The main idea of a6 is to play e5 while avoiding the sveshnikov (e4 c5 Nf3 d6 d4 cxd4 Nxd4 Nf6 Nc3 e5 Nb5), if possible. There are also ideas of expanding on the queenside with b5, etc. Frequently in other variations of the sicilian black plays a6, the najdorf tries to improve by playing it earlier.
Question about the najdorf
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I usually play the dragon variation, and almost always end up playing a6, though at a later time. To further clarify my question (my apologies for not being so clear) I was asking is there any advantage to playing it earlier than say e6, e5, or Bg7 which I think shepi13 answered. Thanks!
Sep 27, 2013
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#4
shepi13 schreef:
The main idea of a6 is to play e5 while avoiding the sveshnikov (e4 c5 Nf3 d6 d4 cxd4 Nxd4 Nf6 Nc3 e5 Nb5), if possible. There are also ideas of expanding on the queenside with b5, etc. Frequently in other variations of the sicilian black plays a6, the najdorf tries to improve by playing it earlier.
You've said it all.
a6 disguise itself as an attack. If White moves a4, then it is not a loss of tempi. Any moves are meant to win. So far it works.
In Sicilian Najdorf, Black is eyeing on d5, c4 and c file. Black often achieves equality if those are in their hand.
It's played because it works.But I do think that needind to block a check with the queenside pieces would but the queeside expansion in a problem.Also, it allows b5
Compare 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 g6 6 Be3 Ng4 7 Bb5 Bd7 8 Qxg4 to 5...a6 6 Be3 Ng4 where the knight is safe. However, the main reason for 5...a6 is to prepare counterplay on the queenside with ...b5.
I kinda think 5...a6 is kinda like every respectable opening it is a fight for control of the centre.
5...a6 participates in fighting for control of the centre since it is planning to attack e4 2 different ways.
one way is by ...b5 and ...b4
and another way is by ...b5 and Bb7
kromhawk_31 wrote:
Why is the a6 move so significant? I understand that it is to protect from the bishop check, but if the check comes just block it with the bishop and trade off the bishops, correct? I like to play the Sicilian and often find the light squared bishop to be my weakest minor piece, so I have no problem swapping off the bishops. Is it a tempo loss where black has to waste a move moving his knight or queen to an unpreferred square? Just something I've been wondering.
That a6 move is absolutely essential. An example is in the english attack that light square bishop is always a bit awkward of a piece and it makes the game so easy for white when you can just trade it off. Here's a game I just played demonstrating it, and capped off with a nice rook sac leading to mate. Note that if the bishop had been in the way the winning combo would have been impossible.
The are other ways to punish black for not playing a6 as well, the dreaded maroczy bind makes life for black very difficult for black as well. Those little pawn moves are important for a reason and its not about some theoretical position, its because you deserve to be punished for not playing it as its a very strong move and by choosing a weaker move you need taught a lesson.
Ron-Weasley wrote:
That a6 move is absolutely essential. An example is in the english attack that light square bishop is always a bit awkward of a piece and it makes the game so easy for white when you can just trade it off. Here's a game I just played demonstrating it, and capped off with a nice rook sac leading to mate. Note that if the bishop had been in the way the winning combo would have been impossible.
Black is doing great after 11...bxc6, so I'm not sure how White is supposed to have an easy game at that point.
On the Sicilian Defense. White's weak piece is obviously the light squared bishop because the pawn on e4 blocks it scope. That's why if Black doesn't play a6 then White can play Bb5+ followed by exchange and got rid on it's weak piece.
sapientdust wrote:
Ron-Weasley wrote:
That a6 move is absolutely essential. An example is in the english attack that light square bishop is always a bit awkward of a piece and it makes the game so easy for white when you can just trade it off. Here's a game I just played demonstrating it, and capped off with a nice rook sac leading to mate. Note that if the bishop had been in the way the winning combo would have been impossible.
Black is doing great after 11...bxc6, so I'm not sure how White is supposed to have an easy game at that point.
The c file is no longer available for a rook, the main piece that irritates white in queenside counterplay is liquidated as well as white's only awkward piece that would usually be stuck on the kingside in the way of everything and the black rook pawn can not protect itself being isolated so the rook will stay tied down to it instead of moving to any activity on the (normally) semi-open c file. From experience if black lets me trade my weak bishop for that highly active knight I know my game will be a lot better. A6 would also have not allowed me to gain a tempo in developing and trading that bishop so my attack developed faster kingside. Its my belief that black made two mistakes in the game and not playing a6 was the first, and he was concretely punished for it.
That's why there's a set-up move for Black on the Najdorf variation to remember:
If White places the bishop on c4, Black plays ...e6 move to block the range of bishop.
If White places the bishop on e3 or e2, then Black plays ...e5 so white can't advance the e-pawn and bring back to life the light squared bishop.
nyLsel wrote:
That's why there's a set-up move for Black on the Najdorf variation to remember:
If White places the bishop on c4, Black plays ...e6 move to block the range of bishop.
If White places the bishop on e3 or e2, then Black plays ...e5 so white can't advance the e-pawn and bring back to life the light squared bishop.
