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The Sicilian Defense is one of the most interesting and versatile openings. It leads to imbalanced positions and suits dynamic players.
While some variations, such as the Dragon, are razor-sharp and aggressive, there are solid alternatives for Black as well. One of such lines has recently become trendy – the Taimanov Sicilian.
Scandinavian Defense appears on the board after the moves 1.e4 – d5 and is one of the oldest recorded openings in chess.
Its idea is very straightforward – right from the start, black is attacking white’s center, trying to undermine it.
The popularity of chess is growing rapidly.
For some, it’s just a hobby, for others – a competition or a way to become a better version of themselves. And, of course, there are sportsmen in chess who desire to win trophies and titles. I’m sure all these 3 categories are passionate about chess and are looking for a way to get better.
Sicilian Dragon: The Sicilian is one of the main weapons for black against 1.e4. It is known as a fighting opening, which can lead to sharp play and sharp complications in some lines. Black has a lot of set-ups to choose from, each with different characteristics and plans. In this article, I am going to present to you the Dragon variation of the Sicilian and give you 10 reasons to include it in your repertoire!
King and Pawn Endgames: Club players and beginners underestimate their importance.
They assume it’s unlikely they’ll ever reach the ending and will be better off learning the openings.
Huge mistake.
The most popular way to start the game is by moving the King’s pawn two squares forward. This move has been played for centuries and is the move that most beginners are taught to start with. It is one of the most correct first moves, as it opens two pieces, the Queen and the light-squared diagonal. Modern theory has developed a lot and concepts have changed with time, but the majority of games still start with the same move – 1.e4.
Checkmating Patterns: Most club players study tactics the wrong way.
They focus on quantity and repetition, ignoring the most important step… then get surprised about the lack of progress.
Grandmasters know better.
Every chess player needs a good, reliable repertoire against 1.e4. There are many openings out there and you should weigh your choice well, but if you are looking for a classical opening that will help you learn chess in general, then you might want to look into replying with 1…e5. This is a repertoire that can help you develop as a chess player, and learn different structures, and strategies, but also various attacking patterns.
Tactics is an important part of any chess player’s training.
They help keep the mind sharp, but also improve your tactical vision. Your brain will learn to recognize the most common tactical patterns, so you can easily spot them during your games. There’s nobody there to tell you there is a tactic while you’re playing, but if you have solved a lot of tactics your eye will immediately be drawn to them.
The Queen’s Gambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4) is one of the most popular openings in chess. It is appreciated both by amateurs and strong players and we see it at every top-level tournament. Black can choose between many set-ups, with the main decision being made as early as move two – accept the gambit or not? Both options are fine, with the Queen’s Gambit Accepted making a comeback at the top-level lately. Black’s position is solid and there are a few tricky lines if white doesn’t know exactly what they’re doing.
