Chess Openings: Sicilian Defense

The Sicilian Defense is widely considered the best defense against white's e4 opening move. Here we discuss various lines in the sicilian defense and key concepts to consider when you play the sicilian.
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[@artistryartistry7239]

Just a suggestion, if you're going to show us a black opening, I'd recommend flipping the board accordingly.

[@lester4005]

thats racist man

[@thesavantart8480]

+Lester Yam lol

[@9308323]

I would like to disagree, but it's hard considering that you're more likely to win with white pieces instead of black ones.

[@anthonywang1873]

thats really only cuz white goes first so if ur gonna flip it and give black the advantage its still racist

[@nicholasvanlierde2546]

black should only get pawns

[@chesswebsite]

I try to go over the thinking behind the moves and not just show the moves. If you are only looking for the moves for particular openings this probably isn't the best place to find them cause as you can tell I go slowly and try to teach each opening thoroughly. Thanks for watching.

[@ColeTeke]

This is better than what most do, it’s like being told you have to take meds if you’re sick but you don’t know how they work or the process they take through out the body

[@wassupjg]

3:40 unicorn spotted

[@filipevasconcelos1980]

hahhaha... nice

[@sandeshkharel2810]

wow.... i would never have spotted...😂😂😋

[@alannguyen1275]

Lol

[@koroshiya5758]

lmfao, I burst there

[@rudimetzger-wang4169]

wow nice7

[@chasington89]

There's a lot of thrusting in the Sicilian Defense. Maturity +1

[@hernandezwendellc.7145]

lmao

[@xxx_jim_the_reaper_xxx]

@@hernandezwendellc.7145 This Defense is hard for me to utilize and master though. I can't prevent the Knight pair and Bishop from forking my King & Rook. Its just frustrating!

[@ThakurSiddhesh]

@@xxx_jim_the_reaper_xxx use traxler counter against fried liver attack

[@xxx_jim_the_reaper_xxx]

@@ThakurSiddhesh Fried Liver Attack may be the Most Powerful Gambit but it can fall off later just like the Scholar's Mate. Legal's Mate and Marshall Trap are my favorites.

[@callmeqt1269]

If you aren't thrusting constantly when playing chess, you're doing something wrong. Thrust is love, thrust is life.

[@Matt-yu8xc]

I love this video series...Keven always says, "The key caaaancepts..."

[@chesswebsite]

You can really go two routes although both routes can be taken, just in a different order. My first move would be 2....Nc6, adding pressure to the d4 square and developing my knight. Next I would move 3....e6, getting ready for 4....d5 which will push the bishop back.

[@benjamincid8007]

Thank you Kevin for your videos. Every time I'm in haze and lose my ability to think properly, I watch some of your videos and get back in track ! Keep the good work !

[@davidmiguelgoncalves]

I like the way you summarized different variations as you went. You explain the tactical significance of each of them quickly and clearly. It was the perfect 6 minute treatment of the basic concepts and possibilites in these first few moves -- exactly what I was looking for to get started with. Thanks.

[@TheSubwayBeast]

Who’s here after watching Queen Gambit

[@kirstenschmeckpeper8552]

I was inspired

[@theguptacircle8550]

meh

[@molokaiparadise5359]

me too

[@theowl2308]

@@molokaiparadise5359 man i ve just finished it too

[@whoathatsalotofdamage3718]

So good

[@VanlifewithAlan]

Interesting analysis. I have never used the Sicilian as I think it takes too long to castle but you have given me something to think about.

[@groveavenue]

Since this is about a Black defence is it in order for the board to be turned around so Black is at the Bottom? Grovel.

[@SuperYtc1]

+Ali Ismail Come on now, any serious player would have the chess board all in their mind anyway. Tut tut.

[@zackdisharoon6239]

+Ali Ismail better to see how exactly it works against an opponent from that opponents point of view

[@wm8032]

just turn your computer upside down

[@alexspike2901]

Agreed. For many of us beginners, this makes it hard to visualize. Can you flip it? Or have you already, on another video? Thanks for the great videos!

[@chesswebsite]

no problem. I like to use the sicilian almost exclusively against e4 because many players have lots of tricks or gambits that they have memorized but against the sicilian white is unable to do many of these. glad you found it.

