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Response to white's poor play?

Response to white's poor play?

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mxz

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(I apologize - I'm new.... ish) I'm working on my Sicilian defense. I read on a few forums and in an article recently that many beginner white players respond to the Sicilian as if it weren't happening and they continue to attack f7. I see this in... 1. e4 c5 2. Bc6 ---- My question is what is the best response here for black?

Further... why is 2. Bc6 such a weak move? That might help me understand why one responses a certain way as black.

Thanks

A

Sub 1500

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i assume you mean Bc4. because it risks the loss of the center for white with correct play. i personally being a more aggressive out of book player when i can, would move 2 ... e6 3 ... e5 and control the center through a rather devastating pawn structure. more traditional lines are to continue into an open sicilian position with 2 ... Nc6 3. Nf3 and so on.

i personally enjoy my little e6 e5 😀

white however can make good play with this if its followed by a queenside castle and activates the f pawn early, for a strong kingside attack, forcing black to either play without castling, or possibly end up castling to his weakened queenside 🙁....

t

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Originally posted by Adorea
i assume you mean Bc4. because it risks the loss of the center for white with correct play. i personally being a more aggressive out of book player when i can, would move 2 ... e6 3 ... e5 and control the center through a rather devastating pawn structure. more traditional lines are to continue into an open sicilian position with 2 ... Nc6 3. Nf3 and so o ...[text shortened]... ck to either play without castling, or possibly end up castling to his weakened queenside 🙁....
You mean 2...e6 3...d5? 😕

M

Earth

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Originally posted by meta x zen
(I apologize - I'm new.... ish) I'm working on my Sicilian defense. I read on a few forums and in an article recently that many beginner white players respond to the Sicilian as if it weren't happening and they continue to attack f7. I see this in... 1. e4 c5 2. Bc6 ---- My question is what is the best response here for black?

Further... why is 2. ...[text shortened]... weak move? That might help me understand why one responses a certain way as black.

Thanks
As Bc6 is not a legal move, I assume you mean 2.Bc4 for white.
This is considered poor because after black responds with e6, attacking f7 is shown to be plain daft, and leaves white with a bishop 'in the wrong place' as it is simply biting on a chain of pawns.

On the other hand black often wants to play e6 anyway in the Sicillian, and so continues to develop as he pleases. It almost hands over the tempo (leading move) on only the second move of the game.

There are other reasons, but that is the main one.

mxz

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Thanks - that is the response I was looking for. (and yes I meant be4 😉 )

Much appreciated.

e

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Originally posted by meta x zen
Thanks - that is the response I was looking for. (and yes I meant be4 😉 )

Much appreciated.
Be4 is also not a legal move. 😀

M

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Originally posted by Policestate
.... and leaves white with a bishop 'in the wrong place' as it is simply biting on a chain of pawns....
I don't like 2.Bc4 either in the Sicilian, but the 'misplacement' is not a very good argument. In the Scheveningen (based on e6, d6, Nf6) the bishop is often moved to c4 (one of the mainlines), also called 'Fisher's' move.

M

Earth

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Originally posted by Mephisto2
I don't like 2.Bc4 either in the Sicilian, but the 'misplacement' is not a very good argument. In the Scheveningen (based on e6, d6, Nf6) the bishop is often moved to c4 (one of the mainlines), also called 'Fisher's' move.
Accepted Mephisto2, you are of course correct to challenge this oversimplification. Without being patronising to our colleague I was trying to keep it simple as he is just learning the lines for the first time. At move 2, you will know that Bc4 leads to the most wins for black (and fewest for white) of any mainline Sicillian on the master database. Later, in some lines, after white has a little more positional certaintly, it is playable. You clearly play it better than I.
I recall Bobby invented the concept of Bc4, followed by Bb3, breaking all the opening guidelines we are taught. He isn't (wasn't) the best tutor for novices as the guy could not only get away with these brave moves, but he made them winning. I am not so sure it would serve our original poster so well !?

F

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Originally posted by meta x zen
(I apologize - I'm new.... ish) I'm working on my Sicilian defense. I read on a few forums and in an article recently that many beginner white players respond to the Sicilian as if it weren't happening and they continue to attack f7. I see this in... 1. e4 c5 2. Bc6 ---- My question is what is the best response here for black?

Further... why is 2. ...[text shortened]... weak move? That might help me understand why one responses a certain way as black.

Thanks
A simple e6 shatters the plan and Black has half-developed the pawn and freed bishop etc. while White has wasted a move, essentially.

M

Earth

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Originally posted by Policestate
Accepted Mephisto2, you are of course correct to challenge this oversimplification. Without being patronising to our colleague I was trying to keep it simple as he is just learning the lines for the first time. At move 2, you will know that Bc4 leads to the most wins for black (and fewest for white) of any mainline Sicillian on the master database. Later ...[text shortened]... oves, but he made them winning. I am not so sure it would serve our original poster so well !?
I am not so sure it would serve our original poster so well !?[/b]

Or me for that matter 🙂

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