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► Chapters 00:00 Crush the Sicilian Defense with the Alapin Variation 00:52 Main variation, 2...Nf6 03:09 TRAP: White checkmates in 10 moves 06:31 If Black plays 5...e6 instead of dxe4 07:24 Must-know tactical pattern 08:53 If Black plays 4...e6 instead of d5 10:15 Restrict Black's development completely 12:27 Quiz: Can you find the best move?
The chapter list is a lie. You have not discussed either of the Alapin main lines (2...Nf6 and 2...d5) at all. Everything else is just prep against beginners who you should beat whichever line you choose against the Sicilian.
@@MyBiPolarBearMax The retreat to d2 isn't the problem with the move. Their queen would go there not the bishop. If the Bishop went there you would take the b2 pawn.
Awesome video Igor! Solution to Puzzle: Bf4 doesn't work because of Nd3+. The queen cannot take the knight because your queen pins it to the King, so that just wins black a free bishop
12:45 Queen to B4, check and threatening the bishop perhaps? Haven’t played chess actively in over 8 years so could be completely off the mark here but that feels like the best one.
Old Sicilian, I use the Smirnov Gambit! Modern and French Sicilian, I use the Delayed Alapin! I've just had better games with the delayed Alapin, plus the first few moves can be used for the Modern Defense.
7:55 black after Ng5+ can play Kg8 and after Qh5 Re8; Q:f7+ Kh8; Qh5+ white can't mate black king. Only permanent check on squares f7 and h5 they can do. Apart from this I have never experienced anybody who after 1. e4 c5 2. c3 play 2... Sc6. As I remeber everybody played me 2...d5 and when sometimes I play sicilian defense I also played 2...d5 3.ed5 H:d5 and it is not so easy to play for white.
@@Zamiroh if you know all the rules at the chess competitions, you will understand that, a 2000 non rated player,in reality might be 1500 fide rated. When you play behind your pc or on your phone, they are too many things you do that facilitates you to get some elo.
@TheRomyk are you referring to someone cheating with stockfish? That does happen pretty frequently, but people have found ways to cheat in tourneys as well. I think the biggest difference is that more people play online, which creates an opportunity to push rating more than you might otherwise. However, the people taking the hard stance of online rating means so little, and fide is 500, higher often are doing so because it's an elitism. Now, is there a little difference, likely, but not huge.
I tried this against a computer playing at level 2000. But the computer(black) responded by first advancing its King's knight rather than its Queen's knight. So I assume that's the better initial response and you need a plan to deal with that. But that wasn't covered in any of the scenarios in this video. Plus, keep in mind that as the game progresses and Black developes his Queen's bishop, then he can later move over his rook and put lots of pressure on your queen side with both his rook and queen since so many of the pawns on that side are gone.
Pretty sure knight check, king moves to D1, you take queen with your queen, they take back with knight to protect bishop then you check with knight and take their rook on H1? And you’re just up a rook? Or if they go to H2 attacking knight, you still take queen, they take with knight to protect bishop, then you can go f2 with knight, they are forced to move rook, then you’re a pawn and tempo up? Idk I just don’t like idea of them taking queen with check, I like the idea of taking their queen. Honestly not sure, my rating was like 1630 but dropped to 1350, havent been playing much but I’m getting back into it slowly.
4:13 If I had a nickel for every trap I know that involves a smothered mate with a pinned e pawn then I would have 3 nickels which is not much but it is weird that it happened thrice.
12:47 is the most important part of this video. Memorizing openings will never get you anywhere. Learn ways of thinking and solid principles. That and improving your board vision are all that are going to matter.
@GMIgorSmirnov At 7:35 with the Greek Gift you say "the King has to come forward" but what if the King moves to the corner instead of taking the bishop?
