The Alapin Sicilian (2.c3) is Simple and Effective | Climbing the Rating Ladder vs. 1819
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- čas přidán 17. 06. 2023
- In this continuation of the "Climbing the Rating Ladder" series I take on players of various ratings levels while pointing out typical mistakes and spots for improvement along the way (possibly my own!? :)). Here I commentate a 10+0 game against a player rated 1819 on Chess.com. As explained extensively in previous CTRL videos ("Why the Alapin Sicilian is an Ideal Weapon" • Why the Alapin Sicilia... and "Alapin Your Business" • Alapin Your Business |... ), the Alapin Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.c3) is an excellent, easy-to-play line where White seeks to play d2-d4 and recapture with the c-pawn, creating the powerful d4+e4 duo. Black should immediately counterattack with 2...Nf6 or 2...d5, but at amateur level, you'll more like see inferior options like 2...Nc6, 2...d6, or 2...e6.
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Thank you John for your extremely high quality content troughout all those years! It is much appreciated. Take care!
7:15 the Greek centre fork trick gift
John is Team Scandi and I am Team Alapin! Thanks for repping the Alapin John!
THE ALAPIN LETS GO
that magnus fact was cool
33:15 Huge John becomes Little John. I vote Huge John! And thanks for showing how devastating that central control can be with those two center pawns!! 😂
Increment can be more instructive, but I actually like when you play 10+0 because it forces you to weigh each decision's complexity against your time. I struggle with time management, so it's helpful to watch how you choose your lines with the, "Just make a good move" or, "Keep it simple" mentality. I make little mental note whenever you say, "Seems complicated and I don't have that much time, so let's go with the simpler option which I know is still good." Thanks!
I enjoyed the random tangent. Thanks!
I was curious about that, thanks John!
Hey, Tiny John! It's the Analysis Gang! Always appreciate the educational content. And thanks for the explanation about why you play no increment; I didn't think about that, but it makes perfect sense.
Was hoping for an alapin video! Great content as always.
People fold under pressure. I’ve noticed that more than anything. Good summary of the Alapin. John’s thought processes are quite valuable in this one.
Very nice, thanks John :)
Glad you enjoyed it
Great analysis John. Been a fan since 2016
Nice! I just decided to refresh my study of the alapin and here you are!
Thank you for watching!
@@JohnBartholomewChess Top notch lesson in the latter half.
This was a great way to enjoy a Sunday afternoon, thanks John. By the way, I also like to answer Alapin with 2...d5. It feels sharp, but Black usually gets a decent position.
Interesting to see some golf clubs hanging in the background there!! I feel golf is a more psychological challenge than chess most times I go to the driving range 😂
Absolutely agree! 😁
John, I was curious about Ne2!! I'd heard Magnus mention it somewhere and didn't have a clue what he was talking about, so thank you for the tangent!! :D
7:34 John, if you had put that knight on f3 instead of being overly fancy, then there would have been a happy Greek gift for your opponent. :D :P
It was nice to have an Alapin Sicilian game, as this has long been one of my go-to systems against the Sicilian. Good to hear too that John recommends the Alapin, as does Danya - at least for players below FM level, say. Compared to playing main-line open Sicilians as White, the c3 Sicilian involves learning much, much less opening theory and is considerably less complicated strategically as well as tactically. I can confirm too that the c3/Alapin variation is often deadly in practice against "amateur" players, who probably have made a big effort learning their favourite Open Sicilian variation as Black, but just haven't mastered all the subtleties of defending against the Alapin.
Lil John appearance at 33:18
I switched to 1.e4 last fall, learning what to do against 1…e5, the sicilian etc can be a lot of work but the Alapin is a nice shortcut.
ah yes Bxh7 the centre fork trick love it lol
With the Alapin I'm almost exclusively on the black side of things so thank you for showing some possibilities for Black not to get into trouble out of the opening. Maybe you could play some Sicilians from the black side and showing an instructive Alapin for Black.
Yes, I know the Scandi is almost set as your default opening against 1. e4 but just for the sake of the instructional value it would be nice if you could throw in some Sicilians for us suffering anti Alapin players. 😁
John has a lot of sicilian games from the black side in the standard playlist
Johns afraid of celebrating white boy summer SKipping out on the haiwaiian shirt theme.
Hey John, what happened to Lichess Plays? Will you ever go back?? We miss you over there
Can you start new rating ladder series ❤❤
Hey John, is there a particular time that you normally look for seeks?
Often evenings US Central time, but I wouldn't recommend trying too hard to catch me 😂
Hello medium John
16:06 if Bb3+ Be6 , you'd have Qf5+! With a cross pin winning the bishop
EDIT:- Just realised that's what actually happened in the game😮💨😅😅I knew you wouldn't miss it.
I feel like I've hit a point where I prefer watching other people play chess then actually playing a game myself.
I was hoping we were going to see the Greek gift ..
I think either Alapin or Smith Morra are fine for a white player looking for a little less theoretical complication. Alapin if you want a slower entry in to the middle game, Smith Morra if you prefer it to get sharper right away. Both good. Personally I'd rather see the Smith Morra when I'm playing. With Alapin I still play the Barmen defense (d5) and it's kind of... dry. It's my least favorite line.
Actually the c3 sicilian is my go to move in the sicilian as white, and I love to see the barmen defense with d5 because play can get really tactical and black has to know his stuff, which he rarely does, white has lots of tricks and black has to play accurately. I think Nf6 is easily blacks best response, he gets a solid game that is close to equal and does not have to deal with tactics that white might know better if he plays the c3 Sicilian all the time.
There are cetain lines like this: 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nc6 5. Nf3 cxd4 6. cxd4 Bg4 7. Nc3, where black is about to shatter whites pawn structure and win a pawn, with the continuation, Bxf3 8. gxf3 Qxd4 9. Qxd4 Nxd4 10. Nb5, but white has the two bishops and blacks kingside piece are all still at home, this line scores 59% for white and is deceptively good and dangerous for white, black thinks he is doing ok I bet, but the huge development lead and the two bishops ... well I have won basically every game in this line out of about 20 games, and gives and idea of how dangerous the barmen defense can get for black.
Centre fork trick? Greek gift no?
Centre fork trick is forking 2 pieces in the middle with a pawn. Greek gift is a bishop sack on H3
@@GNAL1610 I know the difference. Thank you. I’m pretty sure John meant Greek gift when he said centre fork earlier in the game.
I thought so too, at first, but the White Knight is not on f3, so greek gift gets taken by porch pirates...
all these players seem to lose in the opening cant see it changing
Nah, there are a fair amount of competitive games. Of course there will be many lop-sided games, too - doesn't mean we can't learn from them.
#chess
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