Open Sicilian (Kalashnikov Variation)

Here is an Open Sicilian game. Evaluations and variations are by chess engine Fruit 2.3.1, but I also give my thoughts. (See the move list for Fruit's recommended variations.)

My later blunders are tactical and require better vision and caluculation. Instead of concentrating on those, I would appreciate planning and strategy advice at an earlier stage. For example, on move 10, what should my medium-range goals be (other than to develop the QB)?

Thanks in advance!

I think your toughts about pawn storms aren't quite right. Actually, you can only do a pawn storm if both Kings are not castled opposite eachother. Of course though, there are exceptions. Secondly, a pawn storm can actually only be very succesfull if you control the centre. If not, your opponent will have dangerous counterplay! (You've seen that with blacks move 10. ... d5!, he goes for the centre.)

And as you have seen, your pawn storm didn't succeed. Now you have a weakned King!

So remember:

A pawn storm is a mighty weapon but:

• You have to control the centre, not letting your opponent have counterplay;
• You have to make sure your opponent can't counterplay by attacking your weakned King, for example a fianchettoed Bishop can be dangerous.

You use the term "main line" in the wrong context. There is no such thing as a "main line of the sicilian defense", but rather, main line of kalishnikov, main line of najdorf variation, main line of dragon variation, main line of sveshnikov...

After your opponent's e5, you're in the kalishnikov, where the main line is Nb5. If you're used to other lines in the sicilian (such as the najdorf), what holds true there usually is completely untrue in this variation. so being used to Nb3 in some other variation should not affect your decision in this one.

That aside, Nb3 is known to give an easy, equal position for black. In the kalishnikov, after Nb5, black has not yet proven complete equality at all.

I'm just puzzed as to what you call "the main line" which you're used to, in which the Knight belongs on b3. Because, after ...Nf6 and Nc3, you're in a side variation of the sveshnikov, not the main line at all. And a variation which is rather easy for black.

My opening knowledge is very thin. (I had to look up the moves to find out this one was the Kalashnikov.) I guess I saw the Najdorf most often when I first learned of the Sicilian, with ...a6 preventing a N or B move to b5.

Is there nothing short of memorizing opening lines that would help me make a move? I don't consider myself at a high enough level that opening study would be the most effective use of my time.

I know you didn't ask for theoretical analysis, but I have to remind something else.

The position after 6...Bb4 is known to theory, and 7.Bd3, allowing black to play 7...d5 immediately (which he didn't in this game), is a minor mistake.

There's something nice here: The pawn isn't really attacked if white plays 7.Bc4,

and the ideas of Bxf7 or Qd5 make sure the position remains balanced if black takes the pawn.

Oh dear god, no. memorizing moves is definitely not the only way (and not the best way, until you're much stronger, although it does help somewhat).

But what you're trying to do makes no sense: you're trying to memorize one move from one variation (in this case Nb3) and think it's just as good in all the others, despite the fact that the entire piece placement and pawn formations are different.

What you should be doing is learning how to evaluate positions and how to form a plan based on each side's weaknesses and strengths (in addition to improving in tactics, of course... doesn't hurt).

For example, in the kalishnikov, after black has played ...e5 (and his c pawn has been exchanged, because it's an open sicilian), the d5 square has become weak and the d pawn may become weak as well. So trying to fix black's weakness with Nb5 d6 makes sense (also makes the f8 bishop temporarily bad. Retreating the knight doesn't try to apply pressure on black's position, thus allowing black time to fix his issues and reach easy equality.

The continuation 7.Bd3 d5 allowed black to get rid of 100% of his problems while trying to create a break through the center.

Learning to apply logical analysis to a position is much more important than memorizing the moves.

Memorization comes much later, when you choose an opening repertoir you're familiar with and you usually learn it on the go, learning as you go, looking after every game in specific variations that applied to that game, to know them for next time...

Just memorizing everything up front is not realistic unless you're a professional and have all the time in the world for that... I don't.

So, logical study of forming plans in addition to improving your tactical ability will probably yield the best results. Learning opening lines is nice, but shouldn't be your first priority at all.