I appreciate this. Honestly. I try to only accept deals from sponsors I would use myself. So hopefully none of them are disruptive, boring, or annoying. Chessbook is actually something I've been using for tournament prep for months now, so I know it's gonna be useful if someone decides to try it out.
Your videos are diamomd for chess learners. Following you since 2 years and I can tell that my tatics and opening knowledge has improved very much thankyou for the lessons❤
@@HangingPawns In practice I actually like starting with a6 against this, followed by e6. It's about on par with the main moves in terms of objective eval, but alot of players respond with a4 and at that point you go from equal to significantly better immediately, you get a nice outpost for the knight. And it mixes up some of the other lines. You don't have to play b5 immediately but you're just baiting a4.
@@ianrust3785 as a sicilian Taimanov player, i tried both fast d5 and a6 lines, thousands of times. And i had pretty good results on both lines but Slightly better with a6. The quick D5 might lead to a symmetrical structure and its a bit trickier to keep pressuring. The structure with e6 a6 is usually easier to build up around.
@@MatsMatsuo That's alot of games nice to know you've had good results, I think I agree with your assessment. Yeah I like the structure, though I'm a classical sicilian player but it's just a good structure against these anti-sicilians... same setup works very well against the smith morra and a few other anti-sicilians, also works well against the closed sicilian (though I really like e6 > an early d5 there). I actually learned the scheveningen as a secondary weapon just so I can play e6 against the closed sicilian
Ty for covering this! Lots of sicilian courses don't even mention this line even though it's one of the most common lines to see online until you get to a high rating. Also love chessbook 😊
Really good video! There are some videos on how to punish the Bowdler Attack, but here you have shown it very effectively so that everything makes sense. Rather than just memorising moves, learning the plans is very important in an opening I believe.
@@HangingPawns I was just rewatching the e6 part and I was wondering how you should play after Nf6 provoking e5 d5 exf6 dxc4 fxg7 Bxg7 and Qe2, trying to regain the pawn. The engine recommends Nc6-d4 getting a strong outpost, but I can't see the compensation that black has. Could you explain black's compensation for the lost pawn there?
I used this line to demonstrate to my friend why opening knowledge is important at all levels of play. I understand why people may be adverse to learning tons of theory but it doesnt take 5 minutes of your life to know what is and isnt a good second move in one of the most common openings.
I didn't know exactly yet, but as I looked back at my games, the Bowler attack remained in my memory. ( 2. Bc4 ) - I decided to go after it. Then I found this video. You already mentioned in the first two minutes how popular this version is. For me, I have 16 games as black - Sicilian defense. Of these, 6 are specifically the bowler attack and two more that are in the scheme of the Italian opening. (slightly different variant but essentially the same setup). My balance: The other 8 games: W: 5 / L: 3 (Sicilian defense) W : 3 / D: 1 / L : 4 (Bowler attack) 🤦♂ Overall, the positive balance is ruined on this version I watched the video and I feel that the next 8 games will be different ;) Thanks for uploading !!! Keep it up!
I'm preparing for my first longer tournament in classical since youth competition. And I intend to play sicilian, so this really came in handy against maybe some young guns. Thanks!
There was a kid in my chess club who used to play this opening religiously...and lost every time. I could never understand why he wouldn't just try something different. It was like the opening was set in stone in his brain.
Great video as always, Stjepan! I just wanted to add that in addition to e6, Nf6, and Nc6, a6 is also perfectly playable. I'm not sure which engine you're using, but according to Stockfish 16.1 at 35 depth, a6 is objectively just as good as those other 3 moves, and scores just as well in Lichess games. The idea isn't to play b5 immediately on Nf3, but instead to play e6. Black prevents Bb5+ and plays d5 or b5 later, depending on what White does.
By the way, 2Nf3 2Nc6 3Bc4 isnt considered nearly as bad as the bowler, it's just that it isnt a productive way for White to play and create anything in the position
After analyzing the move order I see it isn’t the Bowlder Attack anymore after 2.Nf3 … 3.Bc4 it’s under a regular Sicilian variation ! 2.Bc4 is a definite e6 but like 9/10 times I only run into Bc4 after committing to d6 on move 2, and after further analysis I see that e6 is then only suggested after white plays 3.Nc3 (or like you said after whites makes it obvious with c3)! Wow ok I learned a few things here personally! Mainly that I shouldn’t flinch and collapse my closed Sicilian with e6 after seeing 3.Bc4 after committing to d6 on move 2. 😐😂 Also, I think HangingPawns is the most reliable Chess channel when it comes to learning opening theories and effective lines! 👍✌️
I've only been playing for a year but it's crazy how often you face the Bowdler at the 1400 level. You play 1. e4 and don't have SOMETHING prepared against the Sicilian? I mean, thanks for the free ELO but I want an interesting game.
