ChessPub Forum - Help in the closed sicilian

Stigma

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Re: Help in the closed sicilian
Reply #15 - 02/18/10 at 14:00:12

Stefan Buecker wrote on 02/18/10 at 13:27:10:

You mean, the bishop which never goes to b5 anyway? The problem with Palliser's recommendation of 2...a6 isn't that the move were bad. The problem is that after 3.a4 Black has to know another set-up, say e7-e6. In my opinion 2...e6 isn't worse than 2...a6 3.a4 e6, so why should you study 2...a6?

That's obviously wrong. The insertion of ...a6 and a4 avoids all GP Attack lines with Bb5 and the so-called "Modern Grand Prix" 2...Nc6 3.Bb5. So while the 2...a6 may not bother a Closed Sicilian (with g3) player, it's more of a problem for Grand Prix players, which there are a lot of on club level.

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Stefan Buecker

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Re: Help in the closed sicilian
Reply #16 - 02/18/10 at 14:55:50

Of course 2...a6 avoids some lines (just as 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 a6 avoids the Ruy Lopez), but you give White a pleasant choice: (a) to play 3.a4, and then in 99% of the cases follow his usual Anti-Sicilian scheme, or (b) accept the invitation to 2...a6 & b5, which isn't too bad either. Closed Sicilian Players know their set-ups, und including a6/a4 is rarely a big issue.

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Stigma

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Re: Help in the closed sicilian
Reply #17 - 02/18/10 at 15:13:51

Whether Closed Sicilian players know their setups well enough depens on the level. Below 2200 the main motivation for playing the Closed seems to be to avoid theory, avoid thinking for themselves in the opening, and basically play the same moves no matter what Black does! And precisely against such opponents 2...a6 3.g3 b5 is a great weapon, because their usual slow kingside attack doesn't work. Add to that the aforementioned avoidance of the dangerous forms of the Grand Prix Attack, and there are plenty of good reasons for playing 2...a6.

If only they had enough sense to play 3.a4 things would be a bit better I agree. Maybe they will after they read your Chesscafe article?! I still don't see what Black loses by having a6/a4 inserted though.

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Schaakhamster

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Re: Help in the closed sicilian
Reply #18 - 02/18/10 at 15:29:32

Stefan Buecker wrote on 02/18/10 at 14:55:50:

Of course 2...a6 avoids some lines (just as 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 a6 avoids the Ruy Lopez), but you give White a pleasant choice: (a) to play 3.a4, and then in 99% of the cases follow his usual Anti-Sicilian scheme, or (b) accept the invitation to 2...a6 & b5, which isn't too bad either. Closed Sicilian Players know their set-ups, und including a6/a4 is rarely a big issue.

I don't think anyone argues differently. 2. ... a6 won't refute the closed sicilian.

Still I think 3. a4 isn't the magic move certainly if you don't mind 2. ... a6 and b5. I do prefer the 2. ... e6 and 3. ... a6 move order but if everyone played 2. ... a6 3. a4 that might change Grin

.

In the end I challenge the usefullness of the move 3. a4. You might argue that 2. ... a6 doesn't improve black position but neither does 3. a4. The only reason d'etre is to stop 3. ... b5 but black has perfectly logical alternatives avaible. It would be like answering 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 a6 with 3. a3 and then saying after 3. ... Nc6you now can play 4. Nc3 without worrying about 4. ... Bb4.

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Stefan Buecker God Member Offline Posts: 514 Germany Gender:	Re: Help in the closed sicilian Reply #19 - 02/18/10 at 15:42:55 I see - apparently I'd have to fill even more pages than Palliser has written on 2...a6, to convince you that the Sicilian Defence is a mistake.
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Schaakhamster

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Re: Help in the closed sicilian
Reply #20 - 02/18/10 at 15:50:15

Stefan Buecker wrote on 02/18/10 at 15:42:55:

I see - apparently I'd have to fill even more pages than Palliser has written on 2...a6, to convince you that the Sicilian Defence is a mistake.

that will take a whole lot more Grin

In the end it doesn't really matter. Either way it is still a game of chess and in most of your articles on you are trying to make a case for lines where black has to overcome a lot more challenges then in this line (and you succeed in that surprisingly well)

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MatrixX Junior Member Offline carpe diem! Posts: 66	Re: Help in the closed sicilian Reply #21 - 02/19/10 at 13:07:34 @ Stefan Buecker: could you please post the link to your article about 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 a6 3.a4 in chesscafe? i would like to have a view on it, as i also like 2...a6 for black
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Stefan Buecker God Member Offline Posts: 514 Germany Gender:	Re: Help in the closed sicilian Reply #22 - 02/19/10 at 13:51:59 There were only a few sentences: http://www.chesscafe.com/text/kaiss43.pdf But in these archives you'll find more on another idea ... are there really 2...a6 players who are not deterred by the Al Hadhrani Attack 3.Bc4 b5 4.Bxf7+? @Schaakhamster: Thx.
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Schaakhamster

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Re: Help in the closed sicilian
Reply #23 - 02/19/10 at 15:17:17

Stefan Buecker wrote on 02/19/10 at 13:51:59:

There were only a few sentences:
http://www.chesscafe.com/text/kaiss43.pdf
But in these archives you'll find more on another idea ... are there really 2...a6 players who are not deterred by the Al Hadhrani Attack 3.Bc4 b5 4.Bxf7+?

@Schaakhamster: Thx.

Curiously 3. ... e6 is the main move and 3. ... b5 is rarely played. 3. ... e6 would be my first thought. Seeing the article my second though is 3. ... e6 again. Just too many crazy tactics.

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zoo Senior Member Offline Think better! Posts: 313	Re: Help in the closed sicilian Reply #24 - 02/19/10 at 15:27:07 a wonderful sacrifice! after serious bar analysis we couldn't keep count of how many pieces White had to give in order to extract his Queen. If your variation spreads, I'll make sure to play 2...a6 on occasion.
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PatzerNoster YaBB Newbies Offline I Love ChessPublishing! Posts: 46	Re: Help in the closed sicilian Reply #25 - 02/19/10 at 16:53:24 Even if the sacrifice were interesting or even correct, it is of no practical significance, 3. ... e6 is the most natural move after which the Bc4 is terribly misplaced.
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Stefan Buecker God Member Offline Posts: 514 Germany Gender:	Re: Help in the closed sicilian Reply #26 - 02/19/10 at 20:40:01 Misplaced? It's the Anderssen Variation, also liked by G. R. Neumann, in the 19th century. 90% of the members in this forum should be glad if they could play like Anderssen...
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MNb God Member Offline Rudolf Spielmann forever Posts: 7593 Moengo Gender:	Re: Help in the closed sicilian Reply #27 - 02/19/10 at 21:01:18 Indeed I would be very happy with Anderssen's talent and skills. That does not mean though that I trust his openings. I don't even play the openings of my great hero.
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Stefan Buecker

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Re: Help in the closed sicilian
Reply #28 - 02/19/10 at 22:52:52

I have never played 1.a3 either. The system 1.e4 c5 2.Bc4 isn't too bad. - Instead of following 12-18 moves of fashionable theory it can be equally nice to work out our inner Anderssen or Morphy. Not many of their lines have been completely refuted.

Edit: Only 3 minutes after I wrote the above, KoKKo started a thread on 1.a3 and 1.h3. I knew that I am influential...

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zoo Senior Member Offline Think better! Posts: 313	Re: Help in the closed sicilian Reply #29 - 02/20/10 at 17:29:14 It seems that in many gambits a nice name is already part of the compensation!
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