I have a little problem, and it is a constant with all my games online.
I have a rating hovering around 1350-1500, and I can't improve. I have read a total of 7 chess books, many of them considered quite good and useful, I study/play chess like 4 hours a day, know almost all the terms, tactics, and theory possible, yet I lose continiously to stiffs who have obviously never opened a chess book, and to be honest, I don't think they deserve to beat me.
This opening is what really gets me whenever I play the Sicilian for black. It happens 90% of the time. Ppl say I will see actual openings once my rating gets better, but for now, I'm stuck with this crap:
1. e4 c5 2.Qh5 (attacking the c pawn, so) d6 3. Bc4 (threatening a scholars mate, so) e6 4. Nc3 (preventing d5, for now) Nf6 (attacking the queen with some tempo, but doesn't seem to do much).
Basicly, this opening forces me to move several pawns just to defend queen cheapos, and I am losing in development (3 peices vs 1) because of that. I often find myself at the short end of the stick for this opening, unless they blunder the queen by puting her on bad spots, but if she is well placed, I'm doomed.
This happens 90% of the time, and I cannot find an adequate defense or refutation of it. To make matters worse, according to GM's, if they move the queen out early, I should be attacking, not defending, but guess what, this opening forces me to defend and nothing but defend, it's frustrating.
Learning how to beat this is quite foolish in a sense, because I will likely never see it in real tournaments, but if anyone has any ideas how I can beat this crap, you would save me a lot of yelling and sighing across the computer screen. HELP!
Qh5, Bc4 is not dangerous after 1. e4 e5, but at least it has some logic behind. But against Sicilian, when black have e6, it looks weird. I think that after 1. e4 c5 2.Qh5 d6 3. Bc4 e6 4. Nf3 Nf6 black have good game - white are not ahead in development (why?), white queen is on the awkward position, black can play d5 right away (which is usually good in Sicilian). And you can even play Nf6 on the second move if you don't want to push your pawns:-)
Originally posted by paultopiaOr even Nf6 with the option of picking the pawn back up?
Gambit the c pawn? 2. ... Nc6 3. Qxc5 e5 maybe?
1. e4 c5
2. Qh5 Nf6
3. Qxc5 Nxe4
Material is equal and white must spend another tempo moving queen..?
Whoops - must be tired, I see you try Nf6 already. Hopefully someone else will have a better idea 😉
Originally posted by TovMauzer
[b]Qh5, Bc4 is not dangerous after 1. e4 e5, but at least it has some logic behind. But against Sicilian, when black have e6, it looks weird. I think that after 1. e4 c5 2.Qh5 d6 3. Bc4 e6 4. Nf3 Nf6 black have good game - white are not ahead in development (why?), white queen is on the awkward position, black can play d5 right away (which is usually good in ...[text shortened]... orced into (when starting with 1. ...c5), I feel like I have no control and all my moves are forced.
Originally posted by John Dalmas
[b]Or even Nf6 with the option of picking the pawn back up?
1. e4 c5
2. Qh5 Nf6
3. Qxc5 Nxe4
Material is equal and white must spend another tempo moving queen..?
Whoops - must be tired, I see you try Nf6 already. Hopefully someo ...[text shortened]... brushing up a lot on the Sicilian and I never get to use it, bah. . .
Originally posted by TovMauzerJust in the same way I din't write: brushing up a lot on the Sicilian and I never get to use it, bah. . .
Try to type in the Post box, not in the Previous Post box😉 Otherwise it appears TovMauzer wrote this when in fact he didn't!!!!!!!
😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀
Damn, lol. Well, this is basicly what I tried to say guys:
In my first mentioned variation, I feel I am behind in development, because I am FORCED to do 3 pawn moves before I even more out a peice! Yes I gain a tempo with Nf6, but even still, it's 3 white peices (queen, bishop and knight) vs 1 black peice (the lone knight). Not only that, the game is beyond weird, my pawn structure takes an ackward construction.
Gambiting the c pawn seems like an interesting alternative to Qh5 on move two, but if they move Bc4 on move 2 and then Qh5 or even Qf3 on move 3, I don't think that plan would work.
In a way I feel cheapshoted mind you. I spent a few bucks and a lot of time brushing up on Sicilian openings/middlegame, and I never get the chance to use it because all I get is this silly opening 90% of the time.
Originally posted by mateuloseFirst of all, you are not behind the development - both d6 and e6 are development moves. Second, c5, d6, e6 is quite standard pawn formation for the Sicilian and you also have opportunity to play d5 and win battle for the center. Black are OK here.
Damn, lol. Well, this is basicly what I tried to say guys:
In my first mentioned variation, I feel I am behind in development, because I am FORCED to do 3 pawn moves before I even more out a peice! Yes I gain a tempo with Nf6, but even still, it's 3 white peices (queen, bishop and knight) vs 1 black peice (the lone knight). Not only that, the game is b ...[text shortened]... e, and I never get the chance to use it because all I get is this silly opening 90% of the time.
Chessblind is correct. Play 2. ...e6. This also solves the problem of 3.Bc4.
Here's something else you can do. When you see that your opponent has brought their queen out on the 2nd move of the game, take a long, deep, slow breath, relax, and say to yourself... patience. Keep saying it as many times as you need. Write "patience" on a piece of paper and stick on your computer monitor if you need to, but do whatever it takes to show patience against players like that.
After your 2 ...e6 what can white do to hurt you? The white queen is misplaced and can easily be attacked in many ways by your pawns and pieces.
So don't sweat that goofy attack by white. Ignore it. Nf6 and Be7 are the moves in your immediate future. Develop simply, castle, look to gain some more space on the queenside, and let your opponent dance their queen around the board.
Originally posted by wibI agree. e6 is probably even better. Qh5 looks plain silly after it. And other advices in the Wib's posts are very right - underestimating your opponent is sure way to lose the game.
Chessblind is correct. Play 2. ...e6. This also solves the problem of 3.Bc4.
Here's something else you can do. When you see that your opponent has brought their queen out on the 2nd move of the game, take a long, deep, slow breath, relax, and say to yourself... patience. Keep saying it as many times as you need. Write "patience" on a piece of paper ...[text shortened]... ain some more space on the queenside, and let your opponent dance their queen around the board.