Thanks, Solomon! Lots of great ideas. I had seen Perunovic's, (The Butcher),detailed analysis of the Mengarini variation, which was good, but this has some fresh ideas, for a number of blacks responses. I like your slower paced and thoughtful discussion of the middle game possibilities.
Ever since I watched your Ponziani and Hippo videos I geat crazy results up to 1800 and even plus 2000 when not serious. I have used Wing before, hit and miss above 1400, but, the delayed version is crazy intresting! Thank you.
following you for a while and i can say you are onenomm of the best chess content creator, you have taught me a lot a good lines that helped so much!! Make chess funnier than ever.
Dude thank you man I appreciate the kind words. I'm glad the videos have given you some tools to work with and have helped your game progress. More on the way! Hope your 2024 is off to a good start!
Thanks! I'm glad you are liking it. Let me know if you have any questions or need some help with how you approach playing against the Sicilian Defense!
I love the Mengarini! I just wish beginner players at my level would play Nc6 against it. I eventually abandoned the Delayed Wing Gambit, for now, since I was never getting the fun continuations I hoped for. Maybe after a few hundred more Elo...
Hey Russ! Ya isn't it strange how some chess openings actually work BETTER AGAINST STRONGER players!?? Who wouldv'e thought. I would guess that around 1400-1600+ range is really when this opening starts to become good. (Funny because we usually think of openings working UNTIL a certain point but with this it seems to be the opposite....)
I've been playing a3 for quite a while now and if black accepts the gambit I have a very fun game and if black plays d6 or g6 I just go for the grand prix attack
You can always merge them? See how it goes? Play a3 and if they don't go for a fun Nc6/e6 line then just go into your Grand Prix? Just an idea. But ya... always tough when you got two chess openings that are fun.
An interesting line which partially accepts the gambit (takes one pawn, but not the other): e4 c5 a3 e6 b4 cxb (accepts) axb Nf6 (declines, instead of Bxb4) e5 Nd5 b5 d6. Which side do you prefer? Can white still carry out a strong attack?
The problem with the Sicilian is that you never get to play the Sicilian anymore. I tested it out for a while. 7% of my games were open or closed Sicilians, and everything else was a sideline or gimmick.
i have to say while i was playing this line i've faced a lot of b7 sterile position where i had really no plan trying to surprise my opponent in blitz i was the one to think at move 3, i know we have to keep it simple and dont take but it seems so solid for black how are you playing it !?
Ya so in this situation white often captures on c5 and then just develops with both rooks trying to get to that b-file. I still have to study this a bit but you bring up a GREAT question. In all honesty b6 is one of the most annoying moves black can play.
The good news is that 3...b6 is only played 8% of the games. But, I totally agree it's annoying when happens so a good line for this could be the following: 1.e4 c5 2.a3 Nc6 3.b4 b6 4.Nf3 e6 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Bb7 7.Nxc6 Bxc6 8.Nd2 Nf6 (...a5 9.b5 Bb7 10.Bb2 Nf6 11.Bd3 d6 12.0-0) 9.Bd3 Be7 10.Bb2 0-0 11.0-0 d6. We unfortunately have no fireworks or tricky traps here available, but an equal, solid position and just continue to play ordinary chess. This is what I can come up with, studying the database of the most played moves for black combining best moves for white according to engine. Good luck!
@@tobias4411 Yeah at least knowing the plan leading to a equal position is a victory. Thanks for the line dude, I'm more in 1.e4 c5 2.Cc3 and going grand prix attack now but definitely should try this line more often
Welcome to the channel! ALWAYS feel free to send me any chess related questions you may have or any chess opening content/general chess content you'd want to see covered on the channel!
This is very true BUT the square of b5 is now a terrible weakness for black for the rest of the game. So many Sicilian Defense lines rely on an a6-b5 break and this is simply out the window now...
This is very true BUT the square of b5 is now a terrible weakness for black for the rest of the game. So many Sicilian Defense lines rely on an a6-b5 break and this is simply out the window now...
