Advice for learning openings?

Originally posted by paultopia
... which of the many flavors of the sicilian?

I doesn't matter to me. A simpler line and more common line is better.

But most important is text that explains the purpose of the moves for a fair beginner like myself. And in whatever book I find, I want an explanation of why some of the moves off of the main line are bad.

For example, I just revisted Reuben Fine's "The Ideas Behind the Chess Openings" (which I still find difficult to understand) and found the following advice in the section on the Sicilian:
There are three important considerations in all variations:
(1)Black must never allow White to play c4 in the opening because he then has no counterplay on the c-file <text deleted>.
(2) After White has played d4, Black must not move ...e5, leaving his d-pawn backward on an open file.
(3) <deleted here>

I understand the language in both of these, but do not understand the reasons. It is exactly the kind of rule without explanation that I wish to avoid. The only reason I wish to get a more detailed opening book at this point is to have more detailed explanations of why moves and plans work and why they don't.

Originally posted by zucchini
I doesn't matter to me. A simpler line and more common line is better.

But most important is text that explains the purpose of the moves for a fair beginner like myself. And in whatever book I find, I want an explanation of why some of the moves off of the main line are bad.

For example, I just revisted Reuben Fine's "The Ideas Behind the Chess Op ...[text shortened]... int is to have more detailed explanations of why moves and plans work and why they don't.

The reasons behind Fine's advice is that in the open Sicilian, White trades his d-pawn for Black's c-pawn. This creates for Black a half-open c-file and for White a half-open d-file (half-open meaning you don't have a pawn on it, but your opponent does). The general idea behind the Sicilian is for Black to attack down the c file by placing his Rook on c8 and his Queen on c7 pressuring White's Queenside. If White is allowed to play c4 he can close the file by supporting his pawn by b3 thereby eliminationg Black's chances to attack down the c-file. As for the other advice, if Black advances e5 he leaves his d pawn at d6 incapable of being protected by other pawns because there is no c-pawn and it is now a row behind the e-pawn. Therefore, it must be defended by pieces and it will subject to attack down the d-file by White placing his heavy pieces (Rooks and Queen) on the d-file. This usually ain't pleasant.
Hope that helps.

Originally posted by no1marauder
The reasons behind Fine's advice...

I appreciate your answering my specific questions here, and it does help. Thank you.
Do you mind telling me how you learned the Sicilian?

... the open Sicilian, ...creates for Black a half-open c-file and for White a half-open d-file ... The general idea behind the Sicilian is for Black to attack down the c file by placing his Rook on c8 and his Queen on c7 pressuring White's Queenside.
I understand your explanation. Thanks. I can look at such a position and recognize the half-open files, but I don't yet know whether or how to attack.

If White is allowed to play c4 he can close the file by supporting his pawn by b3 ...
Now this makes sense, but how can Black prevent this? Fine says "never allow". It seems to me that White can easily set up c4 and b3.

... if Black advances e5 he leaves his d pawn at d6 incapable of being protected by other pawns
Unfortunately, I have already experienced this. But this is now one thing I look for. When I wrote in an earlier post that Fine if a little over my head, this is an example. I understand backward pawns can be trouble, but I don't have enough experience with them yet to understand their implications.

My learning plan right now is:
(1) Read the sections on the Sicilian in my two openings books (Fine, and Seirawan's "Winning Chess Openings" ). If I can find another book that helps me understand, great.
(2) Play the examples through.
(3) Annotate my books with comments such as yours.
(4) Play these openings in as many games as I can, always checking my books to verify my understanding. (Choose my move first, then check, then move.)

I find that databases don't help me much yet as I often can't determine the reason for a move.

Originally posted by zucchini
I appreciate your answering my specific questions here, and it does help. Thank you.
Do you mind telling me how you learned the Sicilian?

[b]... the open Sicilian, ...creates for Black a half-open c-file and for White a half-open d-fi ...[text shortened]... low". It seems to me that White can easily set up c4 and b3.

When I first starting playing as a kid, I always answered e4 with e5 like most beginners do. I usually played the Petroff 1e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nf6, but there was usually a lot of early trades of pieces and sometimes you got put in the Four Knights which I found mind numbingly dull. I was looking for a more aggressive, but sound opening as Black. About this time, Fischer was winning the championship from Spassky and someone got me Fischer's 60 best games (I forget the exact title). Fischer was pretty much playing the Sicilian Najdorf exclusively against e4 and he was the champion! So I started playing it, learned a lot of lessons the hard way (by getting the stuffing kicked out of me) and also by studying and memorizing lines from Modern Chess Openings.

If you place your Queen and Rook on the c-file your already putting pressure and attacking down the file. Trust me, White has to react to this or you get strong counterplay on the queenside. Be forewarned if you play the Sicilian that if when you play good, aggressive players you will be exposed to attack on the Kingside and will have to defend skillfully; but hey you're not playing for a draw, you're playing for some action!

White usually has a very difficult time setting up c4 and in almost all my games I have prevented him from doing so in the opening. First, after 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Black plays Nf6 forcing White to defend the e-pawn which is invariably done with 5 Nc3 ( I suppose White could play Bd3 but I don't remember ever seeing it). So the Knight would have to be moved again before the c-pawn could be advanced. Black then sets up a reasonably quick b5 by playing a6; this also keeps White's knights off b5 so you can play Qc7. In practice, White just doesn't get a chance to play c4 if Black plays correctly.

As I said the Sicilian is aggressive and a little risky, but if that fits your temperment (it does mine) I think it's Black best response to e4. Good luck with it!

Originally posted by no1marauder
...Fischer's 60 best games ... Fischer was pretty much playing the Sicilian Najdorf exclusively against e4

Makes me think I should find the Sicilian games I have in my few annotated game collections and play through them first.

White usually has a very difficult time setting up c4 ...
I played through a few lines of the Sicilian while I was responding to your earlier post but didn't figure out that it is the pressure on White and the blocking knight that makes c4 difficult.

So I think I have a method here that will work for me, taking the study points from above and combining them with as many annotated expert games as I can find. This should keep me busy for a while. Then, if I want more, I can look for a detailed book.

Thanks again.