Switching to Sicilian, but which Sicilian?

Hanging Pawns

Andras Toth

Judit Polgar (she has some great videos on the Sicilian)

Naroditsky

I also picked up bits of information from Eric Rosen, Hikaru and Agadmator. Although I would say they are primarily focused on entertainment, it's very instructive.

I also looked at the analysis board quite deeply. When using the analysis board I consider the most common moves in the master's database, the engine analysis and the best scoring moves in the table. I consider all these different moves to think about which offers the best chances or what might be an interesting sideline. You also have to check each move a bit deeper as the score on the surface might change depending on the follow up.

Checking the amateur database is also helpful. I did not consider this as important at first but it is as you can see which lines players are frequently struggling with and why. You can also see common mistakes.

I have made studies on virtually every opening.

If you don't know them, you might like Negi's Grandmaster Repertoire books. Between them, they give a White repertoire for everything but the Ruy and Petroff (which I believe he's currently working on). He likes the sorts of sharp, ambitious lines you seem to (e.g., the 6. Bg5 Najdorf, which gets a whole book). There may be some spots that are starting to get outdated in the earlier volumes (which are coming up on ten years old), but there's still a lot that's relevant.

Im not sure Hanging Pawns is an entirely credible source, I’ve looked at some videos and I’ve spotted some mistakes in the analysis, but still a good chess YouTuber!

The Schliemann is actually fairly respectable and can be somewhat aggressive.

f5 is much better against the Ruy Lopez than the Italian. The Rousseau gambit is actually terrible as black is pretty much denying themselves castling rights.

In the Ruy Lopez, the bishop isn't looking down this diagonal so black is still able to castle in that position although white still has a line to prevent it.

I'm just saying that it's up to your play style at the end of the day. All openings are equally good from a practical perspective. But it depends on the player's preferences in the end.

If someone cannot stand destroying their position for the sake of an attack, than maybe the Najdrof isn't their best shot. You don't know anything about how painful it becomes to learn theory at a higher level.

Fair enough ngl

ive had luck with the Nc3 variation

No, I am kind of young I suppose. I have some health issues and circumstances which may make focusing and processing things quickly more difficult.

The Schliemann was given in The Beginners 1.e4 e5 repertoire by Andras Toth.

@FrogboyWarpz

Yes, I discussed this with Ratko.

In some of the Hanging Pawns videos he gives an incorrect line or lesser sideline as the main line. It's always important to check multiple sources.

I haven't watched Levy since the Alphazero saga so my opinion can be biased on the subject or dead wrong but "Win in 7 moves" is just an approach for more money because it does attract people like flies. Obviously he is in it for money and he gets that so resoect the man for his work.

But unfortunately you start seeing nonsensical ine trick pony lines, such as Traxler and Englund for example. Beginners mind is already warped especially if some people fell for the same tricks. Or they play stuff like Caro and London, again, in a bad habitual way, while nothing truly is wrong with said openings, they play it like a system. Memorisation over understanding would be a somewhat correct analogy here.

I kinda get where higher people are coming from. Imagine getting hit by a variation that you don't know in Sicillian on an OTB game with stakes high, that could turn nasty real quick. But why is it such an issue in casual games? I see none especially if you can take a loss. A grandmaster lost more than we ever played in our lives. Its the essence of the game.

Op just try it and see if you like it. You already heard the doomsday preacher and supporter arguments here.

Exactly! But it’s usually fine 👍. 
I like to look at Chessable courses when it comes to openings, i also play and analyse a lot, along with master games!

Man Schleimann Ruy is incredible. You guys suggested me that one to play it and never a dull day since.

GothamChess only really recommends refutable openings on YouTube just so he can get views, but the GothamChess 1.e4 repertoire on Chessable is legitimate.

against c5, he recommends a hyper modern 2.Nc3, often playing d4 afterwards.

against c6, he recommends the fantasy, not that bad actually and there are a lot of fun lines.

against e5, he recommends either the Ponziani or a weird c3-d4 Italian. Again, he actually makes it quite legitimate.

against e6, he gives the Milner berry gambit. Legitimate opening.

It’s indeed very powerful!

what do you guys do agianst Nc3 though? blacks position is tough and he really has to know what hes doing, white has tricks on blacks weakend diagonal and easily picks off blacks center

@FrogboyWarpz

It's a marketing strategy. Keep everyone at a lower rating by teaching them bad openings so they will keep paying for his courses. 😂

gothams chessable recommendations are inferior to the main lines, the main lines are main lines for a reason, the ones he gives just grant black equality or gives black edge

FR

Not sure if I can go much into detail on that line since it was avoided both in Caruanas book and also Modernized Ruy, where d3 was suggested to white, so I haven't experienced much study on it. But the general idea of fxe4 and then Nf6 is strongest response from black afaik. And if Qe2, d5 is a nice counterplay.

It serves just fine for me so far. I use a bigger gun (Marshall) for bigger bulls.