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| georgesdimitrov 10/31/2004 10:31:48 [ report this post ] |
 Subject: 2.Bc4 in sicilianMessage: I was wondering why so many people are playing 1.e4 c5 2.Bc4 in the sicilian defense, when the numbers are so much against white (31%W-60%B), it doesn't have a variation name (not a standard opening) and most books I've checked say it's a bad move. Why is it then the 4th most popular reply to the sicilian? Are people just lazy bothering to learn open sicilian theory and playing out of the line even if it's a poorer move? They could play a closed sicilian instead... |
| apastpawn 10/31/2004 11:20:28 [ report this post ] | Possibly yes. Message: I am a frequent bishop to c4 player as white, otherwise known as the Italian Game. However when faced with the Sicilian Defense 1.e4, c5 I tend to delay this bishop move till black has played e5 or till e6 at least is a suboptimal move. If black plays e6 a version of Paulsen's Defense then white is biting on the pawns with the bishop. This alone is not bad, but for the bishop to be effective the center pawns of black must then be disturbed in the future. Thus , white is usually forced to play a less aggressive game which may not be to his liking and this reflects the poor database results. |
| baseline 10/31/2004 17:28:06 [ report this post ] | Message: The problem with 1.e4 c5 2.Bc4 is that it is not yet clear if this is a good square for the Bishop. Where as you know f3 is the best square for the Knight. The draw back to 2.Bc4 is that you may lose time later by moving the Bishop again. |
| georgesdimitrov 11/01/2004 14:50:29 [ report this post ] | Thanx Message: baseline, great answer. I understand better the reason why it could be a problem. Still wondering why it's so popular then... |
| fmgaijin 11/01/2004 19:43:22 [ report this post ] | Simple, Really: Message: Many beginners ALWAYS begin their games with 1.e4 2.Bc4 because the first thing they learn is how to attack the f7 square. Most of them have only faced 1.e4 e5, when Bc4 gives good results. Hence, once they enter into tournaments (or play on GK), they eventually encounter new openings such as 1...c5. It's natural for them to respond Bc4, not realizing that f7 isn't so weak since the eP has not yet advanced to e5. I've seen it in my students, weak players I've faced in simuls, etc., for my entire chess career. If they finally tire of losing with Bc4, they actually learn a little bit of chess theory and find a better way to deal with the Sicilian. |
| ccmcacollister 11/01/2004 22:36:34 [ report this post ] | Besides with 2. Bc4 Message: BL still has his c-pawn, so 2....e6 3.a6 or maybe even 2...a6!? makes for a ...b5 where WT cant keep the B on that diagonal anyway(effectively, and ...b5, Bb3?? c4 wins it). So he's just advanced BL's Q-side play. And the B ends up on e2 or d3 with tempos lost getting there. If that's the goal, why not; 1.e4 c5 2.Bb5! a6! 3.Bc4! b5! 4.Bd3! c4!? 5.Be2!! .... {8-) |
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