Wouldn't it be to avoid his opponent's preparation?
John Bartholomew advertise Scandi, but plays sicilian. Can someone explain?
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K_Brown wrote:
Wouldn't it be to avoid his opponent's preparation?
Well that's a good point, but I don't think everyone watches him.
Don't get me wrong he's a FANTASTIC player and I'm sure he has HUGE audience, but many of his games he played agaisnt lower rated players and not professionals who shouldn't be interested in his prap. So I was just wondering.
Maybe it's just pure advertising and he doesn't believe in this opening, so whenever OTB game starts he gets serious and plays sicilian?
Nov 21, 2018
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#4
He doesn’t like to give his Scandinavian secrets away. He has said it before.
He doesnt want to play a bad opening in real games. In blitz online for fun is ok, though.
congrandolor wrote:
He doesnt want to play a bad opening in real games. In blitz online for fun is ok, though.
You really think it's true?
Nov 21, 2018
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#7
Isn't he close to getting GM? I'm not sure but I thought that was the case.
If so, then I'm sure other GM players would definitely be interested in his pet opening.
Nov 21, 2018
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#8
Probably the difference between blitz and classical time settings, the Scandinavian isn't as good of an opening as the Sicilian. It's mainly just better for blitz to get the time advantage and surprise factor. I'm sure most GMs playing against it with longer time settings will be able to easily avoid any of the traps black normally tries to get white to fall into. It just makes more sense in a serious game to play a serious opening.
It’s not difficult. He loves the Scandinavian because it’s fun and chess is supposed to be fun. And it’s fine for most players where it doesn’t matter if they play optimum openings or not. But in serious tournament games against masters he knows to rely on a more serious opening.
Agree to disagree
pfren wrote:
He does play his ...Qd8 Scandinavian occasionally.
You shouldn't expect 95% of the titled players playing just one opening, would you?
That is true, so you are saying he plays Scandi more often then any other openings
Feb 11, 2019
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#12
He usually plays the Scandi, especially against weaker players. I remember he saying in a video (where he had problems against a much weaker player with the Sicilian) that you can see that I am not a Sicilian player. However, it is possible that he is switching to another defence against 1.e4.
Feb 11, 2019
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#13
ESP, yes, strong people prep against him. I remember when he said that a guy (IM, I think) who saw his videos on the Scandi to prepare.
He advertise Scandinavian defence so much, like team scandi etc , he even plays scandinavian defence agaisnt GMs online , BUT as soon as he plays OTB it's always sicilian against e4 of course.
Can someone explain?