It's actually astonishing how many people still play this crap in the 1800-1900 level. How do I know? I'm 1900+ and I face this a lot of times when I play the Sicilian.
@@andrb8945the main ideas are e6 a6 and then d5 or b5 (or Nc6 if needed)depending on what they play, there is absolutely no way you are getting any critical/tactical line white can initiate or get some positional advantage (which was already gone as early as move 2)
Awesome video, thank you. But what if white pieces delay Bc4 until third move? Something like 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3. Bc4. Here, we already played d6, should we still go for d5?
How come you call this a "Sicilian defense theory" video about the Bowdler and never discuss the main line of the Bowdler attack? This video is how to punish common mistakes by people who don't know how to play the Bowdler. The main line is: 1. e4 c5 2. Bc4 e6 3. Qe2 Nc6 4. c3 If you are playing black and you don't know how to deal with this you will be in some trouble right away.
Since you’re still looking at the Sicilian, would you be able to make a dragondorf video? I saw a great video from gingerGM and would like to understand the play on both sides better.
After 2. ... e6 3. Nc3, I had learned to play Nf6, intending to play 4. ... d5 in response to almost anything by white. Is there a reason to avoid this in favor of 3. ... a6?
Yeah, sorry about the nature sounds. It's actually really silent and calm at around 5-6AM compared to later in the day:D had a praying mantis on my camera while I was recording.
this reminds me to 2.Bc4 ( Krejcik variation )against alekhine,which I think you didn't cover. there is nothing much to say about it tho. maybe it could be combined with an update on Alburt variation because you gave after 7.Ng5 e6 8.Qf3 0-0 but 8... Qe7 is the main line.
The way I look at it, use the nature of how the chess pieces are originally set up to your advantage. D5 is not only known to equalize for black if he can get it in under good circumstances in the Sicilian, but the nature of the opening is such that black can play d5 quite easily if black plays stupid moves like 2. Bc4 where often black allows d5 with tempo. Black ends up with more space, and I win a very high percentage of these games. And yes, the lower the rating the more likely you are to see this poor move.
i don't even think my winrate against it is poor although i find it quite tricky to play against as i usually end up in some IQP structure - not exactly your typical sicilian - and after making enough natural moves i just blunder some stupid tactic. I usually play Nc6 so perhaps i should switch to e6 instead on move 2
Hey man, I was wondering if you would redo some of your old videos, like your old Ruy Lopez videos with all your new interface, better mic, more knowledge etc. Great video as always but I would really appreciate it if you would re record old opening videos with all your new knowledge and nous.
Hmmm. I may consider that. But I have 25 more or so to go to complete the opening playlist before I can do that. I also want to cover a bunch of unsound openings and gambits.
It's not even remotely close. Bc5 after g3 makes more sense since it will provoke an eventual e3, weakening the light squares. Just continue with Bg2, Nf3 and 0-0. And then e3 d4 or d3, depending on which English setups you play.
I faced this opening today, didn't know the theory, and then I searched for it on youtube. Then I see a brand new video of Hanging Paws about it. Haha, what were the chances?
Ahhh. That's why I have issues with this opening. I love open wild positions, and I struggle in closed positions. If the best way to play often leads to a French, I may be in trouble lol.
@@HangingPawns I think London is way easier. Of course my opinion might change if I get to a higher level. As of now I think the Sicilian as a whole is much more complicated to play than playing against the London. So many moves in the Sicilian are counter intuitive, just like in this video
Do not underestimate this opening. This is not free wins. If you see players above 1800 putting this on the board it means they know exactly how this variation works and they will know a lot more theory than you. Click through lichess player database and see how the win percentages even up once you get even three moves in to actual Bowdler theory. After 1. e4 c5 2. Bc4 e6 3. Qe2 you're already back in territory where white is winning slightly more often than black. Same thing for the rarer 1. e4 c5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Nf3 e6 4. Qe2 (short castle is best move instead of Qe2 here but Qe2 scores better outside of GM classical).