Yes there are all kinds of ways to punish white for playing Bc4!
Ron-Weasley wrote:
sapientdust wrote:
Ron-Weasley wrote:
That a6 move is absolutely essential. An example is in the english attack that light square bishop is always a bit awkward of a piece and it makes the game so easy for white when you can just trade it off. Here's a game I just played demonstrating it, and capped off with a nice rook sac leading to mate. Note that if the bishop had been in the way the winning combo would have been impossible.
Black is doing great after 11...bxc6, so I'm not sure how White is supposed to have an easy game at that point.
The c file is no longer available for a rook, the main piece that irritates white in queenside counterplay is liquidated as well as white's only awkward piece that would usually be stuck on the kingside in the way of everything and the black rook pawn can not protect itself being isolated so the rook will stay tied down to it instead of moving to any activity on the (normally) semi-open c file. From experience if black lets me trade my weak bishop for that highly active knight I know my game will be a lot better. A6 would also have not allowed me to gain a tempo in developing and trading that bishop so my attack developed faster kingside. Its my belief that black made two mistakes in the game and not playing a6 was the first, and he was concretely punished for it.
Black is slightly better after 11...bxc6. It's true that taking the knight on move 11 may be White's best move (though not necessarily with the bishop), but it's not true that in general trading the LSB for the knight makes white's game "a lot better", as you state. Would the Taimanov Sicilian exist if White's play was as good as you state when he can trade off his LSB for the knight on c6?
Gotcha!
sapientdust wrote:
Ron-Weasley wrote:
sapientdust wrote:
Ron-Weasley wrote:
That a6 move is absolutely essential. An example is in the english attack that light square bishop is always a bit awkward of a piece and it makes the game so easy for white when you can just trade it off. Here's a game I just played demonstrating it, and capped off with a nice rook sac leading to mate. Note that if the bishop had been in the way the winning combo would have been impossible.
Black is doing great after 11...bxc6, so I'm not sure how White is supposed to have an easy game at that point.
The c file is no longer available for a rook, the main piece that irritates white in queenside counterplay is liquidated as well as white's only awkward piece that would usually be stuck on the kingside in the way of everything and the black rook pawn can not protect itself being isolated so the rook will stay tied down to it instead of moving to any activity on the (normally) semi-open c file. From experience if black lets me trade my weak bishop for that highly active knight I know my game will be a lot better. A6 would also have not allowed me to gain a tempo in developing and trading that bishop so my attack developed faster kingside. Its my belief that black made two mistakes in the game and not playing a6 was the first, and he was concretely punished for it.
Black is slightly better after 11...bxc6. It's true that taking the knight on move 11 may be White's best move (though not necessarily with the bishop), but it's not true that in general trading the LSB for the knight makes white's game "a lot better", as you state. Would the Taimanov Sicilian exist if White's play was as good as you state when he can trade off his LSB for the knight on c6?
I've never heard of a Taimanov so I can't say. With the strategy I use against sicilians with the long castle and pawn attack liquidating that light squared bishop is great. Perhaps the Taimanov is the unnamed one I lose to all the time. I don't know the subtleties and strategies of different varieties of sicilian defense, but against najdorf I consistantly have an effective elo 200 points higher than mine as indicated by opponents strength so I must be playing against najdorfs at least less wrong than my opponents.
kromhawk_31 wrote:
I usually play the dragon variation, and almost always end up playing a6, though at a later time. To further clarify my question (my apologies for not being so clear) I was asking is there any advantage to playing it earlier than say e6, e5, or Bg7 which I think shepi13 answered. Thanks!
Still want to play the dragon?
ScorpionPackAttack wrote:
kromhawk_31 wrote:
I usually play the dragon variation, and almost always end up playing a6, though at a later time. To further clarify my question (my apologies for not being so clear) I was asking is there any advantage to playing it earlier than say e6, e5, or Bg7 which I think shepi13 answered. Thanks!
Still want to play the dragon?
A very instructive game! Thank you for posting that. I have had adequate results trying to liguidate the fianchetto bishop and pry open the h file in a sacraficial attack. Compared to Fischer this is very amaturish and I'll try his approach from now on. Any time you can set your pieces up like Fischer you're going to have a pretty good game.
ScorpionPackAttack wrote:
kromhawk_31 wrote:
I usually play the dragon variation, and almost always end up playing a6, though at a later time. To further clarify my question (my apologies for not being so clear) I was asking is there any advantage to playing it earlier than say e6, e5, or Bg7 which I think shepi13 answered. Thanks!
Still want to play the dragon?
If i was Larsen and the next time i had a game with Fischer....
.... i make one move and then look at BF for a minute and then resign.
Sure he had nightmares after that game.
Why is the a6 move so significant? I understand that it is to protect from the bishop check, but if the check comes just block it with the bishop and trade off the bishops, correct? I like to play the Sicilian and often find the light squared bishop to be my weakest minor piece, so I have no problem swapping off the bishops. Is it a tempo loss where black has to waste a move moving his knight or queen to an unpreferred square? Just something I've been wondering.