How To Reach Masters Playing The Sicilian Kan | Grandmaster Opening Repertoire

Hi guys, in this opening video I will present to you one of the very first Sicilian I started to play which was the Kan. It later became my mainline and I continued on with it until Master level. I think it's one of those openings you either love or hate. None the less it offers a lot of flexibility compared to many other Sicilian variations.
You can view the lines I covered in this video on Lichess @ lichess.org/study/vx8x6xds/CO...
In part 2 of this video, I did a follow up covering the Maroczy bind structures using the Hedgehog: • Mastering The Hedgehog...
Intro: (0:00)
English Setup 6.Be3: (00:46)
6.g3: (03:36)
6.Be2: (05:10)
5.Nc3 with 6.Bd3: (07:43)
Mainline 5.Bd3: (15:30)
Outro: (24:10)
Private Online Chess Classes: 50movesmagazine.com/collectio...
If you enjoy my content and want to support the channel. 😋 You can consider buying me a drink using the links below! :) Thanks in advance!
Paypal: Paypal.me/Moulthun 🙏🙏

[@jasonbraun3149]

I've been playing tournament chess for over 50 years but I'm just now looking at the Sicilian for the first time since the 70's! This video, your LiChess study and your games in ChessBase have been a big help getting me started.

[@arcticraven2462]

Nice clear teaching. No arrogant remarks or trying to be cute. Good instruction.

[@chanchchanchellor1545]

he doesnt have to try to be cute

[@iverson7394]

finally a sicilian kan video on KZbin! thank you sir!

[@MoltonChess]

🙌

[@ilyes_is_back]

The Kan has always been my favorite Sicilian, thank you so much for this video!

[@raiedfadhil6248]

Great and pretty helpful, wish you make more videos like this .Thank you

[@anonanon6764]

Thank you for the analysis and explanation of ideas. Good stuff

[@stefanjensen2139]

That was a really well structured video - I recently picked up the Kan variation after trying out the Nimzo Sicilian, this helped a lot 👏🏻

[@MoltonChess]

Glad it helped! :)

[@deanepeterson9286]

Thank you. Your videos are well-done and very helpful.

[@SenileBettflucht-mo1hf]

Thank you very much for this video, very interesting and helpful! I have been playing the Kan for many years (so far my only response to 1.e4 actually!) and I have got stuck with it in the meantime somehow. You have given me now some very promising new ideas for Black! I like very much your videos and your style anyway, so thanks a lot for everything!

[@MoltonChess]

Thanks for the feedback! 🙏

[@yeehaw9354]

thank, this is amazing. i've been playing the caro-kann against 1. e4 for ages but decided to switch and this is a rly good opening

[@Thegodiva1995]

The problem is White don't always allow you to play the Sicilian kan, he can opt not to go for open Sicilian. Or he can go for anti Sicilian lines like Alapin, how will you respond then? So it's important to know every nuance in the Sicilian. Be prepared to play the closed Sicilian.

[@yeehaw9354]

@@Thegodiva1995 yeah i realised this pretty quick, started playing the Kan in blitz so i could learn different lines

[@ragnarlerouge3556]

Bro that's so complete ! I played this opening for so long and now i realise that i played it poorly. Even like that it got me to 1800 elo, can't wait to see where it will get me once i'll master it ! I still have a lot to learn but i hope to be as good as you one day. Thanks for the video i'm sure it will help me improve a lot !

[@MoltonChess]

Thanks for watching!

[@RickyMccoshen-tg8ep]

Thank you so much! Really insightful. I like this system for black!

[@MoltonChess]

🙏🙏

[@tonypeter8209]

Very clear in general picture understanding 🙏cool GM 😎

[@MoltonChess]

Thanks for watching

[@fandastruhal5231]

perfect video and comment , thank you..

[@ganeshpillai7545]

Excellent video

[@Chess_Improvement]

great video very simple , very helpful

[@MoltonChess]

Glad it was helpful! 🙏

[@wandivargas41]

Excellent. 😎

[@maoropizzagalli4153]

Just what I need, I feel blessed

[@MoltonChess]

🙌

[@masterxkumar]

very informative !

