Sicilian Defense (introduction, ideas & variations) ⎸Chess Openings
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- Опубліковано 21 сер 2024
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The Sicilian Defense is the most aggressive way for black to fight for an advantage against 1.e4. Unlike the classical e5, or g6, d6, e6 or c6, 1…c5 gives black a whole different repertoire of attacking options and lets him choose the direction in which the game will go.
This is an introductory video to the Sicilian Defense, and its purpose is to give you an idea of what the opening is about, which are the main plans for both sides, which are the upsides and the downsides for black and for white. It also covers all the variations briefly. A detailed separate video will be made on each variation.
The Sicilian Defense occurs as soon as black plays c5. White’s second move greatly influences what the game will be like. White can choose between several options; 2. Nf3 (the main line and the most common move), 2. Nc3 (the Closed Sicilian), 2. c3 (the Alapin or the c3 Sicilian), 2. f4, 2. d4 and several others.
Here are the main variations covered in the video:
14:49 2. Nf3
2...d6 (5. Nc3, f3 (Prins); 5...a6 Najdorf, 5...g6 Dragon, 5...Nc6 Classical, 5...e6 Scheveningen
2...Nc6 Old Sicilian (4...Nf6 Open, 4...g6 Accelerated Dragon, 4...e5 Loewenthal
2...e6 (3. d4, 3. c4 Kramnik; 4...Nc6 Paulsen, 4...a6 Kan, 4...Nf6 French: 5...Nc6 Four Knights, 5...Bb4 Pin)
2...g6 Hyperaccelerated Dragon
2...a6 O'Kelly
2...Nf6 Nimzowitsch
06:12 2. Nc3 (Closed Sicilian) 2...Nc6
3. g6 Fianchetto, 3. Bb5, 3. f4 Grand Prix
09:55 2. c3 Alapin 2...Nf6, 2...d5
12:20 2. f4 McDonnell Attack
13:04 2. d4 Smith-Morra Gambit
There are a lot of games and players to study if you would like to master the Sicilian. Perhaps the strongest Sicilian player today is Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. His Najdorf repertoire is enough to get you to FM level (and it will take you a few years to study it). In separate videos on each variation I’ll name a couple of key players whose games should be studied. For now, start with MVL.
Here's a great tool for learning openings: chessbook.com/hanging-pawns
Chessbook allows you to import and practice your repertoire. It focuses on moves people actually play as well as your mistakes. Connect it to your lichess or chess com accounts to correct the biggest gaps in your repertoire!
Also, here are 34 best traps in the Sicilian: ua-cam.com/video/5-jJ5hE2g-M/v-deo.html if you wanna check them out!
This channel is a gold mine waiting to be discovered...
Well orochimaru knows whats up haha
Winks Not surprised he likes chess more than shogi, given how he feels about the leaf village and all
I'll take your word for this.
m.facebook.com/questions.php?question_id=3176339962479042
Guys please vote for stjepan on this fb poll, he is providing quality content absolutely free ,it is our duty to spend some time to make his channel famous.
i hope this channel deserve this words
I can say without hesitation that this is the most helpful chess channel I have found on UA-cam. Your opening theory videos are exactly what I have been missing: Not just series of lines, but excellent descriptions of the purpose of each move, the strategies it may lead to, and the weaknesses it creates. Excellent work!
I couldn't agree more
agadmator
Stop writing that reply Johnathanthan
are you kidding agadmator just reads out games and engine moves
@@weewee2169, you're joking right. Agadmator goes over about 3 lines every important move and has never used an engine on a video. The videos are also far more visually appealing and Agadmator is much higher rated than hanging pawns and his commentary is thus more accurate.
