This puzzled me...

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stwils

I 'm trying to learn to play the Sicilian. I've got a few elementary opening books and also two good chess computer games on my iPad. So today I played black. Here is how it went: e4 - c5; b4!!!!! I can't find b4 for white's 2nd move any where. So I took the pawn but was glad I wasn't playing a human being because it just unnerved me. What kind of a move is that in the Sicilian for white to play b4 on the 2nd move? Is it even Sicilian? Was that a legitimate move for white? What should I have done? (I stopped playing then as it seemed like a fluke.) Stwils

farbror

The "Good" Old  Wing Gambit? GM Davis recommended it in his gambit repertoire book, if I remeber correctly.

rooperi

Actually, this is quite funny. I have this mental picture of a players full of resolve, determined to learn a proper solid opening, and running into the last move he expects on the 1st go.Laughing

Travisjw

Just take the pawn and punish him.   Although...   Gambit King linked me to a pretty hillarious game of his the other day, lemmie see if I can dig that up.   Ohhh here we go.   Check this out.

TupeloProblem

I'm just finding it odd you couldn't find that move anywhere, since every database I look at shows scads of it.

stwils
TupeloProblem wrote: I'm just finding it odd you couldn't find that move anywhere, since every database I look at shows scads of it.
stwils
stwils wrote: TupeloProblem wrote: I'm just finding it odd you couldn't find that move anywhere, since every database I look at shows scads of it. My books are beginner books :)
zankfrappa


     If one goes to Game Explorer and enters e4 c5 b4 there are 389 games listed:

34.2% white wins
18.3% draw
47.6% black wins

stwils
GoodGrief.I never thought of looking there. Stwils
stwils
Well,I think if I were white playing e4 and black responded with c5, I'd have to be crazy to then play b4!!!!! I would be lost for sure. Stwils