Beat the Sicilian - Practical Repertoire for White
Introduction and Free Preview
The camp Beat the Sicilian - Practical Repertoire for White is already a digital product. This product includes all the videos from the camp as well as the PGN file related to the training sessions. Overall, the material consists of approximately 9 hours of video and a PGN database which includes 88 files!
We are proud to announce that this database comes with an integrated Computer Practice. This feature enables you to play 16 selected positions with a strong engine. In the majority of the positions, you should either convert an advantage or carry out a mating attack.
You will find the following lectures:
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 - Repertoire for White against 2...a6 and 2...g6 - GM Petar Arnaudov
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 - Setups with ...e7-e6 and ...e7-e5 - GM Grigor Grigorov
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 - Setups with ...g7-g6 - GM Vladimir Georgiev
Repertoire for White after 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 - GM Boris Avrukh
Positions with Doubled Pawns after 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 - GM Ioannis Papaioannou
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 - Repertoire for White - GM Michael Roiz
In this article, we will briefly present some interesting moments taken from the lectures
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 - Repertoire for White against 2...a6 and 2...g6
In this lecture, GM Arnaudov provides a reliable repertoire against two tricky options on move 2 - 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 a6!? and 2...g6!?.
At the beginning of the lecture, he starts with 2...a6
Here is how the author introduces his suggestion:
This is quite a tricky move. It works well for Najdorf players. Black also wants to continue with a quick b5, which is a good strategy against an early Nc3. The drawback of this move is that Black is not developing a piece and lose some time. I think that White's best chance to fight for an advantage is to continue with 3.g3.
The main line goes 3.g3 b5 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.d3 e6 6.Nh3!
The key idea for the variation. White's knight is perfectly placed. From "h3", he can go to f4 or g5, but even "f2" is a perfect square in some cases. Black is at a crossroads and should choose between two setups: 1. The setups with d5 2. The setups with d6 The first one is more active but quite risky. The second is calm but passive.
Against the line 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 g6, GM Arnaudov suggests 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Be3!
This is a very simple and practical setup. White usually follows with Qd2 and f2-f3. This version of Dragon is favourable for White since the knight is not committed to d4. White usually transfers the g1-knight to f4. From f4, the knight not only increases the control of the d5-square but also supports the pawn expansion on the kingside.
The fact that Carlsen recently played this system against Duda testifies about the soundness of the entire concept.
The PGN version of the lecture consists of 11 extensively annotated games and 8 test positions.
Below, you shall take a look at one of the model games.
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 - Setups with ...e7-e6 and ...e7-e5
Recently, the so-called Carlsen Variation arising after 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 gained a lot of popularity.
White is planning to castle long after b2-b3 followed by Bb2. Later on, he will start playing in the centre and on the kingside. This system is appealing due to its simplicity and practical value. Even though this concept cannot refute the Sicilian, in most of the lines, it's easier to play with White.
Another major advantage is that the line is still very fresh and relatively unexplored.
In this lecture, GM Grigorov focuses on the setups based on ...e7-e6 and ...e7-e5. The material is divided into 4 parts:
1) Black plays ...e7-e6 followed by ...d6-d5, thus getting a position with IQP after exd5 exd5
2) White goes for a French type of structure by answering ...d6-d5 with e4-e5
3) Black opts for a pure Scheveningen setup
4) Black plays in a Najdorf fashion with the move ...e7-e5
In the introduction to the PGN version of the lecture, Grigorov writes:
Against all these options, I try to provide consistent and easy to learn systems. I think that in all the lines White has objective chances to fight for an advantage. Nevertheless, don't restrict yourself to my analysis and ideas. After studying the material and getting familiar with all the important ideas, you need to start your own investigations. Always try to find your own ways in the lines that you play. Besides making the opponent's preparation difficult, such an approach will p
The lecture consists of 15 extensively annotated model games.
Below, you shall take a look at one of them.
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 - Setups with ...g7-g6
This lecture is a logical follow-up to the lecture by GM Grigorov. GM Vladimir Georgiev explains all must-know ideas in the setups with ...g7-g6.
The most critical opening position arises after 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Qd2 g6 6.b3
At this point, Black has a choice between two moves - 6...Bg7 and 6...Bh6. GM Georgiev is convinced that the Dragon setup based on ...Bg7 does not work well against the Carlsen Variation. White's dark-squared bishop is on b2, instead of e3. Therefore, in this line, the white king is safer than in the Classical version of the Dragon Variation. Additionally, White does not have a hanging knight on d4. The g1-knight will most probably occupy the f4-square. Very often, White exchanges the dark-squared bishops by means of Ncd5.
Besides the fact that White's kingside attack is faster than Black's queenside counterplay, even after the exchange of the queens, White keeps better chances in the endgame. This is due to two major factors:
1) firm control of the d5-square
2) the possibility to win space on the kingside
Having in mind the abovementioned considerations, Black should probably play 6...Bh6 and go for a dynamic fight. According to the analysis, the arising positions are very complicated. Nevertheless, White's play remains easier.
The PGN version of the article consists of 4 extensively annotated model games.
Repertoire for White after 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6
In the current lecture, GM Boris Avrukh provides you with a highly practical and fresh repertoire for White based on 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4
This creative approach is recently getting popular in high-level practice. Nowadays, when strong engines make it very difficult to fight for an advantage in the mainstream lines, having such surprising weapons is a must for every chess player. The idea of these rare lines is not to refute the opening concept of the opponent. They are designed to create practical problems. GM Avrukh believes that the line starting with 3.d4!? is just a perfect practical choice.
In the PGN version of the lecture, you will find many novelties and fresh ideas in almost unexplored positions. We are convinced that this repertoire will help you to score many victories against the adherents of 2...e6.