Puzzle of Black move, Qb4+ if white defend by Bd2, Qb2 and rook gone. If white defend by Qd2, black Knight jumps to Kd3+ after white king move to safe square trade queen, and win hanging white dark square bishop by Kxf4 😊
I tried the Alapin my last OTB game against a 2000-2100 player. He proceeded to play 2...e6 and we quickly went into a French which I hate and he blew me off the board in 25 moves, all engine-approved. He wasn't cheating just booked up.
Y es the same for me ..I hated the French and after e6 you developed this , but you can play Qh5 and later Ng5 explained in another video ..which can explode the board ..
9:40: why is that pawn so annoying for black? Cant black just play Nf5... perhaps first play Qa5+ and if white play Bd2, Qe5, if white blocks with queen, black could just exhange queens and the play Nf5. That pawn is gone fall. Perhaps the black d pawn isent great, but its a pawn up for black?!
Qb4+. If white covers with Bd2 then Qxb2 attacking the rook and knight. If covers with Qd2 then Nd3+ forcing the king to move and threatening the bishop. If covers with Nd2/Nc3 then Qxf4.
Bishop can capture the knight on d3. If you play first Nd3+, in cannot be taken, because the Queen is pinned. So you can take the bishop with the next move.
@@niravapurv4578queen can just take the knight. That's why you check first with the queen attacking both the bishop on f4 and b2 pawn. How white responds to the fork determines your play.
Proud Smirnov nation member here, I used to use this opening but about 6 months ago I switched to Smith Morra Gambit vs Sicilian. I am about 1500-1700 blitz. Thoughts on which is better? Is one better as I move high in rating? Thanks as always.
This is what i think for the quiz in finding the best move 😅 : Two options, first one: 1. Bf4 (Move already done in vid) 1. Nd3+ 2. Kd1 2.Nxf2+ (Fork) 3.Ke1 (Best option) 3.Nxh1 (Black is up in the game) Second option: 1.Bf4 1.Qb4+ White blocks with Bishop because if they block with knight with Nd2 queen can take bishop on f4. Also if white blocks with Queen on d2 (Possible queen exchange) black can decline it and go Qe4+ forcing white to block it again with queen because if white moves King away they won't be able to castle. Once Queen blocks check with Qe2, Black can capture Bishop with Qxf4. So, best option is to block the earlier check with Bishop as not to lose it: 2.Bd2 2.Qxb2 White's rook is trapped and the White's Queen can't take knight (Even though it is pinned to the King) as the Black's Queen is guarding it. If white plays: 3.Bf4 Black should still take Rook. 3.Qxa1 Then white is behind even if they take knight with Bishop. If they take with Queen black can do queen exchange. This is my analysis :) Please point out if there are any mistakes or blunders
Hey, lets look at your first option 1. Bf4 (Move already done in vid) 1. Nd3+ 2. Kd1 2.Nxf2+ (Fork) [3.Ke1 (Best option) - why would white move the king (he isn't double attacked in that postion,or pinned in anyway), if he can just take the knight with the queen?] 3. Qxf2 - so this way black looses the knight, without gaining any advantage, or maybe you see something that I don't see in this variation
The puzzle: Kd3 check to the king, the queen is pinned cannot grab the knight so king has to move, then you win a bishop. You can trade queens first if you please
SOLUTION : If white plays Bf4 then black is winning because of the Knight fork Nd3+ white King has to move d8 (or) d7 then black would exchange the Queens and black takes Bishop by his Knight. Is it correct (or)not?
i think that this variation wont work against someone that knows good theory against the alapin (e4 c5 c3 d5) and black can get a good game instead of doing the akward Nc6 which can make bad variations for white
Thanks, Igor. I was a used by your 'horsing around with his knight.' How to you respond to the comment that people don't fall for this anymore? Michael
I've played for forty years, never taught anything except how pieces move. I won or had a draw percentage of 50 percent. Watched videos regarding openings rankings defenses, all new to me. Now I can't win or draw? That's playing real chess 3d app. on hard. What happened?
