Key Patterns Every Sicilian Player Must Know

Here is Part 2! • Key Sicilian Patterns ...
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00:31 The Borderguard Bishop
02:20 Improving the Dark-Squared Bishop
02:51 Filling an Outpost with a Pawn
04:00 Opposite-Colored Bishop Middlegame
04:28 A Sveshnikov Exchange
05:52 The Knight on a4 is Miles Away from d5
07:56 The Key Pawn Break
09:39 A Premature Pawn Break
11:26 Playing Around the Knight on d5
14:32 Central Counterpunch
18:30 The Soviet Sac
25:37 Homework Position
Chess expertise relies mostly on knowing thousands of patterns and chunks. Thus, I am starting this video series on typical patterns and chunks on different openings. We begin with the Sicilian Defense, the opening of the world champions. We delve into recurrent and pivotal Sicilian patterns, probing deeply by posing 'why' questions. We look at the typical exchange operations, pawn breaks, and middlegame plans in the Sicilian Defense.
This way of studying the openings will allow you to understand deeply the general plans and ideas of your openings, and this way you fight against rote memorization. This means, that even if you are out of book, you will still find strong moves based on these general plans and patterns that speak to the position. We cannot avoid memorizing moves while studying openings, but this should be accompanied by learning these important and recurrent opening patterns.

[@user-gy9lq9qg4h]

I would love to see some catalan patterns...also love the format of these type of videos

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Love the idea, Catalan patterns will surely follow!

[@Huh67784]

Please do.. I struggle both with and against the catalan

[@user-gg6df4xr3i]

@@Dr.CansClinic the catalan is now my main so this would be helpful also,against d4 i play the nimzo semi tarrasch repertoire from GM Ganguly on chessable.

[@mohammadnaufal1027]

I like very much this format : namely KEY Opening Chess PATTERNS . I believe this format can help MUCH, especially for serious chess player who want to upgrade their chess level. Hopefully in the very next video, this channel will upload another key pattern some popular opening such as : Italian, Nimzo Indian, King Indian, Queen Gambit, etc. Thanks a lot for your great job 👍👍

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for your kind comment! 🙏 Those structures will surely follow, as I will probably turn this into a series.

[@michigan53105]

I love Sicilian content Dr. Can!!!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Sicilian is a big big ocean... ❤️

[@ZZuluZ]

One of the best chess videos I have ever seen.. and I’m half way through!!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is so nice to hear, thank you! 🙏

[@Mikejones011990]

I play the Sicilian about half of my games as black. My opening accuracy is usually better than 90%, but still struggle in the middle game. I think these plans and ideas will help a lot, so thanks for another great video! Loved the choice and analysis of that Kasparov game. Being able to play moves essentially automatically is a big advantage for several reasons. I'm still not when castle pawn moves are good, and knowing when and how to take is critical here. Your video on that helped, but it's tough balancing offense and defense. Also still make exchange calculation mistakes, fundamental as that skill is. Coming away with key weaknesses to work on is a valuable lesson in its own right. Thanks again.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for your detailed feedback and kind thoughts! Sicilian is a great opening, but a complex one. Hope these breakdowns will make it easier to digest.

[@guillaumeparadis6331]

I really like this format, thank you, please give us more. For the last problem I would push my pawn on d5 then bring my bishop on a3, I see no way to defend it. Our king is in the center, but no immediate attack and we can castle if needed so I don't see problem with opening the center, our attack will be quicker.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much! ...d5! is the right move, followed by ...Ba3!

[@MrMauPat]

I must say I like all of your videos so anything you will do it will be a gift for us.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is so nice and motivating to hear, thank you 🙏

[@MistaMasta12]

Excellent video, much more generic and detailed than the discussion we had on the d5-square on Twitter 🙂 Thank you, Coach!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for your extremely motivating feedback and for your generous contribution!! I really appreciate it ❤️🙏 More to come soon!

[@jonnyjansson7320]

Wow! This one really challenged me, because being a caro-kann and french player as black and a d4 player, as white these types of structures almost never appears in my games. It was not easy to find the right move and the follow up in the positions you shown today. In several of the positions, I didn't find the follow up, or the first move, or I reversed the move order. More of this type of content, please. A series covering the most common pawn structures, patterns and plans in different openings would be great. In the homework position, I would like to play 1..d5 awakening the bishop on e7 and go for an attack on white's king directly, since black's king can't be attacked and is therefore safe on e8. The drawback is that the rook on h8 for the time being is very unhappy. The queen on c1 is very badly placed in my opinion. My idéa is to utilise the possibility of a double pin of the b2-pawn along the b-file and the c1-a3 diagonal. This is what I calculated: 1..d5 2.exd5 Ba3 3.Na4 c3! 4.Nxc3 Bxb2 and black wins. If white tries 4.Rd3, black plays 4..Bxb2 5.Nxb2 Qc6 followed by 6..Rxb2+ which seems to be winning for black. I also looked at 1..d5 2.Nxd5 Ba3 3.c3 Bxb2 which also seems to win for black. An interesting try to stop black's idéa is 1..d5 2.Bxf6 Nxf6 (or 3..gxf6) 3.d6 and ..Ba3 isn't possible, but I think Black can play 2..Ba3 anyway. For instance, 3.Na4 (if 3.Bxg7 then 3..Bxb2 wins, or maybe first 3..Rg8 and the 4..Bxb2 is safer and better) gxf6 4.c3 Qb5 and the knight is trapped. In short, i think white is helpless after 1..d5.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Excellent analysis, thank you!! I will surely follow on these patterns and typical pawn structures & plans in different openings. French is coming soon I think :)

[@survivaloftheidiots6239]

Please make a Sicilian course, would buy immediatly 😂

[@Dr.CansClinic]

I am working on it! 😄

[@survivaloftheidiots6239]

@@Dr