20 Jul 04
Hey, AJMagicman. Don't forget you have to lose a lot before becoming good. You just haven't lost your quota yet. Just remember how you lost and don't do that again. One general principle: that f7 spot is the weakest in the camp. Always watch out for it, especially against people who know you're not experienced. Three questions for all chessplayers before they make their move (including myself):
1. What can he do to me on his next move? If you see something, stop it! then if you're safe 2. what can I do to him? Then imagine the position after you make your move. 3. What can he do to me back? The analysis board will help. Use it. Even advance players use these three steps, except they've been doing it so long, it has become automatic. They do it without thinking. Hope this helps! Good luck and good chess!
20 Jul 04
Originally posted by AJMagicmanAJ when i gave you those moves...
Well... You are right! 😉
It's actually like this:
1.e4..c5
2.Bc4..Nc6
3.Qf3..Ne5 ( So far this is sicilian stuff , solid as you like)
But... It was too late...
4.Qxf7..Kxf7
5.Bxf7 Check Mate!!!!
PS: Sorry for this; but what do you think?😀
1.e4..c5
2.Bc4..Nc6
3.Qf3..Ne5
I thought it would be obvious that the knight on e5 defends the square f7 which obviously makes Qxf7 a complete blunder due to Nxf7.
The point in playing these moves is not to beat fools mate but to play a solid opening. If white is stupid enouph to play for a quick win, black can out play him easily. You need to look over some master games by strong players to see how they play. Have a walk over to chessgames.com or chessbase.com to see some games organised into different openings.
21 Jul 04
Originally posted by AJMagicmanI'm ringing in a tad late here (as usual), but I just thought that a few things needed to be clarified for you, AJ.
Well... You are right! 😉
It's actually like this:
1.e4..c5
2.Bc4..Nc6
3.Qf3..Ne5 ( So far this is sicilian stuff , solid as you like)
But... It was too late...
4.Qxf7..Kxf7
5.Bxf7 Check Mate!!!!
PS: Sorry for this; but what do you think?😀
1. There is no such thing as a Sicilian "move". There's the move 1...c5, which starts the Sicilian, which is a gigantic family of opening systems the goal of which is NOT to foil Scholar's Mate (as someone already said), but to make an immediate and aggressive try for the initiative. The Scholar's Mate is easy enough to prevent, no matter which opening system you decide to use.
2. Checkmate is NOT when the king is captured. The king is never actually captured. When it is in check and there is no way to get out of check, the game ends immediately. And any move that puts the king in check is illegal.
21 Jul 04
Originally posted by Natural ScienceEdit: To clarify that last sentence, any move made by you that puts your king in check, is illegal.
I'm ringing in a tad late here (as usual), but I just thought that a few things needed to be clarified for you, AJ.
1. There is no such thing as a Sicilian "move". There's the move 1...c5, which starts the Sicilian, which is a gigantic family of opening systems the goal of which is NOT to foil Scholar's Mate (as someone already said), but ...[text shortened]... t out of check, the game ends immediately. And any move that puts the king in check is illegal.
21 Jul 04
1 edit
If we really wanted to get some real insight into the Sicilian, we should have IronMan31 come in here and say something! I've watched about 20 of his games now and he uses and goes up against the Sicilian a lot! I think the only true way to be completely comfortable with an opening is to not only know how to use it, but how to defend it 🙂
-Kev
21 Jul 04
Originally posted by seraphimvultureI suspect that looking at IronMan31's white games will lead you to the conclusion that "Sicilian sucks", as well as any other black defence 😀
If we really wanted to get some real insight into the Sicilian, we should have IronMan31 come in here and say something! I've watched about 20 of his games now and he uses and goes up against the Sicilian a lot! I think the only true way to be completely comfortable with an opening is to not only know how to use it, but how to defend it 🙂
-Kev
22 Jul 04
Originally posted by Windsor MikeThanks Windsor Mike! :o)
You will find that opponents knowing you are fairly new to the game,will try all the early traps on you,and usually succeed.What you need to do is study it,understand it(as it can come in various forms)And not get burned by it again.Otherwise ,you are experiencing a normal learning curve.Might be a good idea to type chess traps into your search engine and avoid the next one.Good Luck. Mike
I will do that! 😀 Thanks alot! 😉
22 Jul 04
Originally posted by buddy2I really like that Buddy2 ! 😀E
Hey, AJMagicman. Don't forget you have to lose a lot before becoming good. You just haven't lost your quota yet. Just remember how you lost and don't do that again. One general principle: that f7 spot is the weakest in the camp. Always watch out for it, especially against people who know you're not experienced. Three questions for all chessplayers ...[text shortened]... has become automatic. They do it without thinking. Hope this helps! Good luck and good chess!