Also playing he alapin without expecting black to play 2.d5 is a little bit of hope chess no? I play sicilian. I always play d5, perhaps I didnt do that in the start when I didnt know the alapin too well. Players who play alapin against me at the club tend to get in trouble😊. Because I deveate from the main line in a way the better players dont understand to well. At least the white player playing the alapin should expect 2.d5
@@mohbw3 cuz you can push e5 and then d4. There are a lot of tricky variations even more powerful than with Nc6. And not even if tricky, the position is worse for black in Nf6
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😊😊😊
► Chapters
00:00 Crush the Sicilian Defense with the Alapin Variation
00:52 Main variation, 2...Nf6
03:09 TRAP: White checkmates in 10 moves
06:31 If Black plays 5...e6 instead of dxe4
07:24 Must-know tactical pattern
08:53 If Black plays 4...e6 instead of d5
10:15 Restrict Black's development completely
12:27 Quiz: Can you find the best move?
Thanks a lot Igor for this soo nice Aladdin Variation, which suits me perfect! 😊👍♟
Its NC6
The chapter list is a lie. You have not discussed either of the Alapin main lines (2...Nf6 and 2...d5) at all. Everything else is just prep against beginners who you should beat whichever line you choose against the Sicilian.
You've got to play some live games for us. I think we all want to see that
i concur
12:40 Nd3+ then Kd1 Nxf4 Black is up a piece
thought it was Qb4+ then whatever white did next you had Qxf4
@Peenos Qb4+ the bishop retreats to d2 to interpose and attack the queen while the knight is pinned and hanging.
Afte Kd1 Qxe2+ Kxe2 Kxf4+
@@MyBiPolarBearMax The retreat to d2 isn't the problem with the move. Their queen would go there not the bishop. If the Bishop went there you would take the b2 pawn.
But after Bd2 you have Qxb2, after Qxe5+, you play Ne2 then d6, you take the rook, exe7, then Qxb1+......
Very interesting variation to consider
Awesome video Igor!
Solution to Puzzle:
Bf4 doesn't work because of Nd3+.
The queen cannot take the knight because your queen pins it to the King, so that just wins black a free bishop
well done, I hadn't seen that! (700 elo) :P
@@ManosErikosKlapsakis same
@@ManosErikosKlapsakisLol bro I see that and am just 704🎉😊
I've been waiting for this thank you so much Igor!!! ❤
❤
From all the blogers you are the best. Thank you.
Igor, you are the best chess teacher I know. Your videos are really awesome and the pace is just right. Thank you so much!
Appreciate you for being here 💛
You explain well 😊 thanks for the good work
😊
I've never lost to the Sicilian ever since i watched this video
12:45 Queen to B4, check and threatening the bishop perhaps? Haven’t played chess actively in over 8 years so could be completely off the mark here but that feels like the best one.
I think black is ok after your move, but there is something much better. Right answer is Nd6+ and after Kd2 you win bishop by playing Nxc4.
Old Sicilian, I use the Smirnov Gambit! Modern and French Sicilian, I use the Delayed Alapin! I've just had better games with the delayed Alapin, plus the first few moves can be used for the Modern Defense.
11:22 what should one play here as white if black responds with Bg4, counterattacking the queen?
7:55 black after Ng5+ can play Kg8 and after Qh5 Re8; Q:f7+ Kh8; Qh5+ white can't mate black king. Only permanent check on squares f7 and h5 they can do.
Apart from this I have never experienced anybody who after 1. e4 c5 2. c3 play 2... Sc6. As I remeber everybody played me 2...d5 and when sometimes I play sicilian defense I also played 2...d5 3.ed5 H:d5 and it is not so easy to play for white.
Thanks a lot for your vedio dear grand master❤❤
You are best teacher of chess🎉🎉🎉
❤
6:11 After e6 ,d6 black can play Bc6 can u put another video for that
Could you do a part 2 where black plays d5 or Kf6?
