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Posted by aandersen goclub.org 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 goclub.org 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 goclub.org 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.
Posted by marinvukusic goclub.org 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).
Posted by aandersen goclub.org 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.
Posted by schnarre goclub.org 4/03/2008 15:00:13 play online chess	Message: Glad we could help mate! Good luck, & good hunting!
Posted by wschmidt goclub.org 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.
Posted by ionadowman goclub.org 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
Chess news: Telegraph chess: Champions of child's play -- More kids are coming. Last week there were three notable successes for young chess players around the world. In Dubai, 14-year-old Wesley So of the Philippines won a very strong Open chess tournament. So is one of the youngest chess players ever to be a GM and scored 7/9 to finish level with GMs Merab Gagunashvili of Georgia, Ehsan Ghaem Maghami of Iran and Li Chao of China but the youngster had the superior tie break and was awarded the Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum Cup. Salem Abdulrahman Saleh of the UAE, the Asian under-14 champion who has yet to qualify for the IM title looks like he may not need to as he secured his first GM norm with a round to spare. Twenty nine GMs and twenty one IMs competed. In Ukraine 11 year old Ilya Nyzhnyk, won ... Telegraph chess: Big guns out in Baku -- The new FIDE/Global Chess Grad Prix is underway with England number one Michael Adams participating at the first event, a 14 player all play all in Baku. The Norwegian chess prodigy Magnus Carlsen is the top seed. The full line up is 1. Magnus Carlsen, Norway, 2765; 2. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Azerbaijan, 2752; 3. Teimour Radjabov, Azerbaijan, 2751; 4. Peter Svidler, Russia, 2746; 5. Sergey Karjakin, Ukraine, 2732; 6. Michael Adams, England, 2729; 7. Gata Kamsky, USA, 2726; 8. Alexander Grischu, Russia, 2716; 9. Etienne Bacrot, France, 2705; 10. Ivan Cheparinov, Bulgaria, 2696; 11. Wang Yue, China, 2689; 12. Ernesto Inarkiev, Russia, 2684; 13. Vugar Gashimov, Azerbaijan, 2679; 14. David Navara, Czech Republic, 2672. Grand Prix chess tournaments run to the end of 2009 and ... Telegraph chess: English master stroke -- Michael Adams has made a great start to the Grand Prix chess tournament at Baku. In round one Adams drew solidly as Black against Teimour Radjabov whose Ruy Lopez Exchange Variation achieved no advantage. Adams even got the edge but had to accede to perpetual check in a queen and pawn endgame. In round two Adams defeated Ivan Cheparinov, the Grandmaster whose disgraceful behaviour led him to be defaulted in his game at Wijk aan Zee against Nigel Short when he refused to shake hands. The game was replayed and Short won, Adams made it an English double over the Bulgarian. Adams shares the lead with Gata Kamsky who finished this round one game nicely. Kamsky vs. Inarkiev. Position after 42...Kh6 43.Rb6? (A blunder, presumably White missed Black’s lovely ...