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| From | Message | Posted by aandersen
legalserv.com
3/31/2008
05:33:10
Play online chess |  Subject: Help ! (with openings)
Message:
I’m trying to learn something about opening theory. The idea being that with a bit more knowledge, I might have some idea about where the game is going rather than being bounced around by circumstances as I seem to do now. So, I bought a book and started reading it but I’m stuck on chapter 1 verse 1. I’m looking at something called the C3 sicillian. I’m fine with the first moves (e4 c5) but then we come to C3. The author seems to set great store by this move without really explaining what is so good about it. I’m no expert (and possibly this is why I’m not getting it) but to me the move seems boring, pointless and almost gives the initiative to black at this early stage.
Can anyone out there help me with this one?
Yours sincerely
Confused from London
| Posted by lighttotheright
legalserv.com
3/31/2008
07:39:05
Play online chess |
Message:
The c3 variation is OK; but from your description, it sounds like the author may have over-hyped it. I cannot be sure of what the author stated about it, since I only have your perception from your post.
To understand the move, you must understand the motive behind it. The opening is a struggle to force the play into lines that you feel comfortable playing instead of your opponent. Presumably, e4 is played because it is considered the strongest first move by many. This can sometimes be true regardless whether you like a tactical or positional style game. 1. e4 usually turns into a tactical game. 1. ... c5 turns that tactical game into one that is non-symmetrical. 2. c3 turns the game back into a more positional one. Many people don't quite understand positional play.
When Black played 1. ... c5 he was not likely to have wanted to play a positional game. So, 2. c3 is good in that it goes directly against much of the intent of Black's first move. It supports a possible d4 advance, which is good in the struggle for the control of the center. You stated that c3 seems to be a wasted move; yet, the normal line with Nf3 can be considered just as wasted because the knight will be soon forced into an early second move. So, the main difference is whether you want a slug-fest or a dance. A lot of people cannot dance, so they prefer to slug it out in a tactical game. And then there are those people that consider 'boxing' as a form of dance. It can get confusing.
Most people play e4 because they want tactical play. It just seems strange to some that white would abruptly change the presumptive character of the game like that. Despite this, 2. c3 is fine. It is just unusual.
| Posted by schnarre
legalserv.com
3/31/2008
09:11:18
Play online chess | Hmmnnnnn
Message:
The move 2. c3 essentially forces direct confrontation by preparing a later d4 to force Black into exchanges (e.g., 2. c3 Nc6, 3.d4 cxd4, 4. cxd4--here White has the center squares), or to supplement other moves (e.g, 2. c3 Nc6, 3.Nf3 d6, 4.d4 cxd4, 5. cxd4 Bg4, 6. Bb5). To put it simply, it's the "I'm going to grind you down!" move.
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McShane Retains Lead at London Classic; Anand Beats Carlsen — Luke McShane, who won his first two games, did not win in Round 3 of the London Chess Classic on Friday. But he managed to draw against Vladimir Kramnik of Russia, the former world chess champion, and thus remained in the lead. After three of the four games in each of the first two rounds ended decisively, Friday was relatively quiet, with three games ending in draws. The exception was a win by Viswanathan Anand of India, the world chess champion, over Magnus Carlsen of Norway. It was the second loss for Carlsen, who actually had an advantage early in the game before making two bad moves that allowed Anand to shatter his kingside pawns and then infiltrate with his queen and rook. Carlsen could ...
Posted by marinvukusic
legalserv.com
3/31/2008
10:07:19
Play online chess | ...
Message:
"The author seems to set great store by this move without really explaining what is so good about it."
Exact quote would be nice.
In any case this is a good opening and I would recommend putting the effort in at least first 10 pages or so (maybe author's position will become clearer from his comments).
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Surprising Leader at London Chess Classic — The torrid pace continued at the London Chess Classic on Thursday as three of the four games again ended decisively. Luke McShane of England, who had pulled off a big upset by beating Magnus Carlsen of Norway in Round 1, won again in Round 2, beating Nigel Short, another Englishman. It was Short’s second loss. Carlsen bounced back by upending Michael Adams, one of the four English chess players. Hikaru Nakamura of the United States, who had managed to draw a long game against the world chess champion Viswanathan Anand of India in Round 1, had Black for the second game in a row. It was also his 23rd birthday. His opponent, Vladimir Kramnik of Russia, the former world chess champion, ended up ...
Posted by aandersen
legalserv.com
3/31/2008
12:01:07
Play online chess |
Message:
Thank you folks for your responses. I have decided that i will carry on reading and also when i've finished some of my current crop of games, i will try to find some games where i can experiment with this. I think that pehaps some practical experience will help me to understand.
Once again, thank you all.
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Exciting and Surprising Start to the London Chess Classic — If every round of the London Chess Classic is like the first round, then it is going to be a very exciting tournament. The chess tournament began Wednesday and three of the four games ended decisively. The most stunning result was the victory of the English grandmaster Luke McShane over Magnus Carlsen of Norway. Carlsen played some speculative moves and was punished brilliantly by McShane. The other two wins were also quite exciting. Michael Adams, one of the four English chess players, checkmated his countryman David Howell in 27 moves with a scintillating attack, while Vladimir Kramnik of Russia overwhelmed Nigel Short, the other English player, with a central pawn break that eventually led to ...
Posted by schnarre
legalserv.com
4/03/2008
15:00:13
Play online chess |
Message:
Glad we could help mate! Good luck, & good hunting!
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Women’s World Chess Championship Begins With Some Upsets — The first round of the Women’s World Chess Championship, which is being held in Hatay, Turkey, ended Monday, and a few of the higher-ranked chess players are already on their way home. The biggest upset was the victory of Betul Cemre Yildiz of Turkey over Pia Cramling of Sweden. Cramling was a semifinalist at the 2008 championship and is ranked No. 9 in the world among women. The manner in which she lost was also surprising as she simply used up all her time in the second game of her match before she could make her 40th move in a completely equal and uncomplicated position. Other upset victims included Lilit Mkrtchian of Armenia, who lost tie-breaker games Monday to ...
Posted by wschmidt
legalserv.com
4/08/2008
11:55:52
Play online chess | My two-bits...
Message:
get a book or look at a website that focuses on good opening principles rather than trying to learn the nuances of a particular line at first. There are several good books out there that talk about controling the center, piece development and pawn structure. That stuff is way more important to learn than specific lines at the 1200-1500 level.
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Chess: Battleground London — World chess champion Anand faces his nearest rival Carlsen at the London Chess Classic. The second edition of the London Chess Classic takes place at Kensington Olympia from tomorrow until 15 December. This year will be even stronger than last with the participation of the world chess champion, Viswanathan Anand from India. Anand was a frequent and popular visitor to England in his early career, but hasn't played a chess tournament here since 1995 and interest will be high, not least because he will be facing the player tipped to succeed him, the Norwegian chess prodigy Magnus Carlsen. Their meetings take on added significance with Carlsen's controversial withdrawal from ...
Posted by ionadowman
legalserv.com
4/08/2008
13:23:10
Play online chess | Also ...
Message:
... find a database that features games with this opening. Play through wins and losses (and draws). It's not a bad idea for the first few games at least just to play them through without thinking too deeply into the lines, but observing how the game shapes, and look out for motifs (tactical or strategic) that seem to recur in several games. Does the pawn structure seem pretty much the same in most games? (Yes or no). If so, what's the upshot? If not, is it because emphasis is on some other aspect of the game e.g. piece play or direct attacks on the king, say.
Cheers,
Ion
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