Thanks alot! 😉
26 Jul 04
The Sicilian is black's best reply to 1. e4. I like it because it immediately snatches the initiative from white. In most lines, the game is dictated by black. Although it probably doesn't give black a winning edge, it certainly blunts the edge that white usually has by playing first.
I use it a lot, and I think it is the sole reason that my record playing black at RHP is better than my record playing white.
Regardless, its never a good idea to get on the wrong side of a Sicilian - you could end up at the bottom of the river wearing concrete socks. 🙂
27 Jul 04
Originally posted by GatecrasherThe Sicilian "probably" doesn't give Black a winning edge? I think you overestimate the Sicilian just a little. It is a terrific defense and its reputation is well-deserved, but it does not give Black the initiative immediately, as you say. White's advantage from going first is very noticeable, and this advantage does not just instantly go away because of the Sicilian. What matters is how well you know the line you're playing, compared to how well your opponent knows it. If you, as Black, come out of any opening, let alone the Sicilian, with an advantage or even full equality, it is because White made a mistake somewhere.
The Sicilian is black's best reply to 1. e4. I like it because it immediately snatches the initiative from white. In most lines, the game is dictated by black. Although it probably doesn't give black a winning edge, it certainly blunts the edge that white usually has by playing first.
I use it a lot, and I think it is the sole reason that my record ...[text shortened]... ong side of a Sicilian - you could end up at the bottom of the river wearing concrete socks. 🙂
27 Jul 04
Originally posted by Natural ScienceThis is of particular intrest to me.Why do you,and so many with you,think Black cannot equalise without a mistake by White?
If you, as Black, come out of any opening, let alone the Sicilian, with an advantage or even full equality, it is because White made a mistake somewhere.
27 Jul 04
Originally posted by SirLoseALotGood observation and question.In case there are no responses I would be interested on your ideas here.I tend to think that white has only a slight advantage but one should I think ,be able to overcome it without white necesarily having to make an error ,else all master games would be always one sided.But I be just a student of the game.🙄Mike
This is of particular intrest to me.Why do you,and so many with you,think Black cannot equalise without a mistake by White?
27 Jul 04
Originally posted by SirLoseALotMost chess theorists agree that all reputable lines in all major openings lead to some sort of advantage for White, however small it may be. So for White to come out of the opening with only equality, would mean he has gone wrong somewhere. Many experts do believe that Black does equalize eventually, and the game simplifies down to a draw. Others believe that perfect play by White allows him to keep a small edge, but perfect play by Black would mean that that small edge is not significant enough for win.
This is of particular intrest to me.Why do you,and so many with you,think Black cannot equalise without a mistake by White?
28 Jul 04
Originally posted by Natural ScienceYou could just as easily say that if white wins, black made a mistake somewhere.
If you, as Black, come out of any opening, let alone the Sicilian, with an advantage or even full equality, it is because White made a mistake somewhere.
I'm pretty sure that two players with infinite ability would always draw, since any "mistake" would prove fatal.
But it is true that white has a natural advantage, on a 1, 0.5, 0 score for win,draw and loss, white on average should score 0.55 vs black's 0.45. My point is that with the Sicilian variations - and databases of master games will bear this out - the advantage drops to something like 0.52 to 0.48. Certain of the variations, even when played "correctly" by white begin to swing in blacks favour. And the reason why, I believe, is because black is dictating play.
So I stick to my opinion that the Sicilian the strongest response to 1.e4, with the caveat to beginners that it is also one of the most complex.
Of course, the stats are all very interesting, but totally academic should one of the players make a mistake!
I can prove, statistically, that I make just as many blunders as black as I do white. The sample population is very large. 😕
28 Jul 04
Originally posted by GatecrasherBut possible explanation for this is that Sicilian probably accumulates more theory than any other opening:-) The more theory is behind opening - the more close to perfect is play for both sides... On the other hand many dislike Sicilian exactly due to the mass of theory behind it.
My point is that with the Sicilian variations - and databases of master games will bear this out - the advantage drops to something like 0.52 to 0.48.
I, personally, dislike Sicilian because I always lose against it😀