najdorf Sicilian bad???
Sort:
TheGodlyGoose
Jun 16, 2023
0
#1
I have been playing with the najdorf Sicilian recently and have spent quite a bit of time studying the opening, but I feel that it is structurally unsound. I know there is a ton of theory behind it but I feel like the positions you get into with this opening is almost always worse for black than it is for white. I have been getting absolutely annihilated in the most brutal ways possible while playing this opening. What other openings should I try for black / any tips to improve with it. I’m 1400 elo
It might be a little weird ye. Accelerated dragon might work as ultimate trashtalker said and danya has some good YouTube videos in general.
I would also try out the classical Sicilian as a way to play a dragon setup without facing the Yugoslav. Sam Shankland recommend this in his classical Sicilian Chessable course so the short and sweet might be useful.
Jun 17, 2023
0
#3
I’ve played the accelerated dragon before I went onto the najdorf, but I feel it to be too predictable and wanted to try one of the more complex Sicilian lines. But I feel that the najdorf just gets you into generally bad position and I have lost most of my games with it. Is there any other Sicilian openings that are worth learning???
I wouldn’t have recommended jumping right in to the Najdorf. Try out the Taimanov or the Kan for a time, or if you really want to get spicy and play those incredibly complex positions but have a bit more simplicity than the Najdorf you could try out the Classical, Scheveningen, or the Sveshnikov. I’d definitely recommend the Taimanov first and foremost if you do wish to continue playing the Sicilian.
Jun 17, 2023
0
#5
If the Najdorf were unsound, GMs wouldn't play it regularly. I don't mean to be critical, but you probably just don't understand it. There's no shame in that: it has a lot of positional subtleties, as well as the potential for dizzying tactics.
It's probably better to leave this variation until a later stage of your chess development. If you really, really want to play it now, you should go a source that explains the concepts involved. "Chess Structures: A Grandmaster Guide" by Mauricio Flores Rios has a very good chapter on the Najdorf structure. Also, there is a section in Chapter 3 of "Pawn Structure Chess" by Andrew Soltis called "The Boleslavsky Hole" that talks about this structure. And if you are willing to tackle descriptive notation, Hans Kmoch has a few pages on the structure in "Pawn Power in Chess".
It convinced me that I’m a terrible player and that I should quit
But whatever I have 2 brain cells you can probably do better
TheSampson wrote:
It convinced me that I’m a terrible player and that I should quit
But whatever I have 2 brain cells you can probably do better
The Najdorf be that way sometimes. Even I couldn’t understand it. Now I play the French (only the Advance and the Exchange but semantics) and I’m much happier and much better at the game.
Ethan_Brollier wrote:
TheSampson wrote:
It convinced me that I’m a terrible player and that I should quit
But whatever I have 2 brain cells you can probably do better
The Najdorf be that way sometimes. Even I couldn’t understand it. Now I play the French (only the Advance and the Exchange but semantics) and I’m much happier and much better at the game.
honestly I might return to chess playing the French
i just don’t know about the Ruy Lopez because it’s not really helping either
Jun 17, 2023
0
#9
I started playing the Najdorf regularly back when I was about 1400 rated (OTB, not online).
Naturally, I lost plenty of games... some of them quite catastrophically.
Are you allergic to losing games? A loss will teach you FAR more than a win.
Eventually, I got half-decent at playing the Najdorf.
Like this:
A Heroic Defense in the Sicilian Najdorf - Kids, don't try this at home! - Chess Forums - Chess.com
TheSampson wrote:
Ethan_Brollier wrote:
TheSampson wrote:
It convinced me that I’m a terrible player and that I should quit
But whatever I have 2 brain cells you can probably do better
The Najdorf be that way sometimes. Even I couldn’t understand it. Now I play the French (only the Advance and the Exchange but semantics) and I’m much happier and much better at the game.
honestly I might return to chess playing the French
i just don’t know about the Ruy Lopez because it’s not really helping either
As White? Yeah the Ruy Lopez is great and all but it’s one of those openings that everybody should learn, but not everybody should main. It’s a great teacher, but it’s a stepping stone to bigger and better things like the English, Reti, or d4.
I had no clue this line existed. That’s really cool. Granted, Black has one chance to improve on the line, by playing 7… Nf6, but the gambit still works, albeit with more compensation to Black as Qg4 isn’t a major threat anymore.
Jun 17, 2023
0
#12
do you guys think i should play the taimiov, why? also what makes it a good stepping to the najdorf?
Jun 17, 2023
0
#13
also, can someone explain the crucial ideas to the najdorf, i want to see if what i know is correct.
oh yea Taimanov is also a decent thing to play as mentioned by Ethan and d4iscrazy
four knights Sicilian and O’kelly are also great, practical sicilians
Yes.
uhm actually the only practical Sicilian is the Kan because it prevents natural development and you can force positions into something you get 99% of the time, as paraphrased by my faaaaaavorite minecraft youtuber, Andrew Ta- I mean GothamChess
Four knights is good, especially for sub-1600s. I have no idea what you are talking about.
d4iscrazy wrote:
I don't know why you would play the Sicilian and play the 4 knights, like just play the french or smth.
what’s wrong with it? 🤔
That’s kinda like saying “ I don’t know why you would play 1.e4 and play the scotch. “
4 knights is a good, practical weapon for club players and can get you comfortable games 👍