Very nicely simple traps of Alapin I came to know,thanks sir ❤🎉
What is they go d5? The Barmen defense
great lesson, thanks a lot!
I'm 1700... And people don't fall for this anymore😢😢😢
You 1700 FIDE rating or you are 1700 online rating??
@TheRomyk very few people are fide rated... it honestly doesn't mean that much.
@@Zamiroh if you know all the rules at the chess competitions, you will understand that, a 2000 non rated player,in reality might be 1500 fide rated. When you play behind your pc or on your phone, they are too many things you do that facilitates you to get some elo.
Then do it the 2000+ way. Throw some strange attacks.
@TheRomyk are you referring to someone cheating with stockfish? That does happen pretty frequently, but people have found ways to cheat in tourneys as well. I think the biggest difference is that more people play online, which creates an opportunity to push rating more than you might otherwise. However, the people taking the hard stance of online rating means so little, and fide is 500, higher often are doing so because it's an elitism. Now, is there a little difference, likely, but not huge.
I tried this against a computer playing at level 2000. But the computer(black) responded by first advancing its King's knight rather than its Queen's knight. So I assume that's the better initial response and you need a plan to deal with that. But that wasn't covered in any of the scenarios in this video. Plus, keep in mind that as the game progresses and Black developes his Queen's bishop, then he can later move over his rook and put lots of pressure on your queen side with both his rook and queen since so many of the pawns on that side are gone.
Yes D5 and Nf6 are the only good moves for black.
10:35 if d6 there is Qf6, so Qe2+ first
Pretty sure knight check, king moves to D1, you take queen with your queen, they take back with knight to protect bishop then you check with knight and take their rook on H1? And you’re just up a rook?
Or if they go to H2 attacking knight, you still take queen, they take with knight to protect bishop, then you can go f2 with knight, they are forced to move rook, then you’re a pawn and tempo up?
Idk I just don’t like idea of them taking queen with check, I like the idea of taking their queen.
Honestly not sure, my rating was like 1630 but dropped to 1350, havent been playing much but I’m getting back into it slowly.
I am waiting for this... Thankyou sir 👍
4:13 If I had a nickel for every trap I know that involves a smothered mate with a pinned e pawn then I would have 3 nickels which is not much but it is weird that it happened thrice.
12:47 is the most important part of this video.
Memorizing openings will never get you anywhere. Learn ways of thinking and solid principles.
That and improving your board vision are all that are going to matter.
@GMIgorSmirnov At 7:35 with the Greek Gift you say "the King has to come forward" but what if the King moves to the corner instead of taking the bishop?
U retreat the bishop then bring the queen and knight to attack the weak king
And u are up a pawn and blacks king safety is ruined
@@varun8762Possible sequence?
@@tanelkagan u find it
I'm just giving a plan to you
@@varun8762 Just sounded a bit vague, that's all, if you don't know then no problem. 👍🏼
@@tanelkagan 👍
12:45. Knight d3 check winning the bishop
Puzzle of Black move, Qb4+ if white defend by Bd2, Qb2 and rook gone. If white defend by Qd2, black Knight jumps to Kd3+ after white king move to safe square trade queen, and win hanging white dark square bishop by Kxf4 😊
great vid as usual
Great video and ideas. Slightly different to my usual Alapin opening. Thanks 👍
👍
@12:40 ... Nd3+
what happens if black plays 2...d5 ?
what can i do
I tried the Alapin my last OTB game against a 2000-2100 player. He proceeded to play 2...e6 and we quickly went into a French which I hate and he blew me off the board in 25 moves, all engine-approved. He wasn't cheating just booked up.
Y es the same for me ..I hated the French and after e6 you developed this , but you can play Qh5 and later Ng5 explained in another video ..which can explode the board ..
You were just unprepared at 2000 level anyway you shouldn't be using the Alapin. There are better anti scilians.
