Sicilian Sampler

A sampling of variations from white's second move after 1...c5. These variations aren't very deep, 10-15 moves or so on average. Think of this as a starter to see where this opening can go on different paths right from the very start!

Course stats

For: black pieces

Total students: 2,034

Recommended for: Intermediate players

Trainable variations: 27

Avg. line depth: 10.81

Instruction: 4 words

Released on: Mar 19, 2016

Support level: Unspecified

Section: 🌎 Community

Sicilian Sampler has

4.1 out of 5 stars, based on 18 user ratings.

Variation Details

15 x Sicilian Defence (11.33 avg depth)

3 x Sicilian: 2...Nc6 (10.00 avg depth)

1 x Sicilian: 2...Nc6 3.d4 (9.00 avg depth)

1 x Sicilian: Alapin (11.00 avg depth)

2 x Sicilian: Closed (10.00 avg depth)

5 x Sicilian: Smith-Morra Gambit (10.40 avg depth)

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Comments

Last 10 Position Comments

Stryfe84 1,079,380 13. e5 is a move I worry about here. Does white not want to push my queen around and cramp my position because it's not worth closing the e-file? 1 week ago

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chronograph 2,161,670 What should black do next? 1 month ago

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FouposNadi 730,100 Why first play Bc4+, and not immediately Be7? 11 months ago

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psilohead 654,610 If you are suggesting white play 10.Bxb5? then ...Qb6+ picks up the bishop.

1 year ago

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Zburatorul 97,500 Why is this not a free pawn for white? 1 year ago

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psilohead 654,610 Look man, you can play whatever you want. If it isn't a forcing variation, then there are always options (more or less). I feel like the computer probably isn't lying to me, but if you want to disagree, that's cool. As for me, I feel fine playing this. And I'm done trying to explain lines given from computer analysis on a free repertoire. 2 years ago

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LivingECO 95,120 Your repertoire gives gives 10...Rb8 for black if I am not mistaken. In addition, white does not have to play f3 but can play h3, with the same effect. 2 years ago

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LivingECO 95,120 I understand that, but if you're covering the sidelines, shouldn't you also cover the main line? 2 years ago

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psilohead 654,610 First, this repertoire is for Black, not white, so it shows reponses for black when white plays not only mainlines, but also sidelines, and mistakes, and possibly blunders as well.

It should be noted that the computer scores Nxc6 (+0.17 @depth 22) as slightly better for white than Ndb5 (+0.09 @ depth 22) so there is every reason to believe that it is not only playable for white, but that black just MIGHT possibly face it. And so, since this repertoire is for black, I feel just fine keeping the Nxc6 line.

Keep in mind, this is only a FREE sampler for players, not an in-depth study of the Sicilian. 2 years ago

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psilohead 654,610 There are definitely other moves black can go for on move 10, such as 10...Qc7 or Be6 or Bb7.

However, after 10...Ng4 11.Bd2, black can play 11...Qc7, and if then 12.f3 (trying to kick the knight and win a tempo), black responds with 12...Qb6+ 13.Kh1 Nf2+ 14.Rxf2 Qxf2 15.Be3 Qh4, and Black is up an exchange. Houdini scores that final position at -0.96 at a depth of 23. 2 years ago

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