It's ridiculous to say you get the same attacking chances and lead in development with the mainline Sicilian as the Morra.
Anyone who says that knows neither the mainlines Sicilians nor the Morra.
White against the siciliian: 2.c3
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My 2 cents.
As far as anti-sicilians go 2.c3 is probably the best, up there with the Bb5+ stuff.
Some good reading material on the line:
Starting Out: The c3 Sicilian by John Emms
Play the 2.c3 Sicilian by Harley and Rozentalis
Chess Explained: c3 Sicilian by Sam Collins
I think it's a good choice for white players who want decent positions but don't have the millenia of study-time required to play the open sicilians.
gambitattack wrote:
The point being is that I want to take my opponent out of his 'comfort zone' as soon as possible and start making him play in positions that he's unfamiliar with. It's a strategy that has served me well in the past. My opening repertoire consists of mainly sidelines. Also, I don't have much time for main line studying! =)
Even though 2. c3 isn't the mainline, it's still quite popular, so sicilian players would be prepared for that. It's just too "good" to be used as a surprise weapon to take someone away from their comfort zone. People will expect it. I'm a sicilian player, and 2. c3 is like the second most popular move after the mainline!
You need something gambity or strange, like a wing gambit, or maybe 2...b3.
Jul 13, 2009
0
#25
I've started walking down the very same path. Ditching the Morra for the c3. All things being said about what is good, what is good enough or what isn't are fine...but if you are at a rating level that warrants a shift to grown-up openings, haven't you figured out that all the openings are (at this level you are probably at) is a way to survive into the middle-game with at least an equal position?
Surely you don't expect to trap a strong club player or expert every single time just because he didn't book up a suprise weapon? Seriously ... you guys ought to give the strong players out here a little more respect :)
I wish people would stop dissuading people from playing the Morra. We Black players like the free pawn.
Scarblac wrote:
I wish people would stop dissuading people from playing the Morra. We Black players like the free pawn.
Do you Black players also like the 10% record you have vs me when I venture the Morra?
Bf4 and Bd3 is wrong though, RR. In that game, 5.Nf3 and then if 5...Bb4, 6.Qd4! is strong.
marvellosity wrote:
Scarblac wrote:
I wish people would stop dissuading people from playing the Morra. We Black players like the free pawn.
Do you Black players also like the 10% record you have vs me when I venture the Morra?
Challenge issued & accepted :)
Ya, I'm not telling you to criticise, only to inform :)
I know pretty much everything about the Morra there is to know, I think.
I even have my own novelty that I played and won with against a 2200-2300 player here a month or so ago :D
Why not try the Wing Attack, 2. b4?
RR - could do, not sure how that would work here :)
Wing gambit is poo :p
Scarblac wrote:
And the Morra... white sacs a pawn to get the same attacking chances and lead in development that he gets in the open sicilian anyway. It's really bad.
Lol yeah, It seems like the only difference is that white gets the c file for possible use and maybe one extra piece out but the c file doesn't have much to do with a kingside attack though it may prevent black from using it so it does seem the same as the open. Although I don't think it's a good choice for white, it is very trappy I saw a line that was very natural something that I would play if I didn't know the lines and it leads to a forced loss so it at least needs study just in case someone tries it.
Jul 14, 2009
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#34
I looked at the theory behind the S-M awhile back and it seems to be yet another unsound gambit.
If I played 1.e4 I would think that the 2.c3 Sicilian would be my best bet, but I'd probably need to buy a book on it.
Maybe I can just "wing" my way through the open Sicilian. Can't be too hard.
Jul 14, 2009
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#36
Agreed.
Not only did I think you would choose the King's Gambit, but I would choose it myself too.
They should call the 2.c3 Sicilian the Caro-Kann Sicilian, don't you think?
Gonnosuke wrote:
ozzie_c_cobblepot wrote:
I looked at the theory behind the S-M awhile back and it seems to be yet another unsound gambit.
Unsound is too harsh in my opinion. Like the King's Gambit, it's ineffectual if black knows the theory and lethal if he doesn't. Few people seem to know the theory which is why many players report phenomenal results when they play it. As soon as you start regularly encountering an early e6/a6, the Smith-Morra loses much of it's appeal....
Nope, I'm perfectly happy against e6 and a6 in conjunction with each other. There's only one variation I don't like for White, and I shan't be sharing it here :)
Jul 14, 2009
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#38
Gonnosuke wrote:
ozzie_c_cobblepot wrote:
They should call the 2.c3 Sicilian the Caro-Kann Sicilian, don't you think?
Yes! They evoke similar responses any time I face them -- part dread, part disappointment. I feel more strongly about the Alapin than I do the C-K. I can't fault black for playing for a draw but when white does it, it seems criminal!
Not to pop your bubble, but how is white playing for a draw with the 2.c3 Sicilian? If I may re-phrase, white is playing for a small opening advantage, instead of playing to wipe black off the board in the first 30 moves.
Not to say that you wouldn't get wiped off the board against the Alapin, especially against someone who knows how to play it, but still.
Jul 14, 2009
0
#39
Well it's not like white is playing the exchange French, the exchange Slav, or repeating moves against the Zaitsev Ruy Lopez.
Gonnosuke wrote:
marvellosity wrote:
Gonnosuke wrote:
ozzie_c_cobblepot wrote:
I looked at the theory behind the S-M awhile back and it seems to be yet another unsound gambit.
Unsound is too harsh in my opinion. Like the King's Gambit, it's ineffectual if black knows the theory and lethal if he doesn't. Few people seem to know the theory which is why many players report phenomenal results when they play it. As soon as you start regularly encountering an early e6/a6, the Smith-Morra loses much of it's appeal....
Nope, I'm perfectly happy against e6 and a6 in conjunction with each other. There's only one variation I don't like for White, and I shan't be sharing it here :)
Does 'perfectly happy' mean that you can reach the middlegame with an advantage? Or simply survive the game? If it's the former, I have my doubts. If it's the latter, you'll get no argument from me.
No, I don't claim to an advantage, but in those lines I claim full compensation for my pawn. And a far greater familiarity of the position than my opponent. So I'm happy reaching an objectively equal middlegame where I have the initiative in positions I have good familiarity with. Seems a good enough result from an opening :)
Most sicilian players below 2000 are not surprised to see 2.c3, but I'm yet to play one who is particularly happy with what they play against it.