Originally posted by !~TONY~!I played the Najdorf about 15 times and have only had one Bg5. Be2 was the most common. This was all on Playchess.com with people rated 1700-2100. Perhaps, I simply haven't played it enough.
I'm not so sure this is true at the lower levels. For the very brief time I played the Najdorf, I got alot of Bg5, and alot less of everything else.
I'm curious, how come you stopped playing the Najdorf?
Hmm, maybe I should use two or even 3 (!) sicilian lines. I've got the book so I'm gonna take a look through dragon, najdorf/schveninegen (sp?) (since I've used this primarily with black over the last 5-6 months), and the kalashnikov/sveshnikov (since they transpose often).
I'm also going to look up the schlieeman gambit and the others that you guys suggested.
Thanks.
EDIT: checked out the polugaevsky on Bill Wall's chess site and found 2 different variations
1.B42 Polugaevsky Variation, Sicilian 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Bc5
--This looks like a more active and very surprising version of the najdorf. Seems active and I am interested in testing it, I'll probably have early results in a week. I'm curious to know if it will work against responses aside from 5.Bd3 though.
2.B96 Polugaevsky; Accelerated Najdorf 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 b5
--Surly the one you guys were talking about, this seems somewhat active and will also be interesting to try. Anyhow, I have a LOT of lines to go through testing and will try to keep you guys posted.
(like you care 🙂 )
Originally posted by zebanoI were at a class for dragon.
I've played all 3 in tournaments. I am very bad with the dragon (I dislike memorizing tons of theory though sadly I probably know quite a bit now) and was usually crushed by the Yugoslav attack. The najdorf was my choice for many years and is very sound. I just picked up the Sveshnikov and it is definatly my choice, especially in blitz games.
Ofcourse you must know some theory but you have to know also at the other sicilians too.
If you understand the positions arising from dragon and you are ready for complications and calculations there is ok.
Some years earlier I was playing pelikan with no so good results.
My expirence is that the openings are a kind of taste, we have to play openings that we understand well and they fit aur style.
Dimis
Originally posted by exigentskyI just do. I love the fact that the game gets outrageously complicated, and I love the fact that it leaves alot of room for error on white's part. For instance I am teaching a chess camp, and one of the other instructors for the advanced camp told the students that I was a Dragon Freak, showed one of my games, or something like that and so the kid challenged me. And so here is how the starting of the game went:
OK, but why did you love the Dragon more than the Najdorf?
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6!
! given for enthusiam.
6.f3 Bg7
He is going into the "dreaded" Yugoslav!
7.Be3 Nc6 8.Qd2 0-0 9.Bc4 Ne5 10.Bb3 Rc8 11.h4 h5
The Soltis System, which certainly looks risky, but is the best move.
12.Rdg1?!
This is what is great about the Dragon. He makes a move that looks pretty good right? He is just looking to rip open everything, and that's where the rooks belong right!?
12..Qa5!
Going old school Dragon style on him, which I can now afford to do.
13. g4 hg
14. fg?
This move is terrible. He should just get on with it and play 14. h5 and hope for the best. Let's look at that too.
14..Nexg4 -+
So:
14. h5!? Rxc3!
BOOOYAH! It's show time.
15. bxc3
If he takes with the queen then I play 15..Qxc3 16. bxc3 gxh5 and I am better.
15..Nxf3!!
His center is destroyed!
16. Nxf3 Nxe4 17. Qd3 Qa3+!
Now Nxc3 comes with check.
18. Kd1 Nxc3+ 19.Ke1 Bf5 20. Qc4 d5! 21. Qf4 Qa6!
Being as obnoxious as possible before taking the knight.
22. Rh2 gxf3
And that's all I can remember about that particular line. Not bad from memory eh!?
Originally posted by exigentskyWell here are some more reasons.
I was hoping you had bigger reasons than "I just do." You did mention complexity, but I doubt the Najdorf is any less complex.
1. The Dragon is underrated, and even strong players think the Yugoslav is too strong. It's a huge advantage to be underrated.
2. Dragon Bishop anyone!?
3. It has a sweet name! Who wants to call their favorite opening the Najdorf? Pitiful. 😀
4. I think I also like the fact that not a lot of people use it, so I can kind of "call it mine".
5. I think I have a good feel for it. I just like to play it and happen to play Dragon style positions fairly well.
Well I have chosen two systems and even studied some basics for them!
1.My first choice will be the Dragon Variation (Tony should be happy to hear this)
2.My second choice is the Sveshnikov.
They are both active, sharp, unbalanced, and exciting. I may choose a third variation for quiet solid play, we will see.
Originally posted by !~TONY~!Impressive play and memory! Who won? 😀
I just do. I love the fact that the game gets outrageously complicated, and I love the fact that it leaves alot of room for error on white's part. For instance I am teaching a chess camp, and one of the other instructors for the advanced camp told the students that I was a Dragon Freak, showed one of my games, or something like that and so the kid challenge ...[text shortened]... xf3
And that's all I can remember about that particular line. Not bad from memory eh!?
Originally posted by cmsMasterWell, so far, here are my choices:
Well I have chosen two systems and even studied some basics for them!
1.My first choice will be the Dragon Variation (Tony should be happy to hear this)
2.My second choice is the Sveshnikov.
They are both active, sharp, unbalanced, and exciting. I may choose a third variation for quiet solid play, we will see.
1. HAD
2. Najdorf
Unfortunately, I'm having a bit of trouble with the Najdorf. It really feels nothing like the HAD.