I like hanging pawns but aside from the games, all he does is I like this move let's check the engine. I think he could have played this let's see what the engine says. I think white was better here, let's check with the engine
Stop writing that reply Johnathanthan
i cant believe this you are simply wrong
hanging pawns gives the reason behind everything in his own words with minor engine checks
agadmator literally sits with the computer analysis as he goes through the moves of games with next to no personal input with the lines computer lines prepared (as he will tell you)
thats why agadmator is good, he gives a quick computer analysis and explanation of whatever game is in question so we don't have too - making no videos on theory - which is why we like him
hanging pawns serves a different function
also i dispute the ratings claim tell me both of their ratings and how you know them and ill believe you
0:00 Intro
6:11 2.Nc3 (Closed Sicilian)
6:46 3.g3 (Fianchetto Variation)
7:36 3.Bb5
8:48 3.f4 (Grand Prix)
9:55 2.c3 (Alapin)
10:20 2...Nf6
11:37 2...d5
12:12 2.f4 (McDonnell Attack)
13:00 2.d4 (Smith-Morra Gambit)
14:45 2.Nf3
15:13 2...d6
15:41 5.f3 (Prins Variation)
18:15 5...a6 (Najdorf Variation)
19:16 5...g6 (Dragon Variation)
20:14 5...Nc6 (Classical Variation)
21:00 5...e6 (Scheveningen Variation)
22:45 2...Nc6 (Old Sicilian)
23:32 4...Nf6 (Open)
24:21 4...g6 (Accelerated Dragon)
26:42 4...e5 (Löwenthal Variation)
28:27 2...e6
28:40 3.c4 (Kramnik Variation)
29:38 3.Nc3
30:02 3.d4
30:24 4...Nc6 (Paulsen [Taimanov] Variation)
31:01 4...a6 (Kan Variation)
32:03 4...Nf6 (French Variation)
32:10 5...Nc6 (Four Knights Varation)
33:11 5...Bb4 (Pin Variation)
34:53 2...g6 (Hyperaccelerated Dragon)
36:02 2...a6 (O'Kelly Variation)
37:14 2...Nf6 (Nimzowitsch Variation)
this man is an *international treasure*
@@tridivsharma2342couldn't agree more
By the way, the Dragon variation is named as such because the kingside pawn structure resembles the constellation Draco, which means serpent or dragon in Latin!
People were really imaginative back then huh
damn that's pretty cool
that is awesome!
@@greezchum76We're more than a thousand times more imaginative than our ancestors d:
Indeed, cognate with Greek Δράκων
Most underrated chess channel on UA-cam?
You deserve way more subs, great job.
Thank you:)))))
@@HangingPawns how much elo do you have ?
@@mark47109 he is not counting his Elo now (right now below 2000). he is an ambitious player on the way to GM title
6:43 Nc6 Classical Closed; 6:56 g6 Fianchetto; 7:41 Bb5
8:53 f4 Grand prix; 10:00 c3 Alapin 10:18 Nf6 or 11:46 d5
12:20 f4 Mc Donnell Attack; 13:08 d4 Smith Morra gambit
Thank you!
Outstanding! I've watched dozens of videos which purport to explain the Sicilian this is by far the most comprehensive and the best. Really looking forward to the series especially 2...a6, the Kan. Thank you for this.
Thank you for your comment! It means a lot to hear that! I will be covering the Kan sometime in August:)
My brain is exploding.
2…d6
3. f3 Prins 15:40
5…a6 Najdorf 18:14
5…g6 Dragon 19:14
5…Nc6 Classical 20:12
5…e6 Scheveningen 21:00
2…Nc6 Old Sicilian 22:44
4…Nf6 open old Sicilian 23:30
4…g6 Accelerated Dragon 24:20
4…e5 Loewenthal 26:38
2…e6 French variation 28:28
3. c4 Kramnik variation 28:36
3. d4 mainline 30:00
4…Nc6 Paulsen variation 30:22
4…a6 Kan 31:00
4…Nf6 French 32:02 5…Nc6 four knights 32:10
5…Bb4 Pin variation 33:02
2…g6 Hyperaccelerated Dragon 34:48
2…a6 O’Kelly 36:00
2…Nf6 Nimzowitsch 37:14
2. Nc3 Closed Sicilian 2…Nc6 6:10
3. g3 fianchetto variation 6:45
3. Bb5 7:35
3. f4 Grand Prix 8:47
2. c3 Alapin 9:54
2…Nf6 10:15
2…d5 11:36
2. f4 McDonnell attack 12:15
2. d4 Smith-Morra gambit 13:00
You are so good at this, keep up the good work. You and John Bartholomew are my two favorites lately. You're clear and concise.
Thank you:) It's great to hear you think that!
Closed Sicilian 6:12
Alapin Sicilian 9:55
Mc Donnel Attack 12:18
Smith Morra Gambit 13:05
Prince Variation 15:44
Sicilian Najdorf 18:15
Sicilian Dragon 19:13
Classical Sicilian 20:14
Scheveningen Sicilian 21:00
Old Sicilian 22:45
Accelerated Dragon 24:20
Thanks man!
