LeeRoth wrote on 03/20/10 at 04:16:34:
Markovich wrote on 03/19/10 at 20:23:26:
Schaakhamster wrote on 03/19/10 at 13:07:23:
After some carefull consideration: if you are willing to risk the Keres then you could wait quite a bit before playing a6 or not.
To me the most flexible move order seems 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 Be7 7. O-O O-O. Be7 and O-O are moves that will be played in 99% of the games while whether to play a6 or where to develop the b8-knight depends on your approach. Theoretical it doesn't really change much but it might keep your opponent guessing. Basicly it is just about first playing the moves you and your opponent know you are going to play.
Yeah, and when you throw in (a) that you avoid the Najdorf 6.Bg5 and some other sharp anti-Najdorf systems, and (b) that you avoid 3.Bb5+ and (c) that 2...e6 has fewer problems with other anti-Sicilians, this move is for choice. But the whole thing depends on your having a good answer to the Keres attack.
Yes, agree, but what do you do about 6.Bg5 if you want to win?
If you're going to play ..a6 in the next couple of moves, then you haven't really avoided the 6.Bg5 Najdorf.
@LeeRoth
The move 6.Bg5 is ineffective against the Scheveningen: 6.Bg5 Be7 and now White has two options: Playing as in the Classical Variation with 7.Qd2, or playing in 6.Bg5 Najdorf fashion with 7.f4.
a) 7.Qd2 a6 8.f3 b5 9.h4 Bb7 10.0-0-0 Nbd7 11.Kb1 Rc8 12.g4 Nb6 13.Bd3 Nc4 with at least equality for Black in Mazi-Parligras, Antalya 2004.
b) 7.f4 isn't any better due to 7...h6! 8.Bh4? (8.Bf6 is necessary, but Black must be a bit better with the bishop pair and central majority) 8...Ne4! 9.Be7 Nc3 10.Bd8 Nd1 11.Rd1 Kd8 and Black is up a pawn.
@Schaakhamster
Agreed. Then the next key question is, after Be3 and f4, when and whether to play Kh1, a4, Qe1 and Bf3 for White. Generally speaking most of the key lines involve White playing a4 against ...a6 to prevent queenside expansion with ...b5 and Kh1 is played to avoid potential tactics on the a7-g1 diagonal, but then White must decide between Bf3 followed usually by kingside play with f5 or g4-g5, or a quick Qe1-g3 with the intention of breaking with e5. Jansa's strategy book explains all of this more clearly than I can in a single post, especially in regard to Black's ideas.
@Markovich
Agreed, and in my opinion the main line with 6...h6 7.h4 (the most common move) Nc6 8.Rg1 h5 9.gh5 (9.g5 Ng4) 9...Nh5 (even 9...Rh5!? looks okay for Black) 10.Bg5 Nf6 and I don't think Black is worse here, although I admit I haven't looked at the theory of this line in some time.
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Sicilian Scheveningen (Read 53859 times)
