which sicilian to learn?

The point is that the c3 Sicilian is certainly nothing to fear for White & anyhow in my experience 85-90% of the time when White goes for the Morra he gets it.

The game above shows White having most of the practical chances, creating a very sharp game & although perhaps Fritz says Black is better throughout much of it, White makes good use of deep moves such as 18.Qh5! and in my opinion at move 23.a4 it is White who has all the chances.
Of course an engine can probably refute this line easily with perfect play, but since analysis of this game is yet to be published & we aren't allowed to use engines during games this is largely irrelevant.

Originally posted by Squelchbelch
The point is that the c3 Sicilian is certainly nothing to fear for White & anyhow in my experience 85-90% of the time when White goes for the Morra he gets it.

The game above shows White having most of the practical chances, creating a very sharp game & although perhaps Fritz says Black is better throughout much of it, White makes good use of deep mo ...[text shortened]... yet to be published & we aren't allowed to use engines during games this is largely irrelevant.

By then you will have developed a 'style.' find a player who has a
similiar style and nick his opening rep. (I stole John Nunn's).

Originally posted by BailieDonaldson
When did Nunn start playing the Latvian Gambit?🙂

Originally posted by BailieDonaldson
When did Nunn start playing the Latvian Gambit?🙂

Originally posted by Squelchbelch
John Nunn is/was an incredibly strong GM, also somewhat of an expert when it comes to the Sicilian, having authored at least 2 works on the Najdorf alone!

Here is an example of his expert play with the Sicilian:

[pgn][Event "Oviedo Fischer Blitz"] [Site "Oviedo"] [Date "1992.??.??"] [Round "0"] [White "Adams,Michael"] [Black "Nunn,John DM"] [Resul ...[text shortened]... Ke7 29.Ke2 Nc7 30.Bb7 Nb5 31.Kd3 d5 32.Bxd5 Nc7 33.Bf3 Na6 34.Kc4 Kf6 1-0[/pgn]

Originally posted by Cimon
"Expert play" in blitz making "good" moves like 13...Qb6 and 14...Be6 😀

Originally posted by Squelchbelch
Nunn is a weak blitz player is he?
Isn't he the tactical God & world record holder at problem solving?

Just unfortunate he came up against a superior opening I suppose...

Originally posted by Squelchbelch
Nunn is a weak blitz player is he?
Isn't he the tactical God & world record holder at problem solving?

Just unfortunate he came up against a superior opening I suppose...

Adams is brillo when he's in the mood and that is quite often.
Good game to post.

Not got any of Nunn's Sicilan stuff 'cept his Anti-Sicilain book(s).
Have his Pirc/Modern books and the Kings Indian. Good.

Don't play the Sicilian as Black, too much Anti-Sicilain stuff knocking about.
I like to play c5 when it hits a d-pawn not hitting thin air
hoping that a d-apwn will happen along.

I also like the Morra and sling it out in Blitz games - it's OK.

When I went through my Sicilian phase (about 18 months)
if I met the Morra (Black to play)


I would stare and the expectant Knight on b1. Wink at it and play 3.d3!



Nothing quite like seeing your opponent's shoulders slump on move 3
and watching £14.95 of memorised theory fly out of his ear hole.

Then you watch the b1 Knight and f1 Bishop arguing.

Knight: "Play c4 let me out!"

Bishop: "No I'll get stuck on d3 like a big pawn."

The mark sat down all geared up to play a pawn sac backed up
with a ton of regurgitated theory and you have reduced him to playing
a Maróczy Bind. You should hear that Bishop squeal.

What does Black do?
Well first of all, you have to stop giggling at the look on White's face.

Then Pirc it - you don't have to worry about the e5 lines, chummy
has not got a d-pawn anymore to back it up.

What happens next?

You win and in the analysis they mutter something like:
"I thought you were meant to be an attacking player."

or you lose, but eirther way you still have that guys look in your
mind after you play 3...d3! and you chuckle all the way home.

Anyway.
I liked Nunn's style, his attitude, his games column in BCM was superb,
usually one/two of his games with tactics all the way.
So decided to play 70% of what he played - never looked back.

KID's/Benoni's and Pircs/Moderns. Save up the Latvians if I know the
guy is a Lopez buff. Throw out the St.George if I feel lucky.
Occasional French. Never play the Caro Khan because I Caro Can't.

Nunn's Best Games book is mustard.

Shared a beer with him once in Edinburgh, good lad.

Originally posted by greenpawn34
I would stare and the expectant Knight on b1. Wink at it and play 3.d3!

[fen]rnbqkbnr/pp1ppppp/8/8/4P3/2Pp4/PP3PPP/RNBQKBNR[/fen]

Nothing quite like seeing your opponent's shoulders slump on move 3
and watching £14.95 of memorised theory fly out of his ear hole.

Then you watch the b1 Knight and f1 Bishop arguing.

Originally posted by greenpawn34
Adams is brillo when he's in the mood and that is quite often.
Good game to post.

Not got any of Nunn's Sicilan stuff 'cept his Anti-Sicilain book(s).
Have his Pirc/Modern books and the Kings Indian. Good.

Don't play the Sicilian as Black, too much Anti-Sicilain stuff knocking about.
I like to play c5 when it hits a d-pawn not hitting thin air ...[text shortened]... mes book is mustard.

Shared a beer with him once in Edinburgh, good lad.