is however, a reason to concentrate on learning the ideas and themes of your opening (and those of the the opening stage of chess in general) over specific lines.

What's the point of coming onto a forum to type are u serious, Winny?!?  If you've got nothing to add which is useful, please don't bother.

You chose to acknowlegde the troll but not the person giving you advice/answering your OP? I don't believe that is a good way of handling these forums.

Playing the English (1.c4) as White is a good way to practice against 'random' Sicilian play from White.  The general strategy idea of Queenside expansion is the same.

Search for 'Yasser Seirawan English Opening' to find some very interesting videos from a famous Grandmaster on how to play such positions.

The comment probably resulted from the large number of threads about low-rated players studying openings.  The answer is always "learn general principles."  For instance in response to 1. c4, a general principle is to put a pawn in the center, that would lead to 1. ... e5, the second most played move.  Another general principle is to block the pawn from further advancement.  That would lead to 1. ... c5, the fourth most played move, and Black's first move in the Sicillian.

I don't know about others, but I know the first five or six moves of a handful of opening variations.  From then on (or for openings that I don't know), I depend on general principles.

Additionally, when you finish a game, compare your first five or ten moves with an opening database.  Don't bother memorizing the moves.  After repeating them many times, you will find that you are reasonably well versed in standard opening play.