The hero we need, right here.
Absolutely the best video I've ever seen covering the sicilian in just the right depth to touch on all the main variations in a perfect sized session. You've really done a great job of it!! You are a great teacher and I can't wait to watch all of your other videos as well. Many many thanks!!
Thank you for the wonderful feedback! I'm happy to hear that you think the video is in depth enough and short enough. Had trouble with that:)
Enormously instructive as well as highly entertaining. Strategy, tactics and gentle humour. The explanations for each choice of move are so clear. Terrific series!
Thank you very much for the feedback Robert:)
Well, after playing the game for almost 15 years, I guess it's about time I learn the Sicilian, lol.
27 years for me, here i am
Thank you Stjepan. Your hard work, in particular your organisation and notes are absolutely priceless to a late beginner like myself. I'll never be a great chess player, perhaps not even better than average, but your videos make what I want to do easily accessible; just to learn the basics to give me a chance to reach the middle game without already having lost.
Blessings from my side!
Really instructive information on the Sicilian. Of course the theory is so large that is impossible to touch every aspect to every response in a single video . But it clarifies many things and is very well presented and organized. People should pay for such kind of lessons !
You are the best chess opening analyst I have ever seen. You don't just spit out a series of moves but all the different ideas and the strategies that come out of the opening. You deserve way more subs!
I have just started watching your videos and I really like them since they are very unique in the sense that your channel is the only one that teaches the opening theories while most of the other channels just focus on the games.You keep on teaching me for the past 3 days .I will really hate if you stop making videos just because of a few subscribers.I am really a fan of agadmators channel but I have realised that I first have to pass through your channel so as to understand the theories behind the games.thank you so much.
No problem:) I plan to cover the theory of every opening. Thanks for the great feedback!
here is a chess teacher who really wants his viewers to learn and become stronger. way to go sir! very nice channel. not a click bait. Agadmator, John Bartholomew and you are my notifs' favs now. thank you.
Thank you Sir. This really means a lot:)
The effort, production value, and clarity of your videos are absolutely unmatched. This is one of the best channels I've discovered on UA-cam, and I enjoy seeing how your journey to GM progresses as well. Your efforts don't go unappreciated. Thank you for all of your hard work.
Thanks. This had just enough detail and is very helpful. I've been stuck at 1900 rapid for 6 months now, without paying openings any real attention. I've decided to do some studies and see what happens. Amazing channel 👌
i watched u over a year ago and took a break from chess now im back relearning chess and your free in-depth content is still as valuable as ever ty hanging pawns! also your videos are insanely addicting ive just spent the last 3 hours looking at different chess openings on ur channel haha you have a real talent for teaching chess man
Thank you very much Stephan. I have now got all the ideas about all the ideas in the Sicilian defense and I hope that I can score very good results in the upcoming tournaments and I will watch your all videos about the Sicilian lines after advancing some and I wanted to thank you again. :]
This was a really concise and yet thorough introduction. Very helpful. Nicely focused on giving information, not trying to entertain. Just want I need. Looking forward to going through your other workshops. Thanks!
Your explanation of chess openings is outstanding! All the details and the variations are presented systematically, with a nice pace. IMHO your channel is one of the very best chess channels on youtube. Thank you so much for your work. Very much appreciated!!!
Your channel is like Aladdin’s cave for the chess player.
I have only started playing chess two months ago and have just discovered this website. It is just so good for a beginner player! Love the pace of the video and all the info and theory is so comprehensive for literally every variation!!
Thank you Sir a lot for these videos. I am seeing all these videos almost after 4 years but its still helping me a lot. Most of the other chess youtubers don't cover the opening theories in as much depth as you do. Excellent work!!
Incredibly awesome video for anyone trying to decide what Sicilian they want to be!
What an outstanding teacher. Thank you.
I want to become competent enough to use these in 5 minute games.
i don't think this is possible and you will end up losing many games. you really need to have very deep understanding of the theory to play correctly. even Super GMs don't know all the theories in sicillian.
@@luqjas87 same goes for your opponent lol.
you and me both my friend... you and me both
You only need to blunder less than your opponent.