[@MoltonChess]

🙌

[@sujeetrao9288]

Thanks ❤

[@darkhelmet5695]

Like the pace and easy presentation. Lot of masters spend 5 minutes on intro or try to dazzle you or be funny. Most viewers just want the meat of the content. thx

[@MoltonChess]

🙏🙏

[@thuq234]

Thanks for this video! I like the flexible nature of the Kan and wanted to try it out! Thanks!

[@MoltonChess]

🙌

[@northshores7319]

Excellent analysis. Trading off that W Bishop is essential. Leaving the B Bishop on a7 stops w's f4 move and can box the W King in. There is quite a bit of calculation involving trades and attacks if W goes for pawn pushes leading for the possibility of mistakes. Keep up the good work.

[@MoltonChess]

🙏🙏

[@stephencindrich6787]

Never really considered the Kan Sicilian. Seems-like in any repertoire- there’s a good amount of study involved! At my level, 1700, it’s pretty daunting. Glad to know it got you to master! 👍

[@MoltonChess]

Yep I think even if you choose an opening with little to no theory. You still need to be more familiar with the moves and ideas than your opponent is

[@_AGX111]

Hey, love the video! Your explainations are my favourite on YT. Would your anti-sicilian lines change at all if your main is the Kan?

[@Sr.Bulgari]

thank you

[@MoltonChess]

🙌

[@frequensea9434]

I might need to start playing this instead of the Caro. It transposes into the Hedgehog quite well and it’s way more solid and the ideas are explained very well! Thank you

[@MoltonChess]

Both openings have its appeals 🙏

[@frequensea9434]

@@MoltonChess I see you made a 3 min Caro video. Any plans on extending that as you’ve done for the other openings?

[@MoltonChess]

Perhaps when I get time to, maybe later in the year

[@davidblue819]

That all makes sense. Now I want to play the Sicilian Kan.

[@MoltonChess]

:)

[@Sinister_Cagnus]

Great video and I love your style of content. I just started getting into sicilian defenses and this was exactly what I needed. Question: I saw your video where you ranked the sicilian defenses, in the video it said under some sicilians that they allowed the maroczy bind, what is it that allows the maroczy bind and would you recommend playing for example the taimanov instead to avoid it?

[@MoltonChess]

The Maroczy Bind is a setup when White places his pawns on e4 and c4. However I wouldn't worry about it unless you are above 2000 level when people start to play it more often. Even then if you are comfortable playing Black it is still okay.

[@mehmetemin903]

👏👍

[@MoltonChess]

🙏

[@Flexo-ip4wy]

Great video, I play a lot of kan and find myself playing Nc6 more often than nd7. I noticed you suggested Nd7 a lot as well. How do you make the decision of where to put that knight? Any patterns to look out for when making the decision?

[@MoltonChess]

Nc6 is usually good if you need the d7 square to retreat the other knight. If you need to challenge the knight on d4 or sometimes you can play for b4/Nb4 to challenge Whites light squared Bishop.

[@DextahPC]

5. Nc3 with 6. Bd3. I know I should take what the engine says with a grain of salt, but it seems both the engine and most master games prefer Nf6 before Bc5 to prevent Qg4 and the weakening of the dark squares with g6. Is there a reason you recommend the immediate Bc5 in lieu of Nf6? Thanks for the great videos! Subbed.

[@MoltonChess]

Nf6 is fine too you can mix and match. Reason I usually play Bc5 is to kick away the knight to b3 where it is usually less useful than on d4. But as you say it does allow Qg4. I don't mind it so much but if you find it annoying then Nf6 is probably the way to go for you.

[@DextahPC]

@@MoltonChess Thanks!

[@GreenHope42]

This was a great video 🤩 Have you released the Maroczy Bind Hedgehog video yet?

[@MoltonChess]

Thanks not yet I will release that one soon probably later this week

[@GreenHope42]

@@MoltonChess These videos are great timing as I've just started looking at Sicilian Kan

[@jasonbraun3149]

In the line with 7) Qg4, is 7)...Bf6 playable instead of g6? I see it as the 2nd most played move in my database and the results seem to be similar. I always seem to have problems developing my king knight and castling when I play g6.