12:40 ND3 +
4:44 Stupid question but why not play b4 immediately?
That is actually a good question. I am a 960 ELO but I think that b4 immediately is actually better than Bd2 because you waste a move.
1.e4; c5 2. c3; 1/2/1/2
12:48 Nd3+
1:52 What if e5 instead of dxe4
u deserve a sub and a like
9:40: why is that pawn so annoying for black? Cant black just play Nf5... perhaps first play Qa5+ and if white play Bd2, Qe5, if white blocks with queen, black could just exhange queens and the play Nf5. That pawn is gone fall. Perhaps the black d pawn isent great, but its a pawn up for black?!
How do you handle a 2. c3 Nf6 counter by black? It seems to through this whole concept off. NOTE: I'm a beginner so I'm probably missing something
Yooooo gm Igor your video helps me win in the tournament my opponent doesn't know the trap so I easily win against them allapin is the best
Qb4+. If white covers with Bd2 then Qxb2 attacking the rook and knight. If covers with Qd2 then Nd3+ forcing the king to move and threatening the bishop. If covers with Nd2/Nc3 then Qxf4.
Bishop can capture the knight on d3. If you play first Nd3+, in cannot be taken, because the Queen is pinned. So you can take the bishop with the next move.
If you put a time stamps then people might understand witch possition u talk about 😊, just a tip.
Ah you mean the puzzle at 12:40? Why not just play Nd3+ right away, the king has to move, after we grab the bishop with Nf4.
@@niravapurv4578queen can just take the knight. That's why you check first with the queen attacking both the bishop on f4 and b2 pawn. How white responds to the fork determines your play.
@@bjaurelio the queen cant just take the knight. thats an iligal move. its pinned 😉
Nice pun at 3:04 lol
Nd3+ pins the queen to the king and allows you to grab the bishop on the next turn after the king moves
bro i loterally beat a person with this line in the first game i played tysm for thia rlly needed it
What about the other knight by black?
Proud Smirnov nation member here, I used to use this opening but about 6 months ago I switched to Smith Morra Gambit vs Sicilian. I am about 1500-1700 blitz. Thoughts on which is better? Is one better as I move high in rating? Thanks as always.
I've been playing both depending on my mood lol. Personally, I'd recommend the smith morra since it has a more direct approach from the very start.
thanks, nice
7:19 looks like a weird french defence
Very nice
Nd3+. Then bye bye bishop on the next move, also white has to move king because of the knight check which takes away his right to castle
what if the black doesn't move horse to c6 and he moves pawn to d6?
Nice video! But what if black goes knight f6 on his second move instead of knight c6? Sorry I'm still noob at this.
i think it is the best move, played vs. stockfish
This is what i think for the quiz in finding the best move 😅 :
Two options, first one:
1. Bf4 (Move already done in vid) 1. Nd3+
2. Kd1 2.Nxf2+ (Fork)
3.Ke1 (Best option) 3.Nxh1 (Black is up in the game)
Second option:
1.Bf4 1.Qb4+
White blocks with Bishop because if they block with knight with Nd2 queen can take bishop on f4. Also if white blocks with Queen on d2 (Possible queen exchange) black can decline it and go Qe4+ forcing white to block it again with queen because if white moves King away they won't be able to castle. Once Queen blocks check with Qe2, Black can capture Bishop with Qxf4.
So, best option is to block the earlier check with Bishop as not to lose it:
2.Bd2 2.Qxb2
White's rook is trapped and the White's Queen can't take knight (Even though it is pinned to the King) as the Black's Queen is guarding it.
If white plays:
3.Bf4
Black should still take Rook.
3.Qxa1
Then white is behind even if they take knight with Bishop. If they take with Queen black can do queen exchange.