I have never faced Qe2 in this line and have faced Bc4 about 300 times. If white knows a little what he is doing, he will stop black from playing d5, but then black has equality, the bishop is biting on granite and black has easy developement. Good Sicilian players love to see Bc4. There is a reason the higher the rating the less like you are to see this move. Welcome to reality.
Plot twist! Only someone who can confidently and consistently crush a lichess stockfish level 6,7,8 or similar from this position as black has the right to call it a bad move, otherwise black does not have any advantage whatsoever but white players just have more experience in sicilan openings to push for the win in a completely drawn position
You should play the sicilian as black and get familiar with what other options white has and how it feels to face them, then you will understand why people dunk on this move.
😂😂😂 My summary of the video intro... Stjepan: Apparently, many people are bad at chess. This confuses me. Have they tried being less bad? ...they might enjoy being better than this opening.
In my experience OTB the Bowdler can be handy against heavily prepped Sicilian Defense players. Like the Exchange French it's annoying to play against if you spend a lot of time on theory and it gives white a playable middle- /endgame. From there often the player who is better in an IQP position wins.
The reason people play the Bowdler against the Sicilian all the time has more to do with how tons of people were taught chess. The white player assumes there is nothing wrong with doing the EXACT same plan they do against E5 which is the Italian game (The most popular opening at a low level). So many people are incorrectly taught and just told, develop your pieces, reinforce your center with a pawn chain, castle, AND make sure your bishop is not inside your own pawn chain. This is also the exact reason at lower levels the London system is so popular since these players are so focused on making a pawn chain with their bishop outside of it like they were taught. Whilst it is true objectively these players didn't fail opening principals and their position is sound; the understanding of the position as a whole tends to go right over their heads thus making them prone to inaccuracies since they fail to see the nuances of the position.
There isn’t, he just didn’t mention the best lines and hid the eval to show that it’s either slightly better for white or +.6 in the variations he shows.
@@blades9937 Bc4 is an automatic 0.0 eval. Don't be upset because you don't understand that placing your bishop on C4 loses a free tempo down the line. This would have been apparent if you listened to the video, or just checked the engine yourself.
@@blades9937 No it's 0.0 on move 2 after white plays Bc4! Either you're looking at an engine on a toaster, using a poor engine, don''t know how to read an engine and think -0.3/-0.6 is good for white and not black, or you're just looking for attention. I suspect you don't know how to read an engine as the line 1. e4 c5 2. Bc4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e5 d5 5. exf6 dxc4 6. fxg7 Bxg7 which was explained in the video is unsuspectingly -0.6 AKA almost a pawn up for BLACK and not white hence the minus sign. Either way you are low rated that much is for sure, because you wouldn't need an engine to know the move is bad for the reasons I stated earlier/mentioned in the video in the first place.
@@zxien1 bruh that’s not the main line of the opening, which he didn’t include. But on move 2, according to stockfish on max settings, on a pc with good internet connection, it is +.3. The fact that you said that I’m attention seeking proves that you’re retarded. How the fuck am I attention seeking?
Bad doesn't mean it cannot be punished, or that it can't give you a win, but rather a suboptimal alternative. Like when Grandmasters say the caro kann is bad, or the colle/london are bad because its so ez to equalize or get good positions from the opposition.
Thank you for not picking random and irrelevant sponsors but instead very useful ones that are really underrated.
I appreciate this. Honestly. I try to only accept deals from sponsors I would use myself. So hopefully none of them are disruptive, boring, or annoying. Chessbook is actually something I've been using for tournament prep for months now, so I know it's gonna be useful if someone decides to try it out.
@@HangingPawns That is such a honest approach, nice!
Your videos are diamomd for chess learners. Following you since 2 years and I can tell that my tatics and opening knowledge has improved very much thankyou for the lessons❤
Great to hear!
Yeah I've heard it referred to as the "I don't know how to play" variation.
Haha. Very true.
@@HangingPawns In practice I actually like starting with a6 against this, followed by e6. It's about on par with the main moves in terms of objective eval, but alot of players respond with a4 and at that point you go from equal to significantly better immediately, you get a nice outpost for the knight. And it mixes up some of the other lines. You don't have to play b5 immediately but you're just baiting a4.
Makes sense as long as you don't play b5 before e6. That's the point I was trying to make.
