your favourite opening?

White: 1.c4 2.g3 (English- accelerated fianchetto)
Black: Caro-Kann (1...c6)

RHP rating:1525 USCF rating: 1200 and rising fast!

2.c3 Sicilian

Catalan, although I rarely play it here as I'm trying to broaden my opening repetoire.

my USCF rating 20 years ago bounced between 2050 and 2080 or so.

Personally, I'm pretty classical. As white, Ruy Lopez except in tournaments when, for variation (and to help me tell these games apart), it's also c4 and d4. I'm much enamoured with the 3. Bb5 against the Sicilian (Rossolimo and Moscow variations) but I wish there was more theory around.
As Black, I don't have a preference and my response depends on white.

Originally posted by Korch
2.c3 Sicilian

did you have a thread about 2.c3 at some point? I've been trying to pick it up recently, and it would be great to read someone's personal thoughts on it.




as white 1.f4-Nf3-g6, as black the dragon. 1900-2000 here.

Simple answer: Vienna with g3 as white, Dragon as black.

Not-so-simple answer: Whatever I feel will work best against a particular opponent, viz:

http://www.chess.com/article/view/chess-psychology-101

Originally posted by vipiu
why not worth?
For me it is a big goal...

At the time I thought it wion't be worth it because I had two IM-Norms already, but couldn't get the third one. I also struggled to get over 2400 Elo.

But for being a FM you really don't have to achieve anything. Ok, you need to play I think 60 games with an average Rating performance of 2300. But that's it!!!!

But nevermind. It's not worth thinking about it now, because I do't play a lot of OTB chess these days.

white: Bird's Opening (f4)
black: Hippo Defence

Originally posted by wormwood
did you have a thread about 2.c3 at some point? I've been trying to pick it up recently, and it would be great to read someone's personal thoughts on it.




as white 1.f4-Nf3-g6, as black the dragon. 1900-2000 here.

There are many threads in which I have recommended Sicilian 2.c3 🙂

Originally posted by Korch
There are many threads in which I have recommended Sicilian 2.c3 🙂

There should be a lot of Sergei Tiviakov games playing the Sicilian Alapin. Chessbase.com perhaps.

The English.

Against e4, the Sicilian, usually Accelerated, but prepared to experiment.
Against d4 & c4, the Leningrad Dutch.

No OTB rating. Here, properly about 1550-1600, but hoping to hold myself above 1700.

Originally posted by Outpost
There should be a lot of Sergei Tiviakov games playing the Sicilian Alapin. Chessbase.com perhaps.

He seems to be the strongest player using 2.c3 Sicilian. Also I would suggest to check out games by Sveshnikov, Sermek, Rausis, Rozentalis, Pavasovic etc.

Originally posted by Outpost
There should be a lot of Sergei Tiviakov games playing the Sicilian Alapin. Chessbase.com perhaps.

There are also some good game from Thomas Michalczak. It's worth looking at his games as well.

I'm rated 1819 USCF.

Fave's as White: London System, Blackmar-Diemer Gambit, Bird's Opening

Fave's vs 1 e4: French Defense, Franco-Benoni (1 e4 e6 2 d4 c5), Modern

Fave's vs 1 d4: Tartakower Defense, Modern Benoni, King's Indian, Modern

White : The Ruy Lopez and sometimes the Bird.
Black : Any Sicilian, lately i tend to play the Najdorf , just as a learning experience.
Against 1 ....d4 , the Queens Indian or Bogo, 99% i start with 1....Nf6, 2...e6.