Oh yeah, there was Prins and Chekhover but they have immediate glaring flaws.
The Prins allows e5 immediately. The Chekhover will lose a tempo moving the queen again.
Switching to Sicilian, but which Sicilian?
Sort:
the smith-morra i think is the 2nd best if you really dont want to play the open siclian, but if black knows what hes doing it may be a bit harder for you to attack
honestly you could concider the smith-morra a open sicilian, it has d4 in it and leads to similar setups you would have in the open sicilian (for black) and is more attacking
I think Najdorf is best, mainly because you don't always have to castle early in the Najdorf meaning you can start Q-side play quicker. In the Dragon you're almost forced to castle early since your fianchettoed bishop on g7 is vulnerable to White's Qd2 Be3 battery.
najdorf is extremely theory heavy in the many lines white has
literally all the ¨real moves"white has
SamuelAjedrez95 wrote:
The Kalashnikov (Lowenthal) is more flexible than the Sveshnikov (Lasker-Pelikan) but in this case it isn't a good thing as it allows white other more challenging moves such as c4 and Bc4.
The Sveshnikov is forcing Nc3 before e5 which basically prevents these other moves.
The Sveshnikov is a good variation. Make no mistake, it is structurally weak. However, it makes these positional concessions in exchange for initiative. It is in fact a very aggressive line.
I wouldn't say Kupreichik has legend status. It's more of a sideline. The point of the move is of course to prepare e5, like the Najdorf, without committing the a pawn, but there's just no point in this. The bishop is very misplaced on d7. It doesn't fulfill an active role and it blocks the knight from d7 where it normally belongs. Better is e5-Be6 or b5-Bb7, after a6.
just wanted to mention that Bd7 can allow Nc6 and will let the knight be recaptured by the bishop
also its a waiting move and allows black on which setup/variation he may want to transpose into
Apr 27, 2023
0
#28
SamuelAjedrez95 wrote:
He's overexaggerating as depending on what you play, that list is cut down massively. If you play the Najdorf then you basically just have to play
- Alapin
- Closed
- Smith-Morra
- Moscow (Canal)
- Wing Gambit
Rossolimo can't be played against 2. ...d6 and Chameleon is only ever meant to transpose into other variations.
The Alapin is easy equality.
The Closed Fianchetto doesn't really have any bite to it. Other Closed Sicilian lines aren't so dangerous either.
The Wing Gambit is unsound and much better for black.
The Moscow is the only other considerable line next to the Open Sicilian but it's not as formidable as the Rossolimo.
Esserman has actually came up with dynamic Alapin lines (as much as Alapin could get, not saying much) in Morra declined chapters. Though Pfren thinks its bs. I am taking Essermans word over that old hag any day though.
Still, thats because you are forced in Morra declined. Alapin is fine, but its no Open Sicillian.
I suggest either the O'Kelly, which is undeservedly disreputable, or the four knights, if you want something with simple ideas (fast development, not allowing white occupying most of the center) and very solid play.
You can also play the Najdorf if you don't mind losing without a fight because you could not understand the very demanding positional nuances of it (or not remembering some details in the countless possible continuations you have to study).
Apr 27, 2023
0
#30
Mazetoskylo wrote:
I suggest either the O'Kelly, which is undeservedly disreputable, or the four knights, if you want something with simple ideas (fast development, not allowing white occupying most of the center) and very solid play.
You can also play the Najdorf if you don't mind losing without a fight because you could not understand the very demanding positional nuances of it (or not remembering some details in the countless possible continuations you have to study).
Would you play a6 if white goes to the Alapin or Kramnik variation and even the Grand Prix?
Seems like a waste of a move to me.
RatkoGavrilo1 wrote:
Ethan you are putting me off of the thought of ever touching Sicillian 😭
Better to know what you're getting into than to go in blind.
Mazetoskylo wrote:
I suggest either the O'Kelly, which is undeservedly disreputable, or the four knights, if you want something with simple ideas (fast development, not allowing white occupying most of the center) and very solid play.
You can also play the Najdorf if you don't mind losing without a fight because you could not understand the very demanding positional nuances of it (or not remembering some details in the countless possible continuations you have to study).
literally the only purpose of the o´kelly is to meet Nxd4 with e5
this position here gives white a much better position
im not much of a siciian player, but if i had to recommend one it would be one of the more classical ones
but if you were to play the more classical ones, you should know the scheveningen & kan structures plans, and the classical sicilian plans, and the 150 attack for black and the classical e5 sicilian for black aswell
Apr 27, 2023
0
#35
RatkoGavrilo1 wrote:
Ethan_Brollier wrote:
I really don't think you're going to find anything that's that much more aggressive and dynamic than the French, especially in the Winawer. However, if you actually do plan on switching fully to the Sicilian looking for dynamic aggression, I'd naturally gravitate towards the Najdorf. The Bg5 Najdorf is to the Sicilian as the Poisoned Pawn Winawer is to the French. You'll need to know your theory, of which there are volumes, because both sides are going to be trading deadly blows and one false step might lose the entire game. You'll need to learn a lot more than just the Bg5 variations, though, but the payoff will definitely be worth it.
