tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post1535900959213639979..comments2023-12-28T02:11:22.501+00:00Comments on The Streatham & Brixton Chess Blog: Go ahead, punk . . .Tom Chivershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09850710685193416732noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-31617683996392631852010-04-02T09:29:39.756+01:002010-04-02T09:29:39.756+01:00Oops, forgot about this thread. Well, to put thing...Oops, forgot about this thread. Well, to put things in context, after playing low-level chess (U125) properly from school years up till about 1999-ish, came back to the game in 2003 and spent a few happy years wheeling out Grand Prix/Vienna type "systems" against people in the 100-160ish range in the Northumbria Chess League. The fairly short time limits perhaps encouraged/condoned this kind of neglect of the "proper" variations against 1 ... e5 or 1 ... c5; a lot depended on the opposition too.<br /><br />Though in a rare bout of playing proper openings, I once went down the 6 Be3 c5 7 dc line of the Saemisch (as Black) and more or less remembered enough of the positional ideas to come out on top.Campionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01714430541733701863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-12933342862575495852010-04-02T08:48:08.292+01:002010-04-02T08:48:08.292+01:00Don't we all?Don't we all?ejhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01582272075999298935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-30054183928174969432010-03-29T09:43:38.198+01:002010-03-29T09:43:38.198+01:00Trying to move-order your way to the open usually ...Trying to move-order your way to the open usually gives black extra possibilities (such as omitting Nf6, closing with e5).<br /><br />Do you blame your losses on the opening? It certainly fits my theme...Tom Chivershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09850710685193416732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-55093924991868145332010-03-26T10:22:56.496+00:002010-03-26T10:22:56.496+00:00+1 =2 =0 in 'other' Sicilians (two against...+1 =2 =0 in 'other' Sicilians (two against 2. c3 and one against a Closed)Jonathan Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00293162543015231439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-23934180696107359362010-03-26T10:21:50.920+00:002010-03-26T10:21:50.920+00:00Incidentally i've played 1. ... c5 seven times...Incidentally i've played 1. ... c5 seven times since taking it up on a whim and faced Open Sicilians in four of those seven (and lost all four!)Jonathan Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00293162543015231439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-85383078176960907492010-03-26T10:20:41.727+00:002010-03-26T10:20:41.727+00:00I faced 1 e4 c5, 2 Nc3 as Black last night and was...I faced 1 e4 c5, 2 Nc3 as Black last night and was looking forward to a scrummy Closed Sicilian ... but after 2 ... Nc6 the cad switched back to an open with 3 Nf3 and 4 d4Jonathan Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00293162543015231439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-66432436487365893952010-03-25T14:52:28.257+00:002010-03-25T14:52:28.257+00:00The only surprise side-line in England at club lev...The only surprise side-line in England at club level v the Sicilian is 2.Nf3 followed by 3.d4!Tom Chivershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09850710685193416732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-138825667458328962010-03-25T14:01:11.366+00:002010-03-25T14:01:11.366+00:00Well, I have played the 2c3 Sicilian for nearly 30...Well, I have played the 2c3 Sicilian for nearly 30 years ;-)<br /><br />The truth is that when I started it *could* be considered a sideline. IMO that is no longer the case - it is now a mainstream opening in it's own right, as shown by the fact that most leading GMs have played it at some point.<br /><br />Discuss.......Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-84088102658731454842010-03-24T17:17:06.814+00:002010-03-24T17:17:06.814+00:00Also, you know, if you want to play an opening for...Also, you know, if you want to play an opening for twenty years, it probably needs to be sound.ejhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01582272075999298935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-65878923936624225042010-03-24T10:28:17.194+00:002010-03-24T10:28:17.194+00:00Here's the quote.
