08 Dec 05
Originally posted by Darth SpongeUh? The Yugoslav Attack is white's best option against the Sicilian Dragon, one of the lesser played Sicilian variations. As far as I know it doesn't exist against the more popular Nadjorf (but as I don't play it I may be wrong).
i'm tired of the Yugoslav, would like to shake up my anti-sicilian repretoir. suggestions?
08 Dec 05
Originally posted by XanthosNZMost of the attacking lines against the Najdorf have similiar themes to the Yugoslav; castling Queenside and a King side pawn storm. It would help if the poster was more specific as to what lines he plays against and what type of player he is. An aggressive line that caught me by surprise the first few times I faced it is the Smith-Morra gambit.
Uh? The Yugoslav Attack is white's best option against the Sicilian Dragon, one of the lesser played Sicilian variations. As far as I know it doesn't exist against the more popular Nadjorf (but as I don't play it I may be wrong).
08 Dec 05
Originally posted by lukemcmullanIn what line? 6 Bg5 against the Najdorf used to be the main line and is still at least second in popularity (after 6 Be3). You won't get someone "out of book" playing Bg5 against the Najdorf Sicilian, the most popular line of the Sicilian.
Try playing Bg5 around 6th or 7th move to bring your opponent out of the book.
08 Dec 05
Originally posted by no1marauderOr the Mainline Dragon where it is a perfectly acceptable alternative (granted later than move 6 or 7).
In what line? 6 Bg5 against the Najdorf used to be the main line and is still at least second in popularity (after 6 Be3). You won't get someone "out of book" playing Bg5 against the Najdorf Sicilian, the most popular line of the Sicilian.
08 Dec 05
Originally posted by no1marauderI was thinking more:
I guess 6 Bg5 would be playable in the Dragon; there's some database games where it's played.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Bc4 Bd7 9.Qd2 Nc6 10.0-0-0 Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5 12.h4 h5 13.Bg5
but 6. Bg5 works also, not something I've faced personally though.
08 Dec 05
Originally posted by XanthosNZyou're right, i wasn't clear enough in my original post. sorry. i'm looking for a sound variation that doesn't play a 3. d4. something fast attacking. i looked up the Smith-Morra, and that seems fun, but how sound is it overall?
I was thinking more:
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Bc4 Bd7 9.Qd2 Nc6 10.0-0-0 Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5 12.h4 h5 13.Bg5
but 6. Bg5 works also, not something I've faced personally though.
08 Dec 05
Originally posted by XanthosNZNo, I realize that the main line Soltis now has a Bg5 in it now (in preference to Bh6); Kopec's book gives it on move 16. There's a game from the Anand-Kasparov world championship match which gets to the same position as the line you mention (by some transposition) and then goes 13 Kb1 Nc4 14 Bxc4 Rxc4 15 Nde2 b5 16 Bg5. He calls it the "main line" now and considers it "more pressure based". It looks like Black's position is fine to me.
I was thinking more:
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Bc4 Bd7 9.Qd2 Nc6 10.0-0-0 Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5 12.h4 h5 13.Bg5
but 6. Bg5 works also, not something I've faced personally though.
08 Dec 05
Originally posted by Darth SpongeAs gambits go, it's pretty good: I've taken some lumps with it. They're a good article covering SM at: http://www.insight.demon.co.uk/Technical_Articles/beatingsicillian/sicillian_beating.htm
you're right, i wasn't clear enough in my original post. sorry. i'm looking for a sound variation that doesn't play a 3. d4. something fast attacking. i looked up the Smith-Morra, and that seems fun, but how sound is it overall?
08 Dec 05
Originally posted by AmauroteI wouldn't try the Wing Gambit in correspondence chess; it's quite unsound and fairly easily refuted in its main lines. OTB or timed games are a different matter if you properly "book" up.
Try the Wing Gambit. It may or may not be unsound, but it creates a very interesting dynamic.
08 Dec 05
Originally posted by Darth SpongeThe Smith Morrah seems ok at even top levels so you shouldn't have soundness issues. It seems like a good option for avoiding the standard open Sicilian lines. Also options would be the Closed Sicilian or the Alapin Sicilian (Nc3 and c3 respectively), these have the bonus of often ending up with positions the exact opposite of what most Sicilian players hope to end up with.
you're right, i wasn't clear enough in my original post. sorry. i'm looking for a sound variation that doesn't play a 3. d4. something fast attacking. i looked up the Smith-Morra, and that seems fun, but how sound is it overall?
08 Dec 05
1 edit
one reccomendation I found on the Wing gambit is to play 2. a3 to set it up... not so much a gambit anymore. how much does that help?
are there any GMs playing the Smith-Morra? everything I just read (just skimmed a few sites) said "good at club level, never played by GMs" which is fine for me at my level, but just to get a grip on the issue- is it just lacking in theory and avoided by GMs?