[@alexdoe1739]

I'm curious why the Kan isn't so popular at the higher levels. Even in your videos you rank it behind Taimanov and Classical. The former is very hard to play I find (basically a harder Najdorf when english attack) and the latter gives very little chance to black with the Richter-Rauzer. Why do you think it isn't played more? What's it's weakness? The only thing I see is that it's hard to win in the Marockzy bind (but seems you can just break it by exchanging a lot of pieces and force a draw ... shouldn't be attractive for white to play it)

[@MoltonChess]

I think it's because of the Marozcy and many lines where Black has very little space and needs to be patient a d resourceful. I have played it for a long time and so am used to it. However its not to everyone's liking.

[@pedrojcoruna]

Thanks , then against Maroczy Bind, do you recommend another defense?

[@MoltonChess]

As a Kan player against Maroczy we will learn the Hedgehod in a later video.

[@hugocruz2439]

my favourite sicilian! so flexible, but the management of the c8 bishop is kinda tricky when you just start playing the kan, specially for low rate player like me

[@MoltonChess]

Yeah it does get some getting used to at the start

[@davidstar2362]

@@MoltonChess don't you have to take the pin rook or on the next move he will block with his white bishop? what to do after that??

[@MoltonChess]

@@davidstar2362 Which position are you referring to?

[@trumplostlol3007]

I always play this variation without knowing much about the theory, so I have been making a lot of mistakes. But at my low level, it is ok and easy to play most of the time.

[@MoltonChess]

Yep it was my very first Sicilian because it was quite easy to play

[@RobPalmer454]

Thoughts on the Taimanov?

[@kevinespina3289]

Do you prefer the kan over the taimanov? What are the pro and con of each?

[@MoltonChess]

I prefer the Kan until much higher levels when people start playing the Maroczy Bind or c4 setups. Then you have to adopt a Hedgehog formation. Against the Taimanov c4 is not playable for White which is handy but he has many other good systems and alot of theory to learn there. Depends which you prefer

[@pbarcubez]

In depth sicilian dragon pls!

[@MoltonChess]

👍

[@wellblech94]

Nice Video, good insight into the Kan variation. Unfortunately i was searching for a little analysis of Ba7 in the mainline. Mainline - c3 instead if Nb3 is also interesting. These two lines would be a good additon to the video. But of course you can not cover everything. So this is no critic at all.

[@MoltonChess]

Yeah Ba7 is definitely the objectively better move though I don't play it as often and would have made the video much longer as you said. It's quite easy to play though. You just setup your pieces with usually Nc6-Nf6-d6-b5 0-0 and often trade I'd they play Be3.

[@wellblech94]

@@MoltonChess thanks for the fast answer! Then today i can confidentally play it!

[@mrpizza6503]

Waiting To see what he says On Maroczy

[@MoltonChess]

👍

[@darksniperdragon]

3:46 why is white forced to play Nde2 here? What's wrong with Bd2?

[@MoltonChess]

Bd2 is playable too but I think it's not as good. Since after Black plays Nc6 the knight is being attacked and White doesn't particularly want to trade. Then he needs to waste time moving it and Black will play more or less the same setup

[@imeaniguess.6963]

Is there a good book about Sicilians? 🤔

[@MoltonChess]

I actually don't know, I haven't read that many opening books 😅

[@ChonChorizo]

how can we reach predator?

[@MoltonChess]

I only managed to reach Masters but maybe you can :)

[@LoboPro]

what this man doesnt know about chess or broadcasting could fill a book.. some people are so far behind in the race the actually think they are leading

[@JimCarmody]

The study is marked "private".

[@MoltonChess]

Thanks changed it to Public now

[@kevinwellwrought2024]

White does not need to play Nc3, instead Bd3 would suit white much better!

[@MoltonChess]

I think I covered that later in the video :)

[@kevinwellwrought2024]

@@MoltonChess that is great! In fact Bd3 is the main line and Ivanchuke and Anand won many games with it as white

[@ErixMarcanoRivera]

Great video. Can't wait for the Marocsy

[@kevinwellwrought2024]

@@ErixMarcanoRivera what is marocsy?

[@ErixMarcanoRivera]

@@kevinwellwrought2024 i mean Maroczy is a white variant against the Sicilian.

[@athenacapablanca3118]

I initially didn’t click on your videos because from your thumbnail I thought you were like 12 😅

[@MoltonChess]

🤣