As far as i know the f3-RR is in quite respectable shape for Black at the moment as long as he times h6-h5 correctly and doesn't castle early. I'm more concerned with the f4 variations. The Kozul variation carries big strategic risks and the Be7 0-0 mainlines can lead to slightly worse endgames with minimal winning chances for black.

Try the Kan, maybe?

> If nothing else, I'm pretty sure I'm a Sicilian player for life so trying out the classical can only help my overall Sicilian education, right?

not sure, the Richter-Rauzer classical does have unique aspects : pawn structure, pressure on e6-f7, etc.

I would think that a better sicilian background is given by the Scheveningen (perhaps through Najdorf move order) + the ability to play ...g6 against non-challenging lines. From practical point of view, this ability to play ...g6 is one main attraction of the Najdorf move-order, there is not juste the Keres vs Bg5 to consider in your opening choice (same for Be2-Be3 lines). tradeoffs everywhere!

ErictheRed wrote on 08/30/11 at 22:33:05:



I can see your point there.  If White's attack doesn't go through, he's in trouble.

MartinC, Emms doesn't give the English attack set up as a main line in the book so no stats in there.  He mentions it as a newer idea, and says it can be good for White if Black castles too early.  In the summary, he mentions that Black hopes to capitalize on the "extra development" of Nc6 against f3, but it sounds a little like a fluffy comment.  Of course, this is only an introductory text so maybe some other source has better info on the English attack vs. the Classical.

If nothing else, I'm pretty sure I'm a Sicilian player for life so trying out the classical can only help my overall Sicilian education, right?

Aren't the stats a little better for the f3, English attack style RRs? Suspect they were in the early years of the approach, now no idea. 

They're the lines I'd call controlled and pretty easy to learn to play at least reasonably. Things like that Anand - Timman game where Anand just went Bg5 -> e3 without provocation and still won incredibly easily must surely be a bit depressing?

Suspect that the traditional f4 Rauser is a lot more work for white to play well. But then white can always play stuff like an early h3 in the Keres and get a pretty controlled/promising enough position out of it. 

They've both driven their respective lines to rarity at very high levels, but pretty sure thats just hassle related rather than anything objectively awful.

So taste really

ErictheRed wrote on 08/30/11 at 17:33:10:

I don't know why you have such a high opinion of the R-R. It's dangerous of course, but not more than the Keres or the 6.Bg5 Najdorf. In the R-R black have both better statistics and several dynamic options like the Kozul Variation.

Against a higher rated opponent, the Keres is exactly the sort of thing you want to see.  It's dangerous of course, but it's also sharp and White takes a bit of risk.  So you'll have some chance of an upset if you don't get blown off the board.  Personally, I'd be more worried about a lower rated player using the Keres against me and losing my way in a complicated position when I could have just slowly outplayed him in a Caro or something.

In my opinion, the R-R offers White the same sort of dangerous attack with less long-term risk; he doesn't have to weaken his Kingside squares with g2-g4 if he doesn't want to.

I'd probably rather face the Keres than the Richter-Rauzer; every time I think of taking up the Classical the R-R scares me away.

You might consider using a Taimanov move order to get a Scheveningen: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cd 4.Nxd4 Nc6.  Now if 5.Nc3 d6 6.g4 doesn't make as much sense when you can play some combination of ...Nxd4 and ...Nge7-c6.  Unfortunately you'll have to deal with 5.Nb5; something to think about, though.  Another drawback is that you can't play the ...Na6-c5 lines against the Sozin (6.Bc4, 7.Bb3).  Chess is full of trade-offs.

On the other hand, if you like the Scheveningen and there is only one line giving you headaches, there is a lot to be said for buying some material on that variation, doing a lot of work, and "out booking" your opponent.  Just make sure you understand the theory and aren't only memorizing lines.

If you want to play the Classical you should have a good weapon vs. Richter-Rauzer. If you manage to do this, you'll have a great defence against 1.e4. Good luck  ...There are a few topics here if you are looking for ideas.
I supose that the R-R is the Keres attack of the classical, every opening choice has its problems.