[@siLence-84]

READY OR NOT, HERE I COME, YOU CAN'T HIDE

[@davidhill8163]

i love the way you explain ahead why moves are initially made

[@lucianoherrera9492]

3:55 did that knight just blinked?

[@skitzy4676]

+Luciano Herrera That was the mouse dude

[@discordant8543]

Luciano Herra :l

[@xyon9090]

If it wasn't for your comment, I'd actually think that Knight blinked.

[@RohakDas]

no

[@bobbyo1760]

Patchwork Proxy no it wasn't watch the mouse

[@lobbbster5]

"Sinner control"

[@danielmunozgolf]

The lord controls my sins!🤣

[@TheDevLee]

"it's a very attacking defense" only in chess, only in chess.

[@yeetwchybaban]

Hmm

[@alexhughes8895]

Offence is the best defence?

[@Xplora213]

LOL shortest book in the world, “Italian War Heroes” LOL

[@0cally]

I am very glad that u go slow and explain the reasoning behind each move. I have been playing for 2 days and can beat the computer on level 5 already.

[@thomassaurus]

Never play against the Sicilian Defense when death is on the line.

[@Carrotomatato]

Iocane powder, i'd bet my life on it.

[@GrabnarMyers]

Best comment. Hahahahahahahah--. dead.

[@thesanerepublicofcommonsen5057]

You deserve so many more likes for this comment

[@morpher728]

I don't get it

[@Jacob-sb3su]

@@morpher728 watch Princess Bride you uncultured swine

[@Afrodisiac..]

thx man none of my friends want to help me with this defense.its a good thing i found this video

[@SamPiWi]

3:40 : Unicorn.

[@brain5531]

Sam Asm Focus on the lesson, not the knight

[@mank004]

@@brain5531 bookworm spotted

[@TrickShotKoopa]

Am I dumb? That just looks like a normal knight unless that's the joke

[@gauss327]

Could you make a video explaining what white should do in this situation?

[@wildmansamurai3663]

Flip the board around, other than that good video.

[@chesswebsite]

song is "ready or not" by the fugees

[@Mudachucha]

Was that the Fugees at the very beginning? Wtf haha. Ready or not is my jam

[@Kole1389]

No, it's Boadicea by Enya. Fugees sampled it.

[@Mudachucha]

Oh. I'm dumb lol thanks

[@ivanpanic63]

+Marko Kostic Pokaj se Bogu,napisi SVE grehe na papir i ispovedi se u pravoslavnoj crkvi pred svestenikom kap svedokom tvog pokajanja da ti Bog oprosti grehe i da imas VECNI ZIVOT!!

[@Kole1389]

+Its TheDiks molim?

[@henryhenderson1257]

because Wyclef said: "bringing on Haitian sicilians" in it

[@chesswebsite]

Also if you need extra support on the light squares (depending on where white plays) you can always advance your a and b pawns which should put extra pressure on white's minor pieces but more importantly the b7 square would then become a great outpost for your bishop to add extra support on the light squares.

[@chesswebsite]

@rustyrobot20 keep in mind this video was made 2 years ago. The mic has been upgraded a long time ago.

[@topperandgray9895]

Thank you for making this video. I was recentely reinstated as first board on my team and needed a more elaborate opening, and first thought of the sicilian because it had caused me to lose numerous times. This is really a great video. You have earned a subscribtion.

[@ChesscomGames]

@TheImmortalFlip the song has got be "Ready or Not" by the Fugees

[@alix9751]

It is not tho ;-; I wonder what it is after all this time.

[@YsnipezYMw2]

I love learning the massive amount of theory to play the open Sicilian as white. what fun.

[@chesswebsite]

haha, well since i have the fugees CD and took it off of the CD i think it's "ready or not" by the fugees.

[@bennigan88]

I loved this video...you got right to the point, thank god! Some chess videos are miserable because the narrator just talks and talks unnecessarily.

[@flostriker7573]

what if white develops his knights instead of thrusting forward with his d-pawn?

