Chess Instructor Vol 2 .... Opening Discussion
25 Sep '10 21:21This is the second installment of the (Monthly?) Chess Instructor.
I have decided to break in down in pieces, only posting a section at a time.
Last time, we took a basic look at the Lasker Defense to the Queen's Gambit.
Today, we will take a similar look at another strategic opening.
The opening is .... the Closed Sicilian.
1.e4
White develops the queen and the bishop and stakes a claim in the center.
1.e4 openings tend to be more tactical than say 1.d4.
A lot of fast and flashy shots can result in these kind of "open" games.
In fact, 1.e4 e5 is known as an Open Game.
1.e4 versus other black first moves are Semi-Open Games.
All other first moves are considered Closed Games.
There is no clearly best first move.
It really just comes down to a matter of style.
1. ... c5
The Sicilian Defense
Black chooses the most popular defense to 1.e4.
Unlike 1. ... e5, black bypasses the play for equality and sets out to imbalance the game right away.
One of the main advantages of playing the Sicilian is the asymmetry in the position.
White can not make the game dull and drawish no matter how bad he tries.
1. ... c5 doesn't develop a piece.
What does it do?
Black takes control of the d4 square (not allowing white to play d4 and create a two pawn center).
2.d4 would be met by cxd4, eliminating a key center pawn.
White has space on the kingside. He will try to use it to attack on that sector of the board.
Black's claim is on the queenside. He will try to make the play ensue over there and distract white from his kingside ambitions.
Also note that a thematic pawn push for black in the Sicilian is to get in d5. If black can safely get this in, and blast open the center, white's kingside attack is doomed to fail.
2.Nc3
White prefers a closed game.
The main try for advantage is 2.Nf3 followed by 3.d4.
It is true that white loses a center pawn there, but he tries to open the game as quickly as possible and use the advantage of moving first.
Black is not without counterchances, however.
With 2.Nc3, white simply clamps down on black's d5 square. (We know black would like to put his d pawn there.)
White also develops a piece and leaves his options open.
For example he can play f4 before playing Nf3 if the position dictates.
2. ... Nc6
Black also develops a piece. He clamps down on d4. White won't easily get in d4 and open the game, just as black won't get in d5.
The Sicilian can often come down to dark square control/strategy.
Black's two first moves already stake a claim on these squares.
We will see this strategy implemented as the game progresses.
3.g3
This is the defining move of the Closed Sicilian. (3.f4 instead, without g3, would be a Grand Prix Attack.)
White intends to increase his control of d5, and the light squares in general, with a bishop on g2.
3. ... g6
Black has the same plans for the dark squares and the d4 square.
4.Bg2
This is the logical follow up to white's previous move.
4. ... Bg7
This is the only real follow up for black as well.
To Be Continued In Next Post
I have decided to break in down in pieces, only posting a section at a time.
Last time, we took a basic look at the Lasker Defense to the Queen's Gambit.
Today, we will take a similar look at another strategic opening.
The opening is .... the Closed Sicilian.
1.e4
White develops the queen and the bishop and stakes a claim in the center.
1.e4 openings tend to be more tactical than say 1.d4.
A lot of fast and flashy shots can result in these kind of "open" games.
In fact, 1.e4 e5 is known as an Open Game.
1.e4 versus other black first moves are Semi-Open Games.
All other first moves are considered Closed Games.
There is no clearly best first move.
It really just comes down to a matter of style.
1. ... c5
The Sicilian Defense
Black chooses the most popular defense to 1.e4.
Unlike 1. ... e5, black bypasses the play for equality and sets out to imbalance the game right away.
One of the main advantages of playing the Sicilian is the asymmetry in the position.
White can not make the game dull and drawish no matter how bad he tries.
1. ... c5 doesn't develop a piece.
What does it do?
Black takes control of the d4 square (not allowing white to play d4 and create a two pawn center).
2.d4 would be met by cxd4, eliminating a key center pawn.
White has space on the kingside. He will try to use it to attack on that sector of the board.
Black's claim is on the queenside. He will try to make the play ensue over there and distract white from his kingside ambitions.
Also note that a thematic pawn push for black in the Sicilian is to get in d5. If black can safely get this in, and blast open the center, white's kingside attack is doomed to fail.
2.Nc3
White prefers a closed game.
The main try for advantage is 2.Nf3 followed by 3.d4.
It is true that white loses a center pawn there, but he tries to open the game as quickly as possible and use the advantage of moving first.
Black is not without counterchances, however.
With 2.Nc3, white simply clamps down on black's d5 square. (We know black would like to put his d pawn there.)
White also develops a piece and leaves his options open.
For example he can play f4 before playing Nf3 if the position dictates.
2. ... Nc6
Black also develops a piece. He clamps down on d4. White won't easily get in d4 and open the game, just as black won't get in d5.
The Sicilian can often come down to dark square control/strategy.
Black's two first moves already stake a claim on these squares.
We will see this strategy implemented as the game progresses.
3.g3
This is the defining move of the Closed Sicilian. (3.f4 instead, without g3, would be a Grand Prix Attack.)
White intends to increase his control of d5, and the light squares in general, with a bishop on g2.
3. ... g6
Black has the same plans for the dark squares and the d4 square.
4.Bg2
This is the logical follow up to white's previous move.
4. ... Bg7
This is the only real follow up for black as well.
To Be Continued In Next Post
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