@@luqjas87 We're always playing against opponents of our level.. so it's just as difficult for the opponent. Then yes, it's completely possible and fine to use sicilian in 5 minutes games. If you have a general idea of the main positions and plans then you even have an advantage against most opponents (not talking about master and gm levels)
I just really discovered this channel yesterday...and I must say this is probably the best chess channel on UA-cam I’ve seen so far. He definitely deserves more publicity!
I found this video and playlist important to me, so I need to invest my period in learning and practicing on this channel by saying that I have already liked the video and subscribed to get more from you. am a beginner but hoping to learn and enhance my progress.
For my reference:
Loewenthal: 26:34
Closed Sicilian: 6:12
Smith-Mora Gambit: 13:04
This channel is one of the most helpful and educational chess channel on UA-cam . Please make a lesson on the English opening .I will be eagerly waiting for the next lesson
I am a intermediate chess player who plays for fun but now I want to upgrade myself in chess and I am learning the sicilian defense for opening as black and Ruy lopez for white and I am learning them from your channel and your videos are the most detailed and perfect to become master in chess
This is the most helpful channel I have found ever....
This channel deserves at least more than million subscribers.
Stephon, you are awesome; encyclopedic even! almost any variation of any opening i want to learn, you have a detailed explanation that guides one to a balanced middlegame, complete with sidelines, mainlines and personal opinions. you are very thorough; the two times i have faced situations you havent covered, i am simply lost (not completely, i looked up games like you often advise). which is why i am asking you to add a video covering the Chekhover variation to this amazing Sicilian playlist. many thanks!
Great explanation, sir.
Because of you I’ve become less unprofessional at chess :)
Haha, great to hear that:) Thank you!
Going to a tournament and I will play the Sicilian for the first time seriously. Your videos helped me very much to choose my setup for black and the positional ideas. Keep up the good work!
This is going to be a long series😂 ⏱
Yeah:) I think it will take me between one and two months to complete it and to cover all the variations. PS: Let me know if you have a favorite you'd like to see covered soon.
Hanging Pawns I have this guy at my school who plays the Alapin and I find it quite obnoxious... please help😁
Haha. I think the Alapin is great! Alapin it is then:D (and perhaps you'll start thinking differently of it)
I feel like I learn more watching your channel than I do reading chess books. Спасибо!
Man, I've just found your channel, have been watching your videos introducing every opening just to know the ideas, but this? This is pure gold, thanks a lot for your work!
Huge respect sir, these are so detailed and to the point. Thank you
Thank you so much, I feel much closer to overcoming my fear of the Sicilian now. I've always been so overwhelmed by the amount of variations and this is an excellent introduction to them
this channel is amazing amount of effort you have put into cover so many openings is unparalled
So I've known about your Chanel for a while, but I am officially taking you as my master today, it's an honor to be your student.
Great video! I was taught the pawn structure and the dangerous bishop inside resembled a Dragon's lair and the fire it breathes... But who knows.
Your videos are an absolute goldmine! I heavily enjoyed your London system series and am looking forward to engulf the rest of your Sicilian playlist :)
I've just subscribed to your channel man! This is by far the most helpful channel I've found! As a C level player, I need someone who explains the "why" and the motivations behind every move and that's what Stjepan is doing :)
Just found your channel! Subbed! You sir, are a legend.
Thank you! That means a lot!
Great videos and explanation, the open sicilian is one of my favourite openings with the white and the black pieces
Dude, thank you for putting in so much effort, really appreciate it!
I love this guy...such a great teacher...these videos help a ton keep em coming
Thanks for the great content, I find that your channel has the best opening introductions on UA-cam and would recommend for timestamps to be added if possible
Thank you:) And I will start using timestamps too.
Thank you so much for the huge amount of effort you put into your videos! They are really really great
Well prepared, cool and Interesting. One of the best chess channels on UA-cam. Thanks.
Its been 6 years since u uploaded this video and its still useful (i wach it for my tournament)
This is high quality chess. Thank you for your great work
You're one of the best UA-cam chess channels, especially for openings.
3 years in and still getting comments. Nice job with teaching this material.
Great video! I especially enjoyed hearing which lines you personally played.
perfect video, thank you Petr
No problem:)
This channel is a breath of fresh air, cheers!