[@henkwaterlander3038]

Bisshop to G7, that's a very good defence. I never would've thought of that. Thanks

[@xMACC4Realx]

Whenever I play chess,I just make up my defences and offences as I go along.Stored some of it in my mind.Works pretty well for me :)

[@torino429scj]

If a player fianchetto his bishop, it means that he develops that bishop to b2 or g2 for white, or b7 or g7 for black. Classically the bishop is opened by " crossing " his own king toward the center of the board, say Bd3 or Bc4 in white's case. The fianchetto tries to take advantage of that long a1-h8 diagonal or the h1-a8 diagonal.

[@pheisar]

I have started recently to watch your vids and i find them excellent. :) I think it would be visually better, regarding black defense openings, if you fliped the board so that black is at the bottom of the vid. Keep it up! :)

[@MS-hb3ol]

Ah yes a 10 year old comment. Nice. It'll be better if this guy sees this and replies

[@tylerhudson7445]

I had no idea you got this popular. I was watching this vid when it had 20k views or something. Good job man I always believed in you.

[@rw4877]

Man I do love me a good defense

[@matthewbrown2442]

I like this opening for black because i can open it into so many other opening like, my favorite the Najdorf Variation in the sicilian defense and the dragon Variation. It keeps them guessing

[@kingkirby8960]

PLEASE, I'M BEGGING YOU TO TELL ME THE AMAZING MUSIC AT THE BEGINNING...

[@pedralicamosa]

+Golden Waffles Ready or not - the Fugees

[@kingkirby8960]

Thank you SO much

[@ronaldgreenjr1423]

+Sausage Biscuit Fugees..."Ready Or Not"

[@MrNikolidas]

+pedralicamosa I play my enemies like a game of chess.

[@k8shen480]

+Uni Afro i think that Enya didn't care too much for the fugees when she wrote this song. so write "enya-Boadicea" my friend ;)

[@chesswebsite]

I honestly rarely see white's second move against the sicilian 2. d4 I honestly would take 2...cxd4 only because after 3. Qxd4 Nc6, black will chase the queen away, gaining a tempo, while still putting pressure on the center. Your variation is definitely playable if your endgame is strong. You are conceding the center and white can easily develop his minor pieces and put even more pressure on the center. Thanks for the comment though, I always enjoy looking at new variations.

[@forceview3]

Eating a piece of Sicilian Pizza as I watch this

[@ImASDFx2]

How was it?

[@forceview3]

Awesome

[@idontcare76]

Sean Stanley same

[@justinj.421]

Sean Stanley Lmao

[@moceri55]

You mean Scfinccione?

[@dsadwarf]

Fianchetto - a pattern of development wherein a bishop is developed to the second rank of the adjacent knight file, the knight pawn having been moved one or two squares forward.

[@ImASDFx2]

I heard the music in the beginning and I thought I clicked on an Atheism-Is-Unstoppable video. 😂

[@raymondbourke5506]

Me too lol

[@tasneemali4892]

Same

[@chesswebsite]

You really don't want to weaken your kingside protection with f3. You do want to protect the pawn so the best play is to develop a piece and protect at the same time which we do with Nc3. Hope this helps.

[@LazlosPlane]

Great video Thanks.. But I do so miss the romance of traditional notation; Pawn to King 4. Now THAT'S a chess move! This cold, computer language notation is dull and thoroughly without romance. e4. Sounds like a Bingo game. Alas. . .

[@callmecap10]

Nice point. Dig it.

[@Ohrami]

+LazlosPlane that's too confusing you son of a bitch i fucking hate you

[@LazlosPlane]

ROFL! Ohrami, do you have any strong feelings? Please, express your rage!

[@Ohrami]

+LazlosPlane EVERY DAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A PROBLEM AND EVERY DAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ME. WHATEVER IT IS, SHUT THE HELL UP, LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE, AND DON'T EVER TALK TO ME EVER AGAIN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[@LazlosPlane]

Have you tried Prozac?

[@MariusSemeonOrtiz]

The song, Ready or not - The Fugees: "I play my enemies like a game of chess" :)

[@canefan17]

I wish yall would flip the screen when talking about black/defense. Easier for some of us beginners.