@@ianrust3785 as a sicilian Taimanov player, i tried both fast d5 and a6 lines, thousands of times. And i had pretty good results on both lines but Slightly better with a6. The quick D5 might lead to a symmetrical structure and its a bit trickier to keep pressuring. The structure with e6 a6 is usually easier to build up around.
@@MatsMatsuo That's alot of games nice to know you've had good results, I think I agree with your assessment. Yeah I like the structure, though I'm a classical sicilian player but it's just a good structure against these anti-sicilians... same setup works very well against the smith morra and a few other anti-sicilians, also works well against the closed sicilian (though I really like e6 > an early d5 there). I actually learned the scheveningen as a secondary weapon just so I can play e6 against the closed sicilian
Ty for covering this! Lots of sicilian courses don't even mention this line even though it's one of the most common lines to see online until you get to a high rating.
Also love chessbook 😊
I seem to remember a Danya speedrun where he was getting frustrated at all the Bowdler attacks he faced.
First time for me to watch an ad without skipping, thanks for choosing good sponsers
Thank you for the feedback! I'm very happy to hear that!
12:43 The bishop is lost if it goes to b3.
Yeah i thought the same, bishop is gone after c4
Came here to say this. I think he meant Be2 Bb7 then d5 follows
Really good video! There are some videos on how to punish the Bowdler Attack, but here you have shown it very effectively so that everything makes sense. Rather than just memorising moves, learning the plans is very important in an opening I believe.
Thank you! I'm glad you think so!
@@HangingPawns I was just rewatching the e6 part and I was wondering how you should play after Nf6 provoking e5 d5 exf6 dxc4 fxg7 Bxg7 and Qe2, trying to regain the pawn. The engine recommends Nc6-d4 getting a strong outpost, but I can't see the compensation that black has. Could you explain black's compensation for the lost pawn there?
I used this line to demonstrate to my friend why opening knowledge is important at all levels of play. I understand why people may be adverse to learning tons of theory but it doesnt take 5 minutes of your life to know what is and isnt a good second move in one of the most common openings.
I didn't know exactly yet, but as I looked back at my games, the Bowler attack remained in my memory.
( 2. Bc4 ) -
I decided to go after it. Then I found this video. You already mentioned in the first two minutes how popular this version is. For me, I have 16 games as black - Sicilian defense. Of these, 6 are specifically the bowler attack and two more that are in the scheme of the Italian opening. (slightly different variant but essentially the same setup).
My balance:
The other 8 games: W: 5 / L: 3 (Sicilian defense)
W : 3 / D: 1 / L : 4 (Bowler attack) 🤦♂
Overall, the positive balance is ruined on this version
I watched the video and I feel that the next 8 games will be different ;)
Thanks for uploading !!! Keep it up!
I'm preparing for my first longer tournament in classical since youth competition. And I intend to play sicilian, so this really came in handy against maybe some young guns. Thanks!
Good luck in the tournament mate! I hope someone plays Bc4:D
i think of my 18,500 lichess games, at least 1000 of them have to be the goddamned Bowdler attack.
There was a kid in my chess club who used to play this opening religiously...and lost every time. I could never understand why he wouldn't just try something different. It was like the opening was set in stone in his brain.
Hey Jon! I have a kid in my club who did that. Then we explained that he wouldn't be able to play it in the league matches and he stopped:D
@@HangingPawnswhy not teach him the actual lines of it with Qe2 and c3?
Because that will prevent him/her from improving too.
Love seeing the Bowdler online even though it's usually a pretty one sided game since it's almost always free elo
Perfect video , perfect comment , veri logical comment and video ! thank you...
Great video as always, Stjepan!
I just wanted to add that in addition to e6, Nf6, and Nc6, a6 is also perfectly playable. I'm not sure which engine you're using, but according to Stockfish 16.1 at 35 depth, a6 is objectively just as good as those other 3 moves, and scores just as well in Lichess games. The idea isn't to play b5 immediately on Nf3, but instead to play e6. Black prevents Bb5+ and plays d5 or b5 later, depending on what White does.
This chess book website is so awesome, great sponsor
I love seeing this line, people very often get that bishop locked behind my and their own pawns - and white is playing a piece down for a long time.
True. True.
Danke!
As sveshnikov enjoyer I often face 2. Nf3 and only then Bc4, which transposes to the last shown variation. Nice video.