You aren't wrong on French being mighty sharp but it takes two to tango there, OP probably got sick of Exchange French. Though, he is in for a suprise when he will try Sicillian 🙃 assuming he isn't 2000+ and people start playing Open Sicillian.
Takes 2 to tango in thr Sicilian too. There are dull Sicilians just like how there is the Exchange French.
If he thinks he is avoiding dull, he's dreamin'.
give example of a ¨dull¨ open sicilian or nobody should take your word here
Apr 27, 2023
0
#37
Thanks for your comments. Yes OTB I am a B player, I don't play online much these days.
So to summarize:
1. The French is still a very aggressive opening for black according to many people here
2. Najdorf has more theory then the Dragon but might be a bit more forgiving then the Dragon if you make theoretical mistakes
Do we agree on this?
Chuck639 wrote:
Mazetoskylo wrote:
I suggest either the O'Kelly, which is undeservedly disreputable, or the four knights, if you want something with simple ideas (fast development, not allowing white occupying most of the center) and very solid play.
You can also play the Najdorf if you don't mind losing without a fight because you could not understand the very demanding positional nuances of it (or not remembering some details in the countless possible continuations you have to study).
Would you play a6 if white goes to the Alapin or Kramnik variation and even the Grand Prix?
Seems like a waste of a move to me.
It certainly isn't a waste of time after 3.c4, and Black kan even avoid entering Maroczy structures, like the Kramnik variation.
It is not the most useful of moves after 3.c3 (although it does rule out stock Na3-b5 ideas) but Black gets an OK game after 3...d5.
If it good for players like Artemiev in all kind of time controls against top competition, I fail to see why it is not good for class players as long as they know what they are doing.
And the GPA is a non-issue, actually something like 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 a6 3.f4 b5 4.Nf3 Bb7 5.d3 e6 is one of the very best ways to deal with the GPA as Black.
I would suggest Sielecki's course on Chessable for study, although it's not the only reliable source.
Apr 27, 2023
0
#39
mrOpenRuy wrote:
give example of a ¨dull¨ open sicilian or nobody should take your word here
btw this is like asking for a dull french winawer
you do realise white can choose to NOT go into the open sicilian right
oh and heres a 1... e5 comparison, its like asking for a dull ruy lopez
white can just play the four knights
Apr 27, 2023
0
#40
Mazetoskylo wrote:
Chuck639 wrote:
Mazetoskylo wrote:
I suggest either the O'Kelly, which is undeservedly disreputable, or the four knights, if you want something with simple ideas (fast development, not allowing white occupying most of the center) and very solid play.
You can also play the Najdorf if you don't mind losing without a fight because you could not understand the very demanding positional nuances of it (or not remembering some details in the countless possible continuations you have to study).
Would you play a6 if white goes to the Alapin or Kramnik variation and even the Grand Prix?
Seems like a waste of a move to me.
It certainly isn't a waste of time after 3.c4, and Black kan even avoid entering Maroczy structures, like the Kramnik variation.
It is not the most useful of moves after 3.c3 (although it does rule out stock Na3-b5 ideas) but Black gets an OK game after 3...d5.
If it good for players like Artemiev in all kind of time controls against top competition, I fail to see why it is not good for class players as long as they know what they are doing.
And the GPA is a non-issue, actually something like 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 a6 3.f4 b5 4.Nf3 Bb7 5.d3 e6 is one of the very best ways to deal with the GPA as Black.
I would suggest Sielecki's course on Chessable for study, although it's not the only reliable source.
Thanks for the reply.
I would put d5 or b6 ahead of a6 and save the tempo in these cases.
He's overexaggerating as depending on what you play, that list is cut down massively. If you play the Najdorf then you basically just have to play
Rossolimo can't be played against 2. ...d6 and Chameleon is only ever meant to transpose into other variations.
The Alapin is easy equality.
The Closed Fianchetto doesn't really have any bite to it. Other Closed Sicilian lines aren't so dangerous either.
The Wing Gambit is unsound and much better for black.
The Moscow is the only other considerable line next to the Open Sicilian but it's not as formidable as the Rossolimo.