Originally posted by exigentskyIt doesn't matter how you open. If you are going to play e4 you have to have a strategy to play against the Sicilian and you are right to be cautious, you just have to be prepared. I would suggest taking the bull by the horns, learning some principals of the Open 'Sicilain and play it. The other white approaches just don't create as many problems for black. You may get your behind kicked a few times, but you'll learn faster. The other thing to remember is that 1.e4 e5 has a ton of theory behind it also and it is easier for black to draw than some of the more unbalanced openings.
Thanks for all the comments. Now, I definitely will still look into the book once its out. The only thing really scary about 1 e4 is the Sicilian.
Originally posted by BLReidWell, if you are going to play the Open Sicilian you have to have some preferred line and play it consistently so you get to know it. I don't use 1.e4 very much as I like d4, c4 or Nf3 better, and I haven't played the Sicilian in the last two or three years so I am probably not the best to answer that. I usually play the Pirc, Scandanavian or Berlin Defense to the Ruy against e4. If I was going to go back to the Sicilian I would probably play some combination of the Najorf and Scheveningen looking for an opportunity to play the Hedgehog, so I would have to do some work on that.
Avoid it.
Any e4 players out there that have a favorite line against the Najdorf? Something somewhat forcing to minimize black options... Unfortunately the Najdorf is a pretty big animal...
Originally posted by MotownDavei play that setup against the dragon (the yugoslav attack), but not the others.
Anyone playing the English Attack, 6.Be3 7.f3...? It should work against the Najdorf, Dragon and Scheveningen and would be a relatively consistent approach?
is the najdorf really that scary? i haven't had one on this site, but when playing on servers Bc4 lines (sozin) seen pretty effective.
Originally posted by darkassassin9512It is a little better against the Dragon because the fianchetto is a target, but it is a menace to the others also. You might want to consider it.
i play that setup against the dragon (the yugoslav attack), but not the others.
is the najdorf really that scary? i haven't had one on this site, but when playing on servers Bc4 lines (sozin) seen pretty effective.
Dave
Originally posted by Oddjob291The only problem I have with the 2. e6 lines is that if my opponent doesn't play Bc4, Bb5 or Bg5 I may want to play e5 in one go.
The ...Bb5 lines are pretty simple enough to play but not against players who play 2... e6 as their second moves and transpose into other various Sicilian setups.