I disagree with Andrew that...<a href="http://www.jeremysilman.com/chess_bits_pieces/040417_Martin_Exam.html" rel="nofollow">Here's</a> the quote.<br /><br />I disagree with Andrew that you should play lines which are tricky but dubious. There may be occasions when it is a good idea to do so for competitive or opponent reasons - that last-round must-win against a solid and highly theoretical player, say. But in general I think you learn more from playing the most critical positions you can, which are rarely sidelines and rarely unorthodox. Better practical experience, deeper understanding of chess, that kind of thing.Tom Chivershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09850710685193416732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-8344703305469733222010-03-23T21:16:57.454+00:002010-03-23T21:16:57.454+00:00For rather tangential reasons, this discussion has...For rather tangential reasons, this discussion has reminded me of this <a href="http://www.jeremysilman.com/chess_bits_pieces/040731_banzai.html" rel="nofollow">old column by Andrew Martin</a> (which IIRC was the 2nd mention I'd ever seen of the SBCC).<br /><br />One of AM's other offerings in that series (can't remember which one, sadly) remarked of a particular line or game:<br /><br /><i>Total bullshit, but very difficult to play against. Isn't that what it's all about?</i><br /><br />which has always struck me as a useful motto for lower-level woodpushers such as myself.Campionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01714430541733701863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-54343415592895834372010-03-23T17:45:43.800+00:002010-03-23T17:45:43.800+00:00Rather symmetrically, after 1. e4 e5, what would w...Rather symmetrically, after 1. e4 e5, what would worry the most would be 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4.Tom Chivershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09850710685193416732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-78142564297150157142010-03-23T13:05:05.844+00:002010-03-23T13:05:05.844+00:00Strictly speaking this also all applies in my fiel...Strictly speaking this also all applies in my field (1.e4 e5) to "not the Lopez", and for that matter "not the mainline up to and including 9.c3". But you do occasionally get some little basket who knows what they're doing in the Evans Gambit. Or similar.ejhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01582272075999298935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-45804705242108602542010-03-23T11:58:15.637+00:002010-03-23T11:58:15.637+00:00Open Sicilians are ideal for practicing middlegame...Open Sicilians are ideal for practicing middlegames, because they lead to such rich positions.Tom Chivershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09850710685193416732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-35351075929906052392010-03-23T11:25:10.142+00:002010-03-23T11:25:10.142+00:00What if your opponent tries his best to avoid open...What if your opponent tries his best to avoid opening theory but works like a dog on endgames and middle game planning/tactics. Easy life indeed :).Naisortephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15558307655221738077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-21174935830661845392010-03-22T23:57:45.346+00:002010-03-22T23:57:45.346+00:00Yes, my Morra gambit always goes well...except aga...Yes, my Morra gambit always goes well...except against TomChris Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06137795192239495971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-57053932474593251052010-03-22T22:18:47.745+00:002010-03-22T22:18:47.745+00:00If I could guarantee 1...c5 I would always play 1....If I could guarantee 1...c5 I would always play 1.e4. I'm never more comfortable at the board than when I'm on the white side of a closed Sicilian.Morgan Danielshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04964054143509110236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-26578356024875348762010-03-22T15:55:18.069+00:002010-03-22T15:55:18.069+00:00Rybka book says =, so it must be true.Rybka book says =, so it must be true.Tom Chivershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09850710685193416732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-84241191647824583592010-03-22T15:08:43.681+00:002010-03-22T15:08:43.681+00:00Black is equal or better after 1 e4c5 2 c3? Really...Black is equal or better after 1 e4c5 2 c3? Really?<br /><br />PGAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-26195592349448373492010-03-22T14:50:48.273+00:002010-03-22T14:50:48.273+00:00I play this as white in friendly games some times ...I play this as white in friendly games some times against Jonathan B. I usually try to drop the white bishop back after castling and playing Re1, but I think it's more ambitious to play Bxc6 damaging the pawns at some point. If black plays 3...Nd4 then it's interesting, too.Tom Chivershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09850710685193416732noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37675897.post-79799925935414735612010-03-22T13:17:40.982+00:002010-03-22T13:17:40.982+00:00What do you think about 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 ? ...What do you think about 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 ? Just out of interest.<br /><br />AnnoniemouseAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com