1... c5 has become the favorite response to 1.e4 among top-level players, but not for intermediate players. I filter the Lichess database for non-blitz intermediate players, and 1... e5 still gets 41% of the openings, compared to 18% for the Sicilian, 10% for the Scandinavian Defense (1... d5), 10% for the French, and 7% for the Caro-Kann. By contrast, in the Masters database, the Sicilian is played 46% of the time, 23% for e5 openings, 12% for the French, and 8% for the Caro-Kann. The Scandinavian is only 2% of the Masters database replies to e4. Even the Pirc (d6) and the Modern Defense (g6) are more common at the Masters level. For intermediates, the complex web of variations can be very intimidating. As Stjepan says, not even Grandmasters know all the variations, so how are we mere mortals to deal with it? Well, if you play e4 as the opening move for white, you will have to deal with it around once every 5 or 6 games, so we plod ahead. My strategy is to look for ways to limit my opponents' options to a more manageable number quickly. I tend to prefer the Closed Sicilian, but I am working on other options, such as the McDonnell Attack. I have already been incorporating f4 into other openings, learning to embrace the opportunity for either an open f-file with a rook already placed there (after castling) or the rook lift if the pawn is not traded or captured.
Between you and John Bartholomew, you are giving out such amazing information. Thank you so much brother
I've been trying top map out the Sicilian(s) myself: This was just BRILLIANT!
"1. e4, best by test" may be a tiny bit too fancy nowadays.
These are the best thumbnails on youtube
First of alI, I want to thank you for each of your deep analysis.Especially for Cathalon and Banko gambit. You are the best chess UA-camr just keep going.Greetings from Bulgaria and again thanks a lot Stephan❤❤❤.
Yes! This is what I was looking for ! Thank you!
I have to watch it on like .75 speed lol, but this is great stuff! Thank you!
You are great bro thanks for this...I hope you’ll be benefited from this work
Best chess channel on UA-cam
Hi, your chess channel is outstanding and is helping me a lot on improving at chess and especially opening. As a sicilian player I wanted ton improve and after I watched this introductive video I went trough the Sicilian playlist but could not find any video dealing with the closed sicialian 2 Nc3... Do you plan to issue such a video some day ?
Best video on Sicilian Opening so far!
And you are the best chess channel ever on yuotube.
Amazing stuff, thorough and cristal clear, what else, thanks for sharing this knowledge. Best regards.
This is the best chess channel on youtube.. Really amazed at your commitment to chess!!
Thanks very much for the praise Muzeem:)
Honestly the best chess channel
Thanks so much man, the best channel ever. Saludos desde Uruguay.
Omg first of all thanks for your great vedios,i almost download you all vedios(openings, middle games,endgames) as i will never found so good vedios for free latar on.... secondly your channel is underrated,hope you will gain more subscribers soon....thanks again❤️❤️
The most educational chess channel I've found! I love it :D... Thanks sir for the video!
Agree, great chess site. Stepan, would it be possible to make an extensive video on the 'Closed' Sicilian Defense? Thanks for you incisive instruction.
nice one.. we are waiting for the Nardorf variation. thanks
Najdorf is coming up this afternoon:) (part 1 that is)
Sorry Stjepan just found your Sveshnikov video. Really great you cover everything!!!!!
I always imagined it was called the dragon because the pawn structure prevented any knight attacks on the bishop. And you know, knights and dragons.
Your channel is one of the best! Thank you for the video! It helped me a lot!
hello guys this guy is one of the best theory student on the internet . his study is indepth and very large. it may be difficult to extract the pgn tree of the repertoires so that you can train against them . but guess what i have do that for you . but guys you have to buy me lunch first please hit me up
Man, your channel is so instructive and helpful. Thanks! :)
Amazing analysis. I'll have to watch it 10 times though 😀
Very instructive video!!! At 32:22 I think black can play Bb4 and if white jumps in d6 with his knight black plays king e7 and then white has to take the bishop on c8 then black takes with the rook, Bd3, rook e8, black castles artificially and it is quite a balanced game.
Great video! Very systematic and easy to understand.
very nice explanation on Sicilian introduction with variations
Without further ado you are a great chess openings teacher
This is really gold!! Thankyou so much
I don't normally comment, but you deserve a hundred compliments. Great video!
Underrated channel, and hey, I’m straight but you’re a good looking guy!
So gay
I am new to your channel but this channel is really helpful
Thanks for all the videos
Many thanks for posting this one. Have to go through other vids mentioned in this vid