This collection contains over 1800 games of the English Opening: 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 Sicilian Reversed and 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6. As such, it constitutes a direct continuation of the games collection presented in Part 1.
NiC Key ECO Key Games Line Name(s)
EO 10 A22 160 Various White Alternatives (3rd move)
EO 11 A22 195 Smyslov Variation (Rossolimo Reversed?)
EO 12 A23 117 Keres System
EO 13 A26 284 Closed Sicilian Rev.
EO 14 A25 193 Closed Sicilian Rev.
EO 15 A25 166 Closed Sicilian Rev.
EO 16 A25 114 Closed Sicilian Rev.
EO 17 A25 346 Closed Sicilian Rev.
EO 18 A25 148 Closed Sicilian Rev.
EO 19 A25-6 118 Closed Sicilian Rev.
English Opening, Part 2 (Detailed Synopsis)
For the discussion that follows, a few notes about "conventional notation" of game counts and results. After a line is given, an informational sequence in square brackets - [] - will give up to three pieces of information: Position Number (in Roman numerals); Game count for that position; Percentage of points claimed by White
Examples: [IX,113,54%] [332,56%]
The first one gives all three pieces of information, the second example is without position number. For games at the master level, a return of 55% for White over a significant number of games is typical (this includes the draws). Small deviations (a few percent) are usually not statistically significant. Claims of very high (or very low) success rates on less than ten games or so are probably flukes, but may point to lines that need further practical tests or theoretical investigations.
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This collection is a bit of a "grab bag" in that it covers several lines of the Sicilian Reversed complex, from the Smyslov Variation (related to the Rossolimo Reversed) through the Keres System (an Alapin Reversed system, with unique play due to White's fianchetto), to systems related directly to the Closed Sicilian Reversed (or King's Indian Attack Defense??). Some of these methods are quite popular and topical; others are much less so, and should provide good material for preparation and study.
There is a family of lesser alternatives for White after the moves 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 (the main ideas are 3.Nf3, covered in Part 1, and 3.g3):
3.e3 [28,54%]
3.e4 [10,30%]
3.d3 [17,47%]
3.a3 [ 8,44%]
These of course cover games that don't transpose into other, more main line positions. As a group, these moves are rather undistinguished for White. Results are poor, and they are unlikely to become significant to theory without some major improvement in the future.
Turning to White's major alternative 3.g3 [I,311,54%] we enter into one of two systems, the Smyslov Variation with 3.. Bb4 [II,171,51%], or 3.. c6 [III,108,52%], the Keres System. Both of these lines are quite stable and successful, and it becomes a matter of taste for defenders looking for a dependable tournament method. If one plays the line 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Bb4 already, then the Smyslov Variation would provide good results with a minimum of extra study. The Keres System is a bolder try to gain central dominance, and is related to the Alapin Sicilian (in reverse). However, in the Alapin there is seldom a fianchetto of the king's bishop, and it is this feature that the Keres System attempts to exploit immediately.
Proceeding from Position II via the further moves 4.Bg2 OO [IV,167,49%] we reach a rich and relatively unexplored situation where White has tried a variety of ideas:
5.e4 [72,52%]
5.Nf3 [51,46%]
5.d3 [13,62%]
5.Qb3 [12,38%]
5.e3 [6,33%]
5.Qc2 [5,10%]
5.Nd5 [4,88%]
5.a3 [4,75%]
The two most popular tries seem a little flat for White, while 5.d3 and 5.Nd5 need some more investigation. However, these lines can transpose back into the Rossolimo Variation Reversed discussed in Part 1, and so these statistics may have little bearing on the whole system's viability. Nonetheless, Position IV should be of interest to folks looking for new territory to explore!
In the Keres System (Position III) White has only one try that gives good play, namely 4.Nf3 [V,64,63%]. This constitutes the bulk of the games in that system as well. But even here Black has some alternatives after 4.. e4 5.Nd4 (4.. d6 transposes to Old Indian territory, or other English lines):
5.. d5 [37,62%]
5.. Qb6 [11,73%]
5.. Bc5 [4,50%]
Black's most popular choice still favors White, while the attacking 5.. Qb6 is apparently rather risky. Bronstein's choice of 5.. Bc5 needs another look, though!
Turning our attention to the Closed Sicilian Reversed, we find the following:
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 [VI,582,53%]
There is practically no other independent choice in this games collection. Now White has a number of choices, three of which are major lines:
5.e3 [VII,199,54%]
5.Rb1 [VIII,160,54%]
5.d3 [IX,154,53%]
Other alternatives simply transpose into these (or other) lines, or are discredited.
From Position VII most games proceed 5.e3 d6 6.Nge2, when Black has four major tries:
6.. Nge7 [60,51%]
6.. h5 [54,44%]
6.. Be6 [26,73%]
6. f5 [12,63%]
The two lesser tries don't look promising for Black, but 6.. h5 is quite attractive. In fact, if this is the best White can do after these 6 moves, then his opening has been a disaster, and he will be forced to look to other systems for play. This raises an interesting question, however; Why doesn't the analogous method work for White (with colors reversed) in the Petrosian System of the Closed Sicilian? Perhaps this is an attacking method waiting to be "discovered" in the near future (I get dibbs! <g>).
Position VIII presents Black with a large set of choices, four of which are popular:
5.. a5 [81,57%]
5.. d6 [30,52%]
5.. f5 [23,52%]
5.. Nf6 [13,42%]
Here once again, the most popular choice is probably not the best! In fact, 5.. Nf6 looks worth investigating, although the statistics are a little sparse.
Position IX leads to one of the best-known positions in English theory after the further moves 5.. d6 6.Rb1 [83,56%]. In fact, this position used to be much more popular, but it still represents a good try for White as he appears to hold on to his first move advantage here. In this games collection you will find about ten tries for Black on his sixth move, the most popular being 6.. f5 [26,67%], with the most attractive being 6.. a5 [23,48%].
In conclusion, it is evident that Smyslov's method and Keres' are both reliable, but the latter may be too bold against best play by White. The Smyslov Variation is a good addition for anyone playing 4.. Bb4 in the Sicilian Four Knights, as many of the themes are related.
In the Closed Sicilian Reversed complex, Black has good play in many lines. But for some reason several of his most popular choices are not faring well, and anyone planning to use this line with Black would be well advised to look to the lesser choices for improvements.
