I started playing the dragon again in blitz, and on the rare occasion I actually get to dragon I'm okay. but most of the opponents play something completely different, and too often I find myself pretty confused after a few moves. so what do you play against 2.c3, 2Nc3, 2.g3, 2.f4, 2.c4 for example?
edit: oh, and 2.Bc4, that one I get a lot. I just go straight for the g6, but I often get development & castling problems...
I have been playing Sicilian for a long time and have had to face thses annoying systems many times.
1.e4 c5 2.c3
A very solid and respected way of meeting the Sicilian
The most popular replies are:
2...d5 (my personal preference)
2...Nf6
Both put the question to the e4 pawn
1.e4 c5 Nc3 (following up with either 3.g3 or 3.f4)
the most popular ereply here is 2...Nc6, although 2...e6 is common but my favourite is 2...a6 (annoying for Grand Prix Attack players)
After 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 g3
Black's most common plan is to play 3...g6 when play can go something like this
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 d6 6.f4 (6.Be3 is common too) e6 7.Nf3 Nge7 8.0-0 0-0 (White plays for a K-side attack Black's chances lie on the Q-side)
After 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 (Grand Prix Attack)
Black usually plays 3...g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 (white now chooses which square to put his light sqaured bishop on c4 or b5) The key for Black is to obtain a favourable ...d5 break.
1.e4 c5 Nf3 d6 Bb5+ is a common Anti-Sicilian
All blocking moves are possible
3...Bd7 is the most soilid when white can play for a Morcozy bind position after playing a subsequent d4.
3...Nd7 is a more sharp move
3...Nc6 is also a reasonable option played frequently by Topalov (My preference)
1.e4 c5 2.f4 can be met with 2...d5 if exd5 Nf6! gives Black a good game. Personally I prefer to just play 2...Qxd5 which is also okay for Black.
Ones to watch are 2.d4 and 2.b4 the gambit lines (Smith-Morra and Wing gambit)
I personally prefer to decline the gambit with 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 d5 but I beleive accepting is probably the best method when white I think with best play struggles to show compensation for the pawn.
2.b4 is underated and you should have a line prepared for this again lines based on an early ...d5 is usually a good option.
A common one with weaker club players (but not that bad) is
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 followed by a later d3. This is quite annoying to play against.
However OTB I tend to play 2...Nc6 (OTB I am a Classical Sicilian player) so can obtain ...d5 in one which is good for Black.
Example Game 4758489
One thing to watch is move order trickery but as a Dragon player you will be fine.
Example 1.e4 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nge2/Nf3 you will play 3...g6 and after 4.d4 play along Dragon lines.
Annoying for Najdorf players however!! (As After 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 gives White an easier time as Black has to play d5 in two moves rather than one).
Just a bit of info there if you want any more comments please ask!!
NS
Originally posted by wormwoodJust remember that if White opts out of the Open he is not after a big advantage out of the opening. Be happy he hasn't played 2.Nf3, 3.d4!
I started playing the dragon again in blitz, and on the rare occasion I actually get to dragon I'm okay. but most of the opponents play something completely different, and too often I find myself pretty confused after a few moves. so what do you play against 2.c3, 2Nc3, 2.g3, 2.f4, 2.c4 for example?
I used to hate playing aginst Anti-Sicilians, now I really enjoy playing against them, the key is to find systems you enjoy playing and have a plan when playing them.
I'll be honest when I play a Sicilian OTB I get more nervous if they do play an Open Sicilian (psychologically) as I know they are up for a fight.
For good books check out:
ANTI-SICILIANS: A GUIDE FOR BLACK (Dorian Rogozenko) Gambit
FIGHTING THE ANTI-SICILIANS: COMBATING 2 c3, THE CLOSED, THE MORRA GAMBIT AND OTHER TRICKY IDEAS (Richard Palliser) Everyman
THE Bb5 SICILIAN: DETAILED COVERAGE OF A THOUROGHLY MODERN SYSTEM (Richard Palliser) Everyman
Originally posted by wormwoodOne rare example of you posting the question mark 🙂
I started playing the dragon again in blitz, and on the rare occasion I actually get to dragon I'm okay. but most of the opponents play something completely different, and too often I find myself pretty confused after a few moves. so what do you play against 2.c3, 2Nc3, 2.g3, 2.f4, 2.c4 for example?
edit: oh, and 2.Bc4, that one I get a lot. I just go straight for the g6, but I often get development & castling problems...
Originally posted by najdorfslayerthat's exactly my problem with these. against anything else except 1.e4 I can simply play dutch leningrad, and transpose without even thinking. but these anti-sicilians are so versatile (and I'm so inexperienced) that I suddenly don't have a plan on how to continue. and that's not gonna work in blitz, because there's no time to find plans, only to remember them...