Yeah, true. 2. Nf3 can transpose, should've mentioned that.
By the way, 2Nf3 2Nc6 3Bc4 isnt considered nearly as bad as the bowler, it's just that it isnt a productive way for White to play and create anything in the position
ahhh my most feared opening as a sicilian player
I mean not really but so annoying to face when you prepare theory
unless you prepare kan sicilian theory, then it just becomes a better version of it ahah
Yeah the kan or taimanov variations are pretty comfortable
Finally content about that opening.
I always get this and just play sth random, this video helped me out a lot!!! Thanks bro for being a huge face in chess communit
Thank you, this always gets played especially in low elo
After analyzing the move order I see it isn’t the Bowlder Attack anymore after 2.Nf3 … 3.Bc4 it’s under a regular Sicilian variation !
2.Bc4 is a definite e6 but like 9/10 times I only run into Bc4 after committing to d6 on move 2, and after further analysis I see that e6 is then only suggested after white plays 3.Nc3 (or like you said after whites makes it obvious with c3)!
Wow ok I learned a few things here personally!
Mainly that I shouldn’t flinch and collapse my closed Sicilian with e6 after seeing 3.Bc4 after committing to d6 on move 2. 😐😂
Also, I think HangingPawns is the most reliable Chess channel when it comes to learning opening theories and effective lines! 👍✌️
e4 Nf3 and Bc4 are what I faced the most in my games.
I've only been playing for a year but it's crazy how often you face the Bowdler at the 1400 level. You play 1. e4 and don't have SOMETHING prepared against the Sicilian? I mean, thanks for the free ELO but I want an interesting game.
I would not call it free elo its bad in the sense that white is not playing for an advantage in the opening but the game is far from over.
Yeah. 50% of games on lower levels are Bc4...
It's actually astonishing how many people still play this crap in the 1800-1900 level. How do I know? I'm 1900+ and I face this a lot of times when I play the Sicilian.
@@andrb8945the main ideas are e6 a6 and then d5 or b5 (or Nc6 if needed)depending on what they play, there is absolutely no way you are getting any critical/tactical line white can initiate or get some positional advantage (which was already gone as early as move 2)
@anti-nacl Really? I thought it stopped around 1600-1700:D
Awesome video, thank you. But what if white pieces delay Bc4 until third move? Something like 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3. Bc4. Here, we already played d6, should we still go for d5?
6:37 it’s not the ONLY move
At 12:55, isn't c4 just winning a bishop?
True. I just wanted to make a point. Hard to think and talk:D
1:32 but dxe6 is a check. They have time to retreat the queen after trading pawns 🤔
I don’t think a human would see the computer plans so easily, but it is -4
After dxe6 Bxe6 and black just developed another piece with a tempo on the queen
How come you call this a "Sicilian defense theory" video about the Bowdler and never discuss the main line of the Bowdler attack? This video is how to punish common mistakes by people who don't know how to play the Bowdler. The main line is:
1. e4 c5 2. Bc4 e6 3. Qe2 Nc6 4. c3
If you are playing black and you don't know how to deal with this you will be in some trouble right away.
But what should be done if white goes 2.Nf3 to fake out an open Sicilian with 2..d6 then 3.bc4?
Since you’re still looking at the Sicilian, would you be able to make a dragondorf video? I saw a great video from gingerGM and would like to understand the play on both sides better.
After 2. ... e6 3. Nc3, I had learned to play Nf6, intending to play 4. ... d5 in response to almost anything by white. Is there a reason to avoid this in favor of 3. ... a6?
Hello Stefan, Can you teach us the Spassky line you play against the Sicilian? Cc3,d3, Nge2 or Nh3, g3,Bg2, f4?
Love the owls in the background. 5 a.m
Yeah, sorry about the nature sounds. It's actually really silent and calm at around 5-6AM compared to later in the day:D had a praying mantis on my camera while I was recording.
@@HangingPawns Haha funny praying mantis. In fact I love the background ambience of the nature sounds. We miss those in our cities.
this reminds me to 2.Bc4 ( Krejcik variation )against alekhine,which I think you didn't cover.
there is nothing much to say about it tho.
maybe it could be combined with an update on Alburt variation because you gave after 7.Ng5 e6 8.Qf3 0-0 but 8... Qe7 is the main line.
