Sicilian v. Caro-Kann (Ultimate 1. e4 challenge)

yep

@BestSell - All of your basic points are valid.  In fact, I don't think we're really in fundamental disagreement about anything here.

However, falling upon the tendencies of present-day GMs is not as strong an argument as you might suppose.

For example, it is well-known that the Advance Variation of the Caro-Kann took a hit due to Nimzowitsch's loss to Capablanca at New York in 1927.  In that game, Nimzowitch started with 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Bd3 Bxd3 5. Qxd3 and subsequently lost, quite badly.  However, in that game he made a number of positional mistakes which actually go against his own rules!  Among them are 6. Nc3 (6. c3 protects the base of the pawn chain), 8. dxc5 (capturing away from the center, which My System tells you not to do), and 11. Nxc5 (trading a knight that moved 3 times for a bishop which moved once), all of which combine to cost white his initiative.  Meanwhile, Capablanca made a number of moves which My System would immediately suggest, including 7. ..c5 (attacking the base of the pawn chain), 13. ..Nf5 (blockade), 32. Kg6 (blockade), and 41. ..Qc1 (infiltration of the back ranks on the open file).

This is what I mean when I say Nimzowitsch didn't follow his own rules as faithfully as Petrosian did.  There's nothing wrong with White's position after 5. Qxd3, the problems come after that.  Capa is a god to many chess players to this day (and not without good reason), but the errors of his opponent in this case are quite obvious.  Modern GMs use an artificially narrow range of openings, and often treat single innovations and results as being more definitive than they really are.  This is simply to keep the preparation time reasonable - if what they use produces satisfactory results, they feel no need to explore other openings.

Going into the games of past GMs and knowing where to deviate is difficult even for the very best players.  So, as a matter of course, modern GMs don't even make a serious attempt to do so, even when the room for improvement is clear.  If they don't understand a given position, they simply avoid the position altogether.

Modern GM play is shaped as much by who is and has been World Champion as it is by how well they actually play.  The stark stylistic differences between them (clear to any player of even average experience) show just how many ways there are to play chess effectively.

There are many good reasons to give up tempo, just as there are many good reasons to give up other advantages in order to gain tempo.

Main standings updated with the Board 6 result (1-1).

Nice desperado sequence in the Sicilian game, though the opening was more passive than a Sicilian should be, in my opinion.

In the Caro game, white should have simply pressed the pawn storm.  Opposite-side castling is always a kill-or-be-killed proposition.

Both interesting games, though.  Thanks for playing!

Main standings updated.

I think the reason black does well in these challenges (it was also true in prior matches) is because the player with black tends to understand the selected opening better.

Thanks again for playing!

So you all know, the other match is complete - Team e5 won 9-5, though Boards 1 and 2 for team e5 (@little_guinea_pig and myself) pulled double-duty, and the match was otherwise even.  Only in the Board 2 match (me vs. @ThrillerFan) did white win both games (our e5 game featured an absolutely vicious attack in the Steinitz variation of the Petroff which crushed me, while I managed a narrow victory in the Advance Variation of the French due to the endgame weakness of the bishop pair).

Are boards 1-4 really still underway in this match?  Please confirm current status if you can.

I’m currently still playing both games against @ninjaswat he’s currently using vacation on them at the moment 

Yep we're in a semi-decisive state in both but right now daily is just hurting my brain... will try to restart my system and actually finish those though.

Board 2 results posted.  Thanks for updating.  @ninjaswat - take what time you need.

On the board 2 games - the Caro-Kann game shows what kind of latent tactics come alive once the center is open.  The move 23. Rad1! (Rfd1 does the same thing) and once the queen moves Nd6! forks the black rooks.  The Sicilian game demonstrates the importance of initiative in the Sicilian, for both sides.  Whereas in many other openings (like the C-K) both white and black need to spend considerable time preparing to attack, the Sicilian's success or failure depends on one side maintaining pressure constantly.  This is because white is conceding a long-term positional weakness (a central minority, and often an IQP) for the sake of rapid development.

Thanks again for playing!  Good instructive games all around!

If you have to go that deep to see the lost piece, is it really a blunder?  Stockfish does have issues with the horizon effect, especially with latent mating threats as were born of 23. Qh6!

@Teiiaa

Your move 5 is a mistake, so anything after that I wouldn't study unless if you always plan on doing the same mistake and giving your opponent almost a +2 advantage and allowing them to reply to your mistake with e5. Don't get me wrong it's a good game. But don't be saying move 23 is your first error when your fifth move is a clear mistake. And you even move the same Bishop again move seven. Move 10, 11, 13 are also mistakes... Move 14 is a straight blunder.

Okay me and @ninjaswat finished game 1 https://www.chess.com/game/daily/343671473 he timed out but I was winning. Our other game is still going on and it seems he's slightly better but is probably a draw with best play. Also some updates of the other matches: @anhbao123 timed out in both of his games against @AustinL0926 so team Sicilian can take those 2 points. @Moonwarrior_1 timed out in both of his games against @SigurdEssai BUT Sigurd was closed for cheating so Dsmith can decide who gets the points in that matchup. We only have 1 gae left i the match so it will hopefully be completed soon

Honestly I'm so burnt out when it comes to daily I'd rather have a draw rn

That's why I resigned a bunch of daily games not to long ago, it gets to much. At one point I had over 130

I had over 80 for months... it just makes me tired of chess... resigning all the ones I'm lost in + offering draws... draw in our game?

Normally I would take a draw but, if I win our game I can tie the match and I’m quite competitive.....xD

Could you post links to @AustinL0926 's games?  Same thing for @Moonwarrior_1.  If his opponent really was closed out for cheating, I'd like to consider that board a no-contest (0-0), if that seems fair to everyone.

Personally, I never have more than 3 daily games going at a time.  I can track 2 mentally without much effort, but my quality of play drops in a hurry once I add any more than that.

As for the completed game, I simply can't understand how white missed 25. Rxf7 at which point black can probably resign.  @ricorat's early pawn grabbing led to open lines in front of his castled king which should have been his demise.

As a beginner which black opening do y'all prefer against e4?

Ha I forgot he could take my knight with check... That was at a time when I had 80+ games I think...

Sure thing, I'll post there games here and hahaha yeah it was a bit stupid of me to grab so many pawns opening those lines. I'm just happy I won in the end so @Ninjaswat can't tell me how I lost to a bongcloud xD

Caro-kann is superior in everyway. Caro-Kann is a way of life.