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At what Elo would you recommend studying the Sicilian?

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SamuelAjedrez95
SamuelAjedrez95
Jan 9, 2023
0
#41

Lmao, all the sicilian haters come crawling out the woodwork.

SamuelAjedrez95
SamuelAjedrez95
Jan 9, 2023
0
#42
Optimissed wrote:
Yea but the Naj is the very last thing someone taking up the Sicilian should want to play. They'd be better, say, even with the Dragon, which is slightly unsound but where at least black has plans that can be understood by a beginner.

I learned Najdorf and never felt that there was too much theory. I also like all of the variations. I understand it better than the Kan honestly as it's what I'm familiar with.

There are some ideas which are easy to understand in this Scheveningen structure where you have pressure against e4 by playing this setup with Be7, Nbd7, Qc7, b5, Bb7. There are ideas like b4 chasing away the c3 knight, Nbd7-Nc5, Rc8- Rxc3 positional sacrifice.

I've never felt that not knowing enough theory has hindered me at all as the opponents are the same. Understanding the ideas and why you play the moves is more important. Even a lot of the theoretical ideas are easy to understand when someone just explains it to you - and if you are willing to learn.

Wins
Wins
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Jan 9, 2023
0
#43
khojaluna wrote:

I ask because there's a video in which IM Levi Rozman says that you shouldn't study it under 2000 because it's very complex and requires a lot of theory, yet GM Daniel Naroditsky recommends it at all levels, as a first opening to learn for black. I'm currently looking for some black openings, and want to know if it's worth investing my time in or if I'm better off looking elsewhere first.

So I'm seeking opinions on it. I'm particularly interested if you're high-rated and are therefore familiar with a lot of opening theory and can therefor compare, and if you're low-rated and play the Sicilian and can talk about how easy or difficult you find it.

I think Levy says 1500+...

Also, you can study it at any level.

SamuelAjedrez95
SamuelAjedrez95
Jan 9, 2023
0
#44

Literally these people saying DON'T PLAY THE SICILIAN THERE'S TOO MUCH THEORY YOU WILL LOSE AND HATE YOURSELF AND EVERYTHING WILL BE TERRIBLE FOR YOU are just hysterical. Like pipe it tf down. We get it that you don't like the sicilian but everyone has different tastes so grow up and get used to it.

I never had that experience that they are talking about with the sicilian.

SamuelAjedrez95
SamuelAjedrez95
Jan 9, 2023
0
#45
Optimissed wrote:

After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. d4 cd 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Bg5 I might play a d6 line.

This is a weird line, some variation of the Sicilian O'Kelly?

I like the Bg5 Najdorf a lot though.

llama36
llama36
Closed: Inactive
Jan 9, 2023
0
#46
SamuelAjedrez95 wrote:

Literally these people saying DON'T PLAY THE SICILIAN THERE'S TOO MUCH THEORY YOU WILL LOSE AND HATE YOURSELF AND EVERYTHING WILL BE TERRIBLE FOR YOU are just hysterical. Like pipe it tf down. We get it that you don't like the sicilian but everyone has different tastes so grow up and get used to it.

I never had that experience that they are talking about with the sicilian.

Good openings for new players have to do with reaching comprehensible middlegames and a variety of pawn structures. Opening recommendations from experienced coaches have to do with teaching as much as possible, and nothing to do with avoiding theory or telling you you'll lose. In terms of individual game results, almost any opening is fine for beginners.

Which opening will help a beginner be the best player they can be 2, 3, 4 years from now is how a good coach will think... one answer to this question is as blue emu said -- allowing the beginner to play what interests them because passion is a vital component to long term improvement. Another approach is recommending 1.e4 e5 and 1.d4 d5 openings for the reasons I mention above.

Another approach is recommending system-like openings with the idea that you're helping the student survive the first 10 moves unscathed, so they're getting more middlegame practice.

SamuelAjedrez95
SamuelAjedrez95
Jan 9, 2023
0
#47
Optimissed wrote:

No sorry it's late here and I'm a bit tired. The move there is e6 but there's a line where black plays d6.

Seems weird to play Bg5 against the Kan/Paulsen Sicilian though.

With the white pieces what line do you play against the Kan?