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I think Joes662 is right when he writes "Chess theory is overrated." If he can win with the Damiano Defence, think what he could do with the Sicilian!!

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Game 1120385

What kind of Sicilian is this?

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Originally posted by buddy2
I just got back from a session with Playchess.com. In the first game my opponent led with 1. e4 so I play d5 as is my custom. I'm a center-counter, Scandinavian player. I even play it on RHP, hoping I'll learn something. Anyway, the guy on the other end requests an abort. I figure maybe he has to go to dinner or his house is on fire or something. So I ...[text shortened]... you get driveling maniacs who bang nonsense into their keyboard. It just never stops, does it?
Buddy, there's the old saying about "a little bit of knowledge" making people dangerous, or pretentious, or just plain strange. I think this applies to chess as well. Beginners never question the type of opening one plays -- for them, it's all Greek anyway. Strong, or at least experienced, players rarely question openings either -- for them, they know that chess is chess, and besides, some of the stronger players in history used offbeat openings (like Larsen, for one). But players with "a little bit of knowledge" sometimes behave pretentiously.

I once played a speed game on the Net. The guy moved 1. e4, I followed it with 1. c5, and he then immediately messaged me the following -- "Play proper chess, idiot!"

Duly rattled, he lost in about 15 moves, LOL.

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Originally posted by hypermo2001
this is NOT a site where the less than "advanced" players know squat about openings!

In chess they do not advise studying openings "early in your chess career" but please! you need to know the first few moves of a defense to e4 and d4. I even see high rated players make the following moves as black 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6?? absolute crap...
They ...[text shortened]... me out.

Send one my way and I'll give you an open sicilian, though I'm not great with it.
*cough cough* unless YOU are Marshall (unlikely considering he's dead) I suggest you refrain from using those question marks.

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A high rated class a player by the name of Sam Sloan played it against a kid named Thaler, whom is one of the top players in the US for his age group. If you type in Damiano defense in your search engine, you should find the game between Sloan and Thaler. Also chess cafe had an interesting two part article on Damiano defense....regards jones

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Originally posted by buddy2
I just got back from a session with Playchess.com. In the first game my opponent led with 1. e4 so I play d5 as is my custom. I'm a center-counter, Scandinavian player. I even play it on RHP, hoping I'll learn something. Anyway, the guy on the other end requests an abort. I figure maybe he has to go to dinner or his house is on fire or something. So I ...[text shortened]... you get driveling maniacs who bang nonsense into their keyboard. It just never stops, does it?
I have played quite a bit on Playchess.com. So far I have not encountered any problems like you are describing. Concerning the opening, anything that works for you, you should continue to play. Each opening has its stong and weak points. If you are winning, I say keep using it no matter what others think.

Una

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I wish I could play strange openings, I only use one, for fear of losing if I do anything different

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Originally posted by Blitz00
Game 1120385

What kind of Sicilian is this?
That's a sort of open Sicilian. Normally black plays Nf6 to which white plays Nc3 then Nc6 giving a Classical Sicilian or perhaps a Richter-Rauzer Attack (if 6. Bg5).

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I'm not convinced that d4 d5, c4 nf6 deserves a double question mark!! Okay it gives white what they want but it normally transposes sooner or later!!

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Originally posted by XanthosNZ
That's a sort of open Sicilian. Normally black plays Nf6 to which white plays Nc3 then Nc6 giving a Classical Sicilian or perhaps a Richter-Rauzer Attack (if 6. Bg5).
Thanks Xanthoz

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Originally posted by Dfthd
*cough cough* unless YOU are Marshall (unlikely considering he's dead) I suggest you refrain from using those question marks.
I stand by the "??". the move is bad and immediately loses a tempo.

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Originally posted by hypermo2001
I stand by the "??". the move is bad and immediately loses a tempo.
If someone hangs a piece, do you give that move "???" ?

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Originally posted by BigDoggProblem
If someone hangs a piece, do you give that move "???" ?
Losing a tempo is a ?? so I guess losing a piece would be "?" ad infinitum.

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Originally posted by hypermo2001
I stand by the "??". the move is bad and immediately loses a tempo.
Next you'll be telling us Alekhine's defense is crap... and that Alekhine sounds like Uncle Scrouge from Duck Tales.

2 edits
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Originally posted by hypermo2001
I stand by the "??". the move is bad and immediately loses a tempo.
No, it developes a piece which supports the pawn on d5, so unless you can demonstrate that there's an immeadiate tactical problem then it's fine. If white plays 3. Nc3 then e6 or c6 will transpose straight into one of the main lines and I'm sure that you wouldn't claim that those are faulty.
The best openings are the ones that lead to positions that you feel comfortable playing, so if you like defending difficult to hopeless positions Damiano's opening is the one for you. After 1.e4 you'd have thought 1 ... a6 would be weak, but it is playable and Tony Miles beat Karpov with it (Karpov - Miles, Skara 1980 http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1068157) - apparently Karpov was pretty shocked by white's first move ...