chk wrote on 03/18/09 at 08:55:50:


I'd probably take up the Sicilian if I knew I could get a French Advance out of the Alapin every time.

The Big Clamp is obnoxious, definitely a great club-level tool. Sometimes I use 1. e4 e6 2. d3 c5 to avoid the French-KIA as black (not that there's any big reason to, but Sicilian KIA seems to have more winning chances), just to end up dealing with the Clamp.

I agree that the c3 Sicilian is a good choice, but these statistics don't prove that the Alapin is a better practical choice than the Open Sicilian, for the following reasons:

a) Such statistics are not a reliable source, simply a guide.

b) You are only comparing the Alapin to a variation of the Najdorf. It would be more accurate to compare the c3 Sicilian to all Open Sicilians (to do this, do individual searches for B32-B39, B41-B49 and B55-B99 and 'select all' for each and press 'F5'.) Then once you have all of the relevant games in the Clip Database, use the statistics function to determine the statistics for the line.

km
thanks for that. 
Bibs

kylemeister wrote on 03/20/09 at 21:28:30:


Kylemeister

Just wondering - where was this? In one of those Morra Gambit booklets? I havent seen the Smith analysis on this. 
Overall the Qd4: stuff looks interesting and quite hacky.

kylemeister wrote on 03/20/09 at 21:28:30:


The critical position in the 5.Qd4 variation arises after 5...e6 6.Nf3 (6.Bd3 is an interesting surprise weapon for quickplay but no more than that) 6...Nc6 7.Qe4 f5 (without this move White has good chances of reaching a += position) 8.Qe2 (8.ef6 Nf6 9.Qh4 d5 is better for Black; White can prevent Black from castling with 10.Bg6, but after 10...Kd7 the king proves quite secure in the centre) 8...Qc7 9.g3 b5! (seizing space on the queenside; the old main line with 9...d6 is also equal, but can easily lead to quite tedious positions) 10.0-0 a5 (a logical followup to 9...b5; Black intends 11...Ba6 with counterplay on the queenside) 11.0-0 Ba6. 

Now White has a few possibilities (12.Re1, 12.Rd1 and 12.Nh4). Anyone who wishes to learn this line with either colour will need Rogozenko's YB 73 survey on this line and Da Costa Junior's contribution in the Forum section of YB 74. (Thanks kylemeister!)

I will give the main line of these analyses here: 12.Nh4 (!? Da Costa Junior, ! Rogozenko) g6 (12...Nce7? 13.Bd5! is the idea; 12...Nde7 13.Rd1 also slightly favours White according to Da Costa Junior, although theory may have changed in the 4 years since his contribution was published) 13.Bd5 ed5 14.Re1 Be7 (14...Bg7 is also fine for Black but 14...Be7 appears more testing) 15.Nf3 0-0 and according to Rogozenko White has to play 16.Nd4! to avoid reaching a worse position.  

@Scott

At club level, the chances of your opponent knowing all of this is very low, especially since the aforementioned Yearbook Surveys are 5 years old. 

MNb wrote on 03/20/09 at 20:48:30:


It seems that the usual view (e.g. in ECO, NCO and Sveshnikov's B22 monograph) has long been that it should be equal or unclear.   

Incidentally I first became aware of 5. Qxd4 due to its advocacy by Ken Smith, who thought 4...e6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Qe4 f5 7. Qe2 was good for White.   

Scott wrote on 03/18/09 at 03:13:00:


I suggest a combination of the Open Sicilian and Alapin Sicilian. If you decide to learn the Alapin, then Sam Collins's book 'Chess Explained: The Alapin Sicilian' is a must read, as is ChessPublishing. Keep in mind that there are also a few shortcuts for White in the Alapin, such as 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Bc4!?, 4.Nf3 or 4.d4 cd4 5.Qd4, all of which are quite tricky for an unprepared opponent to face. 

However, at club level and below I would expect 2...d5 to be the move you are most likely to face. Unfortunately I don't know any good shortcuts for White in this line, but the aforementioned sources should be useful in that respect. 

There are several possibilities for formulating an Open Sicilian repertoire - for some options I refer you to the relevant threads in the 'Open Sicilian' section of this Forum. 

If you are still unsure of what variations you wish to learn, then the following advice by Emms should prove handy:

'If you enjoy tactical positions, and you have got a great memory and lots of time to study opening theory then there's every chance that playing 2.Nf3 and 3.d4, and employing the sharpest lines of the Open Sicilian is the way forward. If you prefer quieter positions with less theory, but ones which are open rather than closed, then the c3-Sicilian(sic) (2.c3) may be the best choice. If you like playing 'systems' and you excel in closed positions, then the Closed Sicilian (2.Nc3 followed by 3.g3) could well be the answer.' (The Survival Guide to Competitive Chess, p.134, Everyman Chess, 2007, John Emms) 

Yes and I think you can find out yourself: in the Sicilian Black already has played 1...c5. After 1.Nf3 Black hasn't yet, which means that he has a much wider choice. Examples: New York System (= London with colours reversed) and my favourite, a Dutch setup.
I am not that impressed by 2.Nf3 and 3.d3 though. White robs himself voluntarily of any setup with f2-f4.

I second the KIA suggestion.

Moreover, there is the option to enter it via 2. Nf3 (a la Fischer) and then decide, depending on Black's answer, whether to follow it up with the Open Sic or in KIA style (d3).

Matemax wrote on 03/18/09 at 12:38:50:


Believe me, I haven't missed out on the Open Sicilian. I've played the Dragon many times as Black, and the Najdorf quite a few times, as well.

I don't plan to totally give up playing the Open Sicilian as White, but recently, I've found myself enjoying quiter, positional play. Maybe, just a phase, but I'm enjoying it right now.

BTW, I have been playing 1. d4 a lot and 1. c4 some, as well.

Closed or c3 - from a practical point of view understandable. But you really miss something in your e4-chess life if you do not enter the Open Sicilians. If you dont like fighting directly out of the opening, why not change to d4 or c4!?

Any game of Sveshnikov in the c3 sicilian has to be viewed in addition to those in bibs' list.

I think the c3 may lead to slightly more open game than the closed and your choice may depend on which of those you prefer.

I have played both a lot over the years.

Will focus on q3.

3) Depends on your level, but for most people one system is sufficient. No need to spread your knowledge and pattern recognition building thinly.

You can vary greatly within the c3 sicilian btw, particularly choosing systems versus  2...Nf6.

Both have the advantage btw that black players are instantly dischuffed that they are not able to play their fave line. 
To best effect against kids, dragon players. If the dragon player is a kid, the pysch victory and the game is yours. Great to watch the grimaces.
This applies to c3 particularly.

Materials:
Closed sicilian - 
Palliser 
Emms e4 repertoire book.
Games of Spassky.

c3 Sicilian - the ultimate book on this yet to be published. 
Best is Emms' recent text.
Games of Howell, D.,  Tiviakov, Sermek, Pavasovic, Smerdon
(cant remember others - look em up)