A couple of comments on the opening:
4...e6 is the Taimanov, not the Paulsen. The Paulsen is 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6.
5.c4 is bad because black can respond with 5...Nxd4 6.Qxd4 Ne7, winning a tempo on the queen.
After 6...Ne7 White plays 7..Bg5 and then exchange his Bishop with Knight
Hey, Solskytz plays the piano very well!!
I did not know that.
http://www.allmusic.com/album/itzhak-solsky-plays-piano-mw0001560350
Now that you discovered it, <Marco>, you want to go the whole way:
https://www.youtube.com/user/solskytz/videos
I like that Leonard review you found, by the way - it was the first international review I got on these CDs, back in 2005...
Is it possible to do glissando ona piano? Can't remember what you did in Gershwin's Rhapsidy :)
Edit: mobile keyboard doesnt work today
Yes yes - it's possible - but it's not written for the piano in the Rhapsody. You're supposed to play a scale.
You want glissandi, you need to listen to my Fantasia Baetica, by Manuel De Falla (very recommended, by the way!!!)
A couple of comments on the opening:
4...e6 is the Taimanov, not the Paulsen. The Paulsen is 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6.
5.c4 is bad because black can respond with 5...Nxd4 6.Qxd4 Ne7, winning a tempo on the queen.
After 6...Ne7 White plays 7..Bg5 and then exchange his Bishop with Knight
I suggested this variation but solskytz wasn't convinced...
5c4 isn't very testing against the Taimanov because of 5...Bb4ch 6Nc3 Nf6. (Edit Sorry GreenCastle already mentioned it, and probably 5...Nf6 first is more accurate too).
You kept on being amazed on how well your opponent played but he didn't really, when he had any choices. For example after 9g3 playing d5 would have been uncomfortable for you,before bg2 had been played. Bb4 allowed free space gaining with a3, b4, or allowed winning two bishops. It was more the case of you being rather unfamilar and uncomfortable playing open variations in the sicilian. Nd2, g3 where rather strange moves. This grade of opponent was good chance to get bit of experience.
I agree - 5. c4 isn't very tasty against the Taimanov :-) someone wrote it earlier and I learned something!!
(That was the purpose of the thread, btw - not to showcase my INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL combo...)
BTW - I was amazed how well my opponent play for his 1184 rating. I thought he played like a 1600-1700, which isn't all that amazing obviously - but way way above his rating.
I agree about ...d5 on move nine - and you're absolutely correct - I'm both unfamiliar AND uncomfortable with open variations in the Sicilian!! :-)
That's why I'm doing that MORE and asking for HELP from this generous, kind community :-)
I'm not convinced, btw, that g3 is a bad idea in the open Sicilian - many strong people play it routinely in various variations - and to the best of my knowledge, also against the Taimanov - it certainly tastes better than 5. c4!
Yes, I would be just as uncomfortable attempting to play 2c3. Play 5Nc3, then g3 myself against the Taimanov. It was/is played by Fischer and Adams plus other strong players. g3 wasn't that great after nd2, because lack control of d5.
Now that you discovered it, <Marco>, you want to go the whole way:
https://www.youtube.com/user/solskytz/videos
I like that Leonard review you found, by the way - it was the first international review I got on these CDs, back in 2005...
I like classic music, specially Johann Sebastian Bach for 4 harpsichords.
I have lots of CD and vinil discs of Bach here.
I will try to listen your videos later.
<TwoMove> actually g3 is played (in my game) to get at least SOME (but not enough probably) control over the d5 square...
CONFUSION :-)
But the combo was pretty.
<Marco> Very nice :-)
I agree - 5. c4 isn't very tasty against the Taimanov :-) someone wrote it earlier and I learned something!!
(That was the purpose of the thread, btw - not to showcase my INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL combo...)
BTW - I was amazed how well my opponent play for his 1184 rating. I thought he played like a 1600-1700, which isn't all that amazing obviously - but way way above his rating.
I agree about ...d5 on move nine - and you're absolutely correct - I'm both unfamiliar AND uncomfortable with open variations in the Sicilian!! :-)
That's why I'm doing that MORE and asking for HELP from this generous, kind community :-)
I'm not convinced, btw, that g3 is a bad idea in the open Sicilian - many strong people play it routinely in various variations - and to the best of my knowledge, also against the Taimanov - it certainly tastes better than 5. c4!
No, g3 is definetly not bad in other variations. I'm just not sure about it here.
It should be playable against the Taimanov (I remember people speaking about playing the K's Indian Attack setup against Sicilians with ...e6) - but maybe not in this particular situation.
Then again, it may have been that the "damage" to my position (i.e. allowing black to simply equalize) was already done before my g-pawn stepped forward.
And does it really matter that in the Taimanov a knight already stands on c6?
Does it detract any from the expedience of the g3-Bg2 manoeuvre?
@Robert_New_Alekhine: In your g3 line final position after 8.O-O...Does white have enoguh compensation after 8...b4 and taking the e4 pawn? When I was a junior I played Paulsen quite frequently and I was always happy getting the central pawn "for free".
Now I don't have the same opinion about this position anymore but I would still take the pawn. I know that white pieces are more developed than black but black can get a really strong centre. I don't even know which is the best square to place the knight after 8...b4. Ne2 doesn't look really good to me and Na4 neither.
I don't know much theory about this line. Can you tell me is it good for white or not? Is the plan with b4 and taking the e4 pawn ok for black?
@Robert_New_Alekhine: In your g3 line final position after 8.O-O...Does white have enoguh compensation after 8...b4 and taking the e4 pawn? When I was a junior I played Paulsen quite frequently and I was always happy getting the central pawn "for free".
Now I don't have the same opinion about this position anymore but I would still take the pawn. I know that white pieces are more developed than black but black can get a really strong centre. I don't even know which is the best square to place the knight after 8...b4. Ne2 doesn't look really good to me and Na4 neither.
I don't know much theory about this line. Can you tell me is it good for white or not? Is the plan with b4 and taking the e4 pawn ok for black?
For this reason, I usually play 7...Nc6 against this.
Interesting variations indeed... so much to see!