This is my analysis :)
Please point out if there are any mistakes or blunders
Hey, lets look at your first option
1. Bf4 (Move already done in vid) 1. Nd3+
2. Kd1 2.Nxf2+ (Fork)
[3.Ke1 (Best option) - why would white move the king (he isn't double attacked in that postion,or pinned in anyway), if he can just take the knight with the queen?]
3. Qxf2 - so this way black looses the knight, without gaining any advantage, or maybe you see something that I don't see in this variation
Nice video
Nd3+ then take Bf4 it is correct approach for black coach
What about 2....d5 instead of 2...Kc6?
Did you voice Stitch?
Hmm, you only covered 2. ... Nc6 , but what if black plays something else.. like just Nf6…?
..Nd3+ capturing the bishop
The puzzle: Kd3 check to the king, the queen is pinned cannot grab the knight so king has to move, then you win a bishop. You can trade queens first if you please
SOLUTION : If white plays Bf4 then black is winning because of the Knight fork Nd3+ white King has to move d8 (or) d7 then black would exchange the Queens and black takes Bishop by his Knight.
Is it correct (or)not?
Nd3+ Kd1 Qxe2+ Bxe2 Nxf4
Nd3+ cuz the queen is pinned king moves black trade queens after king take it ..Nxf4 wins a material
i think that this variation wont work against someone that knows good theory against the alapin (e4 c5 c3 d5) and black can get a good game instead of doing the akward Nc6 which can make bad variations for white
That is true for all openings in chess. There's no opening which guarantees an advantage.
What if black 2. Nf6
Hello, I played this veriation...multiple times and sometimes I win o cople of games
bishop f4, of course!!
I'm really frustrated of how to beat alapin from black. I want to crush this and grand prix. I hate them
Pls tell how to crush them hard
I miss the moves d5 and Nf6 from black after c3 from white..a lot of people pays this
....and the first time i tried this went down like 1.e5 c5 2.c3 d5....
same, out of 10 games with the sicilian i get like 3 people playing 2...d5, its annoying to deal with
Thanks, Igor. I was a used by your 'horsing around with his knight.' How to you respond to the comment that people don't fall for this anymore? Michael
Nd3+ cannot take it cause of the pin and if kd1 then Nxf4 and black is winning.
check with the queen.
Queen to b4+ ,Knight d2, queen takes bishop f3.
Qb4?? picks up the bishop??
ohh never mind white can just play Qd2!!
I've played for forty years, never taught anything except how pieces move. I won or had a draw percentage of 50 percent. Watched videos regarding openings rankings defenses, all new to me. Now I can't win or draw? That's playing real chess 3d app. on hard. What happened?
Nd3+
I'll play this variation for weeks, like I always did before
Also playing he alapin without expecting black to play 2.d5 is a little bit of hope chess no? I play sicilian. I always play d5, perhaps I didnt do that in the start when I didnt know the alapin too well. Players who play alapin against me at the club tend to get in trouble😊. Because I deveate from the main line in a way the better players dont understand to well. At least the white player playing the alapin should expect 2.d5
qb4 check
Everyone above 1200 goes for d5 or Nf6
Even lower, they want to attack the e4 pawn.
Unfortunately no plan for nf6 here...
Nf6 is bad too
@@erland3718 What makes Nf6 a bad move?
@@mohbw3 cuz you can push e5 and then d4. There are a lot of tricky variations even more powerful than with Nc6. And not even if tricky, the position is worse for black in Nf6
@@erland3718nf6 is literally best lol
Nd3
What if black plays d5
Nd2+
500 Black Knight D3 check/attack the Bishop
What do you mean I'm a thousand they fall for it all the time
8:36 How dare you not play en passant?
...Nd3+ wins the bishop as the white queen is pinned
Nd3 wins a bishop
Should be 'amused' not 'used'😊
Knight d3
Pawn to e3
nd3
Yes, oke. But most players will play on second move.
❤
SICILIAN ISTHE WORST OPENINGIN HISTORY
are you a super GM?😉