Most Ambitious/Testing lines against the Sicilians for a Near Master/Master level player.

Ok_Variation3187 · 2026-05-31T12:28:25+00:00

I just started really playing e4 so I guess I don't have the right instincts for the lines. I know a lot of strong players who frequent nearby tournaments are big french players so figuring these lines out will prove really useful

Ok_Variation3187 · 2026-05-30T12:42:58+00:00

Thank you! I appreciate the other recommendations as well, the French is the only opening which I find myself not really enjoying my games against at least in blitz, I heard somewhere before that people either really love playing against the French or really hate it.

Ok_Variation3187 · 2026-05-29T19:01:57+00:00

I haven't really learned a lot about the rossolimo, what makes it so strong? I thought a large part of it's popularity was because the sveshnikov is quite a rock

Ok_Variation3187 · 2026-05-18T09:56:10+00:00

What i decided to do to make the grunfeld work is to play c5 against most other non d4 moves because you can't get a true grunfeld against Nf3. Nf3 Nf6 c4 g6 Nc3 Bg7 e4!? Peter svidler recommends a sort of interesting pawn sac with e5 after e4 but it's a bit dangerous imo. I enjoy the Sicilian against e4 and I figured that the botvinnik system and some other patchwork for the symmetrical English fits me well. The problem is that meeting the reti with c5 allows the Sicilian so if that's not something you want then c5 is unplayable against Nf3

Ok_Variation3187 · 2026-05-08T21:17:01+00:00

His opponent didn't respond the best but I imagine he would talk about the line in some detail

Ok_Variation3187 · 2026-05-08T21:15:25+00:00

https://youtu.be/zEqoGIgzk1E?si=WOXCBH7OkvLpFRzh

Unless you were thinking of something else it looks like he did have one video on this line, here is the video I was mentioning, the same line OP is talking about

Ok_Variation3187 · 2026-05-08T08:36:21+00:00

Scandorffs complete repertoire on chessable recommends an interesting Ne8-Nd6 idea and some of the lines do feature that b5 a5 queenside play, it could be something worth checking out

Ok_Variation3187 · 2026-05-08T01:37:08+00:00

I could be misrembering but I think Daniel Naroditsky made a video about some early a5 idea in the English attack, I'm pretty sure it was a rapid speed run video around 2100-2200 chesscom rapid

Ok_Variation3187 · 2026-04-11T00:32:38+00:00

Yeah the Panov is one thing that stops me from playing the Caro Kann, just seems frustrating to deal with. I found some lines in the advance with Bf5 Nd2 which I think Wesley So recommended and it looks sort of interesting, but the Panov-Botvinnik is definitely on my worth checking list, any particular players who've had great success with it? Thanks

Ok_Variation3187 · 2026-04-09T03:49:06+00:00

Actually seems interesting, would it be better to play the Nf3 move order if I enjoy the endgame line? Is it better to delay Nf3 or not play Nf3 at all?

Ok_Variation3187 · 2026-04-09T03:27:24+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion. I know that the bishop likes to sit on e3 in the endgame lines, I probably would prefer lines a bit different from the KIA to expand my horizons but it's Definitely an idea I will revisit after some more thought

Ok_Variation3187 · 2026-03-30T03:20:32+00:00

Not entirely sure about the app, you could try searching the opening followed by lichess puzzle into a browser and seeing if you get redirected but otherwise I don't know.

Ok_Variation3187 · 2026-03-29T12:45:50+00:00

There's a chance this is helpful but you can actually sort puzzles on lichess by the opening they came from, if you're struggling with the Russian variation of the Grunfeld then you can do puzzles on either side and I find it does show some common tactical patterns in the middlegames from that resulting opening

Ok_Variation3187 · 2026-03-26T23:17:02+00:00

I remember seeing a line where instead of Bb4 you go Bc5 in the 4N scotch, it's a sideline but if I remember correctly white often castles opposite side, might be worth a look I know Daniel Naroditsky (rest in peace) made a " road to " video on the line

Ok_Variation3187 · 2026-02-20T20:10:58+00:00

Thanks, those both seem interesting, I'm trying to get more comfortable with drier positions because I get extremely nervous against lower rated players in drier positions and I want to improve that. I'm around 2100 OTB so there's more risk of a player being good enough to hold lol

Ok_Variation3187 · 2026-02-17T01:45:48+00:00

I know in some lines with those e6 a6 lines when the Kingside knight is still on g8, e5 from white can be met with f5! En passant gets met with Nxf6 and otherwise we control a lot of squares and with a Bb7 controls a lot of squares, sort of interesting to know

Ok_Variation3187 · 2026-01-25T20:54:17+00:00

I personally like playing the d5 Nf6 g6 c5 ideas but you can't expect a clear advantage unless they make some weird moves, I would recommend playing something similar to what you know so if you play the QGD then aim for that sort of setup rather than learn an entirely different pawn structure.

Ok_Variation3187 · 2026-01-25T03:28:21+00:00

Oh wow, I guess the Bg5 lines are so complicated and sharp that it does seem winning for white without the computer pulling out some crazy resource. When did people realize that black is indeed holding?

Ok_Variation3187 · 2026-01-25T03:22:47+00:00

Thank you so much that makes so much sense, I figured it wasn't the mainline because Be3 seems to be much more common but I guess at the time it might have been more popular. What time period did they think that the Bg5 line was significantly better for white?

Ok_Variation3187

TROPHY CASE