The way I look at it, use the nature of how the chess pieces are originally set up to your advantage. D5 is not only known to equalize for black if he can get it in under good circumstances in the Sicilian, but the nature of the opening is such that black can play d5 quite easily if black plays stupid moves like 2. Bc4 where often black allows d5 with tempo. Black ends up with more space, and I win a very high percentage of these games. And yes, the lower the rating the more likely you are to see this poor move.
12:45 instead of ...Bb7 Black can simply win the White's Bishop by ...c4! ^_^
i don't even think my winrate against it is poor although i find it quite tricky to play against as i usually end up in some IQP structure - not exactly your typical sicilian - and after making enough natural moves i just blunder some stupid tactic. I usually play Nc6 so perhaps i should switch to e6 instead on move 2
12:48 Why not trap the bishop?!?!?!?!
Which side is better in the following position.
1 e4 c5. 2 Bc4 nf6. 3 e5 d5. 4 Bb5+ Bd7. 5 Bd7+ nfd7. 6 e6 fe6. 7 qh5+ g6. 8 qe2?
Black is close to winning. Play Nc6 and e5 and you're set.
In any instance of Bc4 I deliberately just wish to have played the caro kann instead, getting a tempo out of that Italian bishop
Missing a chance to trap the bishop with c4 at 12:45!
Which should demonstrate the quality of the video
Actually try, the idea of Kaspachess UA-cam channel for white.
1. E4 C5
2. Bc4 e6
3. Qe2
What's the continuation here?
Hey man, I was wondering if you would redo some of your old videos, like your old Ruy Lopez videos with all your new interface, better mic, more knowledge etc. Great video as always but I would really appreciate it if you would re record old opening videos with all your new knowledge and nous.
Hmmm. I may consider that. But I have 25 more or so to go to complete the opening playlist before I can do that. I also want to cover a bunch of unsound openings and gambits.
I play the najdorf, sometimes my games goes like this:- 1.e4,c5 2.Nf3,d6 and then 3.Bc4.
Good video!, How is chessbook compared to chesstempo?
I never used chesstempo for openings. It was too confusing to me so I never wanted to upgrade to get all the features. I use it for tactics only.
What if I face such attack in English?What should I do after 1.c4 e5 2.g3 Bc5?
It's not even remotely close. Bc5 after g3 makes more sense since it will provoke an eventual e3, weakening the light squares. Just continue with Bg2, Nf3 and 0-0. And then e3 d4 or d3, depending on which English setups you play.
Hi Stjepan, when Nimzo-Larsen attack and closed sicilian video coming?
In September at some point. The closed Sicilian next week.
@@HangingPawns Amazing, thank you
I believe even the engine is recommending 2...e6 also.
I faced this opening today, didn't know the theory, and then I searched for it on youtube. Then I see a brand new video of Hanging Paws about it. Haha, what were the chances?
And I won by the way, with 2. e6
I see this ALL the time at my level (1600 lichess) its insane because I just play e6 a6 b5 and half the time my opponent gets their bishop trapped???
Thanks. 👍
Ahhh. That's why I have issues with this opening. I love open wild positions, and I struggle in closed positions. If the best way to play often leads to a French, I may be in trouble lol.
Yeah. If played correctly it will be a French. But a good version of it.
I was thinking, have you done a video on the close sicilian ? I know you play it but I don't find a video about it.
I've long been waiting for it, too
I'm making it as we speak. It will be out next week!
@@HangingPawns That is great ! Thank you !
I like to approach this like a tamed morra. The e6b6 variation is the easiest
I absolutely hate this opening. Nr.1 in my most hated chess openings. Even London looks refreshing comparing this
Yeah, but unlike the London, this is easy to play against.
@@HangingPawns I think London is way easier. Of course my opinion might change if I get to a higher level. As of now I think the Sicilian as a whole is much more complicated to play than playing against the London. So many moves in the Sicilian are counter intuitive, just like in this video
Do not underestimate this opening. This is not free wins. If you see players above 1800 putting this on the board it means they know exactly how this variation works and they will know a lot more theory than you. Click through lichess player database and see how the win percentages even up once you get even three moves in to actual Bowdler theory.
After 1. e4 c5 2. Bc4 e6 3. Qe2 you're already back in territory where white is winning slightly more often than black. Same thing for the rarer 1. e4 c5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Nf3 e6 4. Qe2 (short castle is best move instead of Qe2 here but Qe2 scores better outside of GM classical).