I used to hate playing aginst Anti-Sicilians, now I really enjoy playing against them, the key is to find systems you enjoy playing and have a plan when playing them.
against SM I seem to remember you can even take the c3 pawn, but the defense required some awkward looking queen retreat to b8? I won't take dxc at this point though, have to get some rudimentary survival plans in place first... and "proving compensation for a pawn" is irrelevant on my blitz level (1300-1400), where activity is the king. 🙂 -basic ideas for survival against SM would be greatly appreciated.
I don't get much 2.b4, and I can't see what's the danger? (probably because no one I've played knew what they were doing...)
with, 1.e4 c5 2.f4 d5 3.exd Nf3, what happens with 4.c4? what's the catch?
and smaug, after 1.e4 c5 2.g3 g6, that would be something I'd be extremely happy with white, as a leningrad dutch player. I'd just go for f4 and the normal leningrad setup with reversed colors, and have that dangerous e-pawn already up there. which is basically the main idea in leningrad... (although that's still the best idea yet against g3, and I'll go with it for now).
2.c3 and alapin, I really don't know what to do there (either). 2...d5 seems like more natural for me, so I think I'm gonna try that first.
I'll have to check out rogozenko's anti-sicilian book. I went through his classical dragon cds on my first dabble at dragon a year ago, but I don't really remember much about it anymore. I do remember that his way of explaing things made sense to me.
Originally posted by ivan2908there's not much to ask when 99% of your training is tactics. 😛
One rare example of you posting the question mark 🙂
"will doing tactics actually help?"
"-yes."
"how much should I do?"
"-more. a LOT more."
"I've done xxx amount, should I do something else, like read books?"
"-keep plugging away, grasshopper."
I'm a one trick pony, and the trick is working fairly well.
My worst Morra loss. 26 points down the shute :'(
Game 4768500
I think that's a pretty solid game from Black.
Originally posted by wormwoodgood one 😛
there's not much to ask when 99% of your training is tactics. 😛
"will doing tactics actually help?"
"-yes."
"how much should I do?"
"-more. a LOT more."
"I've done xxx amount, should I do something else, like read books?"
"-keep plugging away, grasshopper."
I'm a one trick pony, and the trick is working fairly well.
Originally posted by wormwood2.Bc4 ..?... . Maybe 2. Bc4 e6 will help you.
I started playing the dragon again in blitz, and on the rare occasion I actually get to dragon I'm okay. but most of the opponents play something completely different, and too often I find myself pretty confused after a few moves. so what do you play against 2.c3, 2Nc3, 2.g3, 2.f4, 2.c4 for example?
edit: oh, and 2.Bc4, that one I get a lot. I just go straight for the g6, but I often get development & castling problems...
Originally posted by gambit3yeah, I often play e6 against Bc4 at some point, and even get the g8-h1 diagonal, but somehow I often end up either cramped, or can't really do anything with the diagonal... very frustrating. maybe I should play scheveningen for a while, to get more familiar with the e6 plans? although I did try it at some point, but always got in trouble with the d-pawn sooner or later... getting rid of all that cramping and pawn weaknesses were the main reason I went for scandinavian & dragon in the first place. the development is just a breeze with those two openings, and there isn't much white can do to annoy. which probably also is one of the reasons people PLAY these annoying sidelines to begin with. 🙂
2.Bc4 ..?... . Maybe 2. Bc4 e6 will help you.
Originally posted by gambit3I was going to say something about the Bc4 by White either on move 2 or 3. I think it's a nothing move and a serious waste of development. The one time I played it I recall it just getting in the way and being pushed around. As Black I'd welcome it in that it hands me initiative and probably play e6 as you suggest.
2.Bc4 ..?... . Maybe 2. Bc4 e6 will help you.
Bb6 poses an immediate question and requires a response, which is what every move should ideally do.
Originally posted by wormwoodThe Scheveningen requires a lot of skill to play succesfully. (I am not saying I can play it successfully).
yeah, I often play e6 against Bc4 at some point, and even get the g8-h1 diagonal, but somehow I often end up either cramped, or can't really do anything with the diagonal... very frustrating. maybe I should play scheveningen for a while, to get more familiar with the e6 plans? although I did try it at some point, but always got in trouble with the d-pawn so ...[text shortened]... ich probably also is one of the reasons people PLAY these annoying sidelines to begin with. 🙂
As mentioned when playng 2...e6 against 2.Bc4 you should aim for an early d5 hitting bishop and pawn and then you are not cramped anymore.
However I seem to remember Rogozenko recomends a n appreoach with ...g6 and ...Bg7 which may suit you more.