Sicilian Question: best reply to this?

Originally posted by whiteknight26
It's really only good as a surprise weapon. In my opinion Qa5 is not all that good of a move.

I like 1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 (not Qa5?!)

A side question... what does it denote when ?! is annotated to a move?

Could be good or bad? I would think with proper play on both sides a move would be one or the other, not both.

Originally posted by USArmyParatrooper
A side question... what does it denote when ?! is annotated to a move?

Could be good or bad? I would think with proper play on both sides a move would be one or the other, not both.

?! = dubious move (possibly unsound)
!? = interesting move (probably sound)

Originally posted by wormwood
does it really work? I'd love an offbeat line against alapin..

there are plenty of interesting offbeat lines against the alapin.
If white denies you the fun of your sicilian, you should do the same to him!

2...g6, 2...d6, 2...e6, 2...b6, 2...Qa5 and 2...e5 are all playable

the first one being considered the best. i don't think it's worse than the 2 main moves (Nf6 and d5), while beng much less studied by white players (so for practical reasons it might even be the best choice!)

2...b6 is a good idea too, even less studied (if you want o try this, check arthur kogan's games)

Originally posted by heinzkat
1. e4 c5 2. c3 Qa5!? 🙂

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1503799

Originally posted by ChessJester
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1503799

0-1, right, that's how we like it, quite a messy game though.

Originally posted by whiteknight26
It's really only good as a surprise weapon. In my opinion Qa5 is not all that good of a move.

Do you have some refutation or drawback to Qa5 other than your "opinion"? 😉

Originally posted by ChessJester
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1503799

What is the threat of Qa5?

It seems to be white can still play d4 and have two central pawns, decent development and good pawn structure.

Originally posted by USArmyParatrooper
What is the threat of Qa5?

It seems to be white can still play d4 and have two central pawns, decent development and good pawn structure.

Haha, that's one of the pointes of Qa5, 3. d4 cxd4 4. cxd4 Black claims an illegal move :o)

Originally posted by heinzkat
Haha, that's one of the pointes of Qa5, 3. d4 cxd4 4. cxd4 Black claims an illegal move :o)

[fen]rnb1kbnr/pp1ppppp/8/q7/3PP3/8/PP3PPP/RNBQKBNR[/fen]

haha. Duh, why did I miss something so obvious?

Edit: Another question. What is the idea behind 13. b4 ?

Originally posted by USArmyParatrooper
haha. Duh, why did I miss something so obvious?

Edit: Another question. What is the idea behind 13. b4 ?

opening lines on the enemy king, so the heavy pieces (rooks especially) can join the fun!
that's a standard idea especially in opposite castle positions : often the first to launch the attack on the enemy king will win, so speed is important.

But it doesn't always work, in the game shown by chessjester black has enough time to defend and takes advantage of white's weakened c-file (especially the c3 pawn) so white plays the passive Be2 and soon loses. maybe b4 was a bit premature in this case (after all it's a blitz game)

here's an amazing game illustrating better the virtues of opening a file on the enemy castle, by the best female player of all time.

The combination begins on move 11, but the killer move is on move 14, try to find it !
(white to play)



and here is the whole game :

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1503799

Originally posted by heinzkat
0-1, right, that's how we like it, quite a messy game though.

Originally posted by whiteknight26
[b]It's really only good as a surprise weapon. In my opinion Qa5 is not all that good of a move.

Do you have some refutation or drawback to Qa5 other than your "opinion"? 😉[/b]

Here are a couple of ideas for those playing against 2. … Qa5?!

1.e4 c5
2.c3 Qa5
3.Nf3 Nc6
4.Na3 e6
5.e5 securing the c4 square for the Knight
or 5. Bb5 with the idea of developing pieces as quickly and actively as possible is another good idea. In all honesty, I used to play the Alapin and everytime when my opponent played Qa5, a smiled a little confident in the fact I was going to have an easier game, but that's just me.

1.e4 c5
2.c3 Qa5
3.Nf3 Nc6
4.a3 e6 (or after d6 then b4)
5.d4

4. a3 seems like a perfectly good option to prepare d4.
It seems to me that Black has more problems to overcome in these lines.

Originally posted by USArmyParatrooper
After 1. e4 c5, 2. c3

I usually play 2... d6 but of course the reason for 2. c3 is to prepare for 3 d4 - and after the exchange of pawns white has two central pawns defeating one of the strengths of the Sicilian.

What is the best reply to 2. d6, and can someone annotate possible varations from this position?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

back to the original question!

As i just said 2....d6 is perfectly ok, i'll try to show you a few basic ideas
First you let white get his "ideal center". So what? it means he will enjoy more space for his pieces and you might be a little bit squeezed...if he manages to keep his strong center intact and develop smoothly. So your main strategic aim is to generate pressure against it.

Let's have a look :
one first note : after 1.e4 c5 2.c3 d6 3.d4 why should you help white by playing cxd4 cxd4 ? he's got his 2 center pawns, but his c3 pawn is a bit cumbersome occupies the best place for the b1 knight, so cxd4 rids him of this minor problem.

instead you have 3...Nf6 (immediate pressure). Then what can white play?
4. Bd3 is the main move.
- note that 4.e5? is now very bad : dxe5 dxe5 Qxd1 Kxd1 Ng4 attacking e5 and f2
- but what about 4.dxc5!? well now you have to be careful : not Nxe4?? which loses on the spot (try to see why!) nor dxc5 ?! Qxd8 Kxd8 e5 Ng4, and this time you're the on to lose the right to castle, and since f2 is not attacked white can play f4 followed by h3 and your knight will retreat.

But you have a strong move instead : 4...Nc6! (developping while making Nxe4 possible). Now cxd6 Nxe4 and next move you play Nxd6 with an equal game. where is his nice pawn centre now? ( tactics will backfire : dxe7? Qxd1 kxd1 Nxf2 Ke1 Nxh1 exf8=Q Kxf8 and black is better although his knight has trouble to get out. )
So after 4...Nc6 you'll either take e4 or c5 (if Bd3 or Qc2), or 5.f3 d5!

Back to 4.Bd3 : 4...Nc6 again. now to keep his centre he usually plays 5.Nf3.
so more pressure on d4 with 5...Bg4. You develop, but not randomly: you follow a strategic idea.
now trying to bolster d4 with 6.Be3 isn't very good : for example Qb6 (new weakness : b2!) Qe2 Bxf3 gxf3 cxd4 and the center collapses.
Trickier is 6.d5 : 6...Ne5 (Bxf3 is safer) and now some nice tactics (useful to see since it can happen in other openings too)
7.Nxe5! (but this knight was supposed to be pinned?) Bxd1?? 8.Bb5+ wins for white! 7...dxe5 is better but again white shows little respect for his queen : 8.Qxg4! Nxg4 Bb5+ (again white regains his queen but this time he's only a bit better)

After 5.dxc5 (instead of Nf3), white loses his ideal center. now dxc5 is ok since the annoying Qxd8 is no longer possible

I hope this will help you understand this opening better, and more generally, will give you a hint of how openings should be played : understand strategic ideas, follow a plan, but always keep an eye on tactics (check the traps!)