[@MrMarket1]

canefan17 pretty sure beginners shouldn't play the Sicilian

[@theburger9060]

canefan17 you should play the italian game if you are a beginner

[@mieknaem6144]

Is it just me or is he hating on all the Sicilian defences? Hope he hates equally on the others. I'll never find out though. What no tactics on how to defend against white? So frustrating. It would've been nice to see a more defense oriented point of view. I thought the Sicilian was a black position. All I've seen is how to play the first 5 moves then how white will crush it.

[@hazaltoft]

Thank you to the chess website, very helpful as always :)

[@superawesomeninja2]

Why would white want to push his pawn down to e5? That would release tension from the center.

[@Killahcombo]

ivanwhythen i asked myself too

[@Talland0]

ivanwhythen It denies ...Nf6 :)

[@chesswebsite]

yeah def great english. The software i use for chess is Aquarium. The recording software I use is windows media encoder (free software) and editing i use windows movie maker (free software).

[@ilaila3504]

i can't watch any of your vids as they are too quiet¬!

[@DavidKnowles]

The fianchetto is a staple of many "hypermodern" openings, whose philosophy is to delay direct occupation of the center with the plan of undermining and destroying the opponent's central outpost. It also regularly occurs in Indian defences. The fianchetto is less common in open games (1.e4 e5) but the king's bishop is sometimes fianchettoed by Black in the Spanish Game or by White in an uncommon variation of the Vienna Game.

[@Phoenix-ox2jr]

Omg that pronunciation of najdorf

[@Blobble22]

the transcribe audio actually works!

[@timothyacowin9761]

5:01 but what about kings pawn to e5?

[@destructimus]

just a bush i was wondering the same thing. Only thing i can thinknof why not is that after a series of exchanges your king's file could be open with a pawn island on your queens file as well as an activated bishop on e4 if you capture the e4 pawn, assuming they pushed it... you do kinda gain a tempo kicking that knigh away tho... so i dunno

[@peej2164]

2:12 Don't do e5 in like the first 10 moves because it weakens d5 which the knight would love to go to, and it weakens a lot of the position

[@siLence-84]

lol 'nazdorf' and 'fee en chetto'

[@markkelly3859]

I bet he can beat you in chess

[@ainbrisk545]

@@markkelly3859 cool?

[@chesswebsite]

I would say find a few openings that you like and study up on them. Then you may want to check out my middle game strategies and learn different tactics to keep an eye on during the match. If you want just short and sweet advice, control the center of the board and the rest will take care of itself.

[@quesques9627]

Who just got done watching “Queens Gambit”

[@nicorap74]

Pay attention to good notes: your voice is clear and you know what you´re talking about. keep teaching.

[@neelneel7771]

i liked the way he explained it. Great

[@blazethesecond]

@iddtelyoubut a fianchetto is the technique where you move your bishop to one of the four corner outposts: b2 b7 g2 or g7. its a hypermodern technique. In other words, classical chess players control the center with pawns and support with minor pieces. A hypermodern player doesn't mind to control the center with pawns, or fianchetto his bishop and control the center, as well as the entire diagonal, with his minor pieces.

[@stephennichol3620]

Take a drink every time he says "thrust"

[@chesswebsite]

I think this is an old video, uploaded back in early March. since then I've gotten a better mic and software. Be sure and check out the newer videos.

[@copred]

it's a "fiachetto". It's where you position your pawns in a V formation and put the bishop in between them. It's a very strong position and really hard to attack.

[@IsaacPiera]

3:15 if you take the pawn with the queen and black pushes with the knight, white can just move the queen to a4 pinning the knight. So it's not a bad move using the queen

[@ChessStuff64]

dude you are truly "one of a kind"

[@daviddemar8749]

thanks for introducing me to the regular Sicilian. I started my study of Black openings with the Sicilian Dragon but I kept getting creamed repeatedly by my computer so I concluded the Dragon was to aggressive for me at my current level.i can't wait to see how I do with this instead!

[@TheSpirtualHunt]

if white chooses to capture the pawn with the queen, the knight will advance to c6. If you decide to try to pinup the Knight at c6 with the bishop at b5, black can simply move his pawn to a6, forcing the bishop to retreat to a4, and then black can move his other pawn down to b5, locking the bishop up, where you will lose the bishop or face losing the queen.