I have never faced Qe2 in this line and have faced Bc4 about 300 times. If white knows a little what he is doing, he will stop black from playing d5, but then black has equality, the bishop is biting on granite and black has easy developement. Good Sicilian players love to see Bc4. There is a reason the higher the rating the less like you are to see this move. Welcome to reality.
At least the Bowdler Attack is marginally better than the Hillbilly Attack.
You don't know why? They are trying the only opening they know...the scholars mate. Lolol
Plot twist! Only someone who can confidently and consistently crush a lichess stockfish level 6,7,8 or similar from this position as black has the right to call it a bad move, otherwise black does not have any advantage whatsoever but white players just have more experience in sicilan openings to push for the win in a completely drawn position
I didn't say white had an advantage. I said it was equal. Why be equal on move 2 as white?
You should play the sicilian as black and get familiar with what other options white has and how it feels to face them, then you will understand why people dunk on this move.
I don't know man, scoring around 75% wins against this means it is a pretty bad move.
Point made it's a trash move played by patzers like you because you never bothered to learn actual theory
😂😂😂 My summary of the video intro...
Stjepan: Apparently, many people are bad at chess. This confuses me. Have they tried being less bad? ...they might enjoy being better than this opening.
But he didn’t show the actual lines of this opening. And this opening is actually just fine for white.
@@blades9937Then why does it not show up in Master play?
The variation you suggest brings the eval from +.3 to +.6
In my experience OTB the Bowdler can be handy against heavily prepped Sicilian Defense players. Like the Exchange French it's annoying to play against if you spend a lot of time on theory and it gives white a playable middle- /endgame. From there often the player who is better in an IQP position wins.
White just transposes to the advanced French
A poor version of it.
@@marknieuweboer8099 not if the actual best moves are played, which aren’t in the video.
But you don't care to show us those best moves.
Okay.
Of course you don’t mention the best lines for white
The reason people play the Bowdler against the Sicilian all the time has more to do with how tons of people were taught chess. The white player assumes there is nothing wrong with doing the EXACT same plan they do against E5 which is the Italian game (The most popular opening at a low level). So many people are incorrectly taught and just told, develop your pieces, reinforce your center with a pawn chain, castle, AND make sure your bishop is not inside your own pawn chain. This is also the exact reason at lower levels the London system is so popular since these players are so focused on making a pawn chain with their bishop outside of it like they were taught. Whilst it is true objectively these players didn't fail opening principals and their position is sound; the understanding of the position as a whole tends to go right over their heads thus making them prone to inaccuracies since they fail to see the nuances of the position.
There isn’t, he just didn’t mention the best lines and hid the eval to show that it’s either slightly better for white or +.6 in the variations he shows.
@@blades9937 Bc4 is an automatic 0.0 eval. Don't be upset because you don't understand that placing your bishop on C4 loses a free tempo down the line. This would have been apparent if you listened to the video, or just checked the engine yourself.
@@zxien1 I don’t play it. It’s .3 though according to the engine though.
@@blades9937 No it's 0.0 on move 2 after white plays Bc4! Either you're looking at an engine on a toaster, using a poor engine, don''t know how to read an engine and think -0.3/-0.6 is good for white and not black, or you're just looking for attention. I suspect you don't know how to read an engine as the line 1. e4 c5 2. Bc4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e5 d5 5. exf6 dxc4 6. fxg7 Bxg7 which was explained in the video is unsuspectingly -0.6 AKA almost a pawn up for BLACK and not white hence the minus sign. Either way you are low rated that much is for sure, because you wouldn't need an engine to know the move is bad for the reasons I stated earlier/mentioned in the video in the first place.
@@zxien1 bruh that’s not the main line of the opening, which he didn’t include. But on move 2, according to stockfish on max settings, on a pc with good internet connection, it is +.3. The fact that you said that I’m attention seeking proves that you’re retarded. How the fuck am I attention seeking?
Why are you acting like equal is bad? For it not to be equal white has to play poorly. It’s +.3
It’s not dubious.
This video is so bad. It cannot be punished, it’s not bad.
Bad doesn't mean it cannot be punished, or that it can't give you a win, but rather a suboptimal alternative. Like when Grandmasters say the caro kann is bad, or the colle/london are bad because its so ez to equalize or get good positions from the opposition.
@@sohanmakhija4467 so it isn’t bad? Which is what I said.
11:40 JUST TAKE EN PASSANT