[@CzarDmitry]

@Dawson Cosmos... its the Fugees. This song made millions, where were ya?

[@aboutstudies123]

Thank you Sir. Easily understandable!

[@heymikev]

because it's best not to break up your kingside pawn rank. at some point you'll want to castle (earlier than later) and it's important to have those three pawns as a nice defense.

[@PINOYMIGO]

On your website on the first Best Move and #10 instead of the pawn you could have checkmated the king by bringing the queen down the diagonal capturing the pawn and being guarded by the dark square bishop. If you check that out that'd be great.

[@monkey293]

you can block with... basically everything. The knight, the bishop, or even the queen if you wanted to.

[@Jeff0ko1]

I like this defence, it`s very strong and agressive

[@OmniNero]

It's called fianchetto. This move attempts to take control of the center diagonal (largest diagonal on the board).

[@rello829]

you got a good voice for teaching

[@wassyjalal8447]

At 3:40 move up your c pawn up one and then when black takes take with the knigh, developing and gaining a tempo

[@ForumArcade]

@iddtelyoubut Fianchetto. It's when you move the bishop to either the B2 or G2 square (for white), or B3/G3 for black. Typically, the B/G pawn would be one square ahead of its home rank for the fianchetto.

[@ailst]

The movement-arrow of the pawn is still shown while he hovers the knight over it before taking. So it looks like the movement-arrow is a gigantic horn.

[@Aleneden]

the third move should be d4 after the Knight comes out because he'll gain some sort of tempo over his enemy and from there its going to be good because if black takes then he can get into the English attack.

[@burnsyy9119]

Play Pd4.If black takes you can recapture later on.That way you have a bit more centre control.After that just go ahead and develop.

[@MrLoZFanatic]

e5 is in the spirit of the Najdorf. However this usually comes after playing a6 so white isn't able to get the bishop or either night onto the b5 square early.

[@Hallyboy2k12]

fianchetto, it is when you play b and g pawn foward and move your bishop behind it

[@dariuszlipowski7632]

Have you ever play such game as Taifho ? It`s chess and checker combination. Fantastic game.

[@janusmagus]

@oryxfreeride if you are refering to an attack with Queen and Bishop, your best defense is actually Nc3. Stops the whole attack.

[@awaisnh]

Sounds like he's trying to execute the 'Scholar's Mate' which I'm sure you've heard of. You can easily prevent his aggressive nature by playing the french defense, or even the king's indian. Check them out.

[@michaelgriefen7377]

This is a great instructional website. I enjoy Kevin's commentary a lot, and I am learning so much! Do you know what did lovely music is?

[@southernknight9983]

Just a small gripe. If you are going to show a defense play, show black from the bottom, which is the perspective that you would have, if you were actually playing. Cheers!

[@AngeloWasHere]

good video. good explanation in detail. good stuff over all.

[@TheLethalHobo]

I was thinking the same thing, that would be white's best move there. Probably moving bishop to d7 would work because it would force him to completely withdraw since the threat is created of killing the white bishop undefended, rather than moving the knight there to just create a fork later, but I'm no expert.

[@MADMAC572]

@darkslientt The Sicilian Defense is a "defense" and hence does not have to be defended against. White is usually focussed on trying to attack it and break it down. In my experience, this has often led to white casteling queen side in order to free his entire king side pawn structure for offense against it.

[@Ellie926k]

You were discussing variations and one thing that kept coming to my mind was moving the kings pawn up to E5 to attack the knight and control the center of the board. Why isn't this a good option?

[@arshiakarthikeyan3932]

Yes Artistry, I agree

[@alkoalholic4270]

Tell me you didn't hear that beginning track and go to immediately to play refugees-ready or not and put one in the air! Yessum. Videos are helping a lot too, thanks.

[@zanetruesdale8336]

I have been trying this opening out as black everytime my opponent opens e4 and 90% of the time I win and I am not even experienced. I don't know why but this opening just works. I will definitely look into all the variations of it.

[@calvindong8]

I like yugioh and chess as well.

[@chesswebsite]

haha yeah I noticed that too, sorry i meant white. thanks for the heads up.

[@logan32086]

Enjoy your videos very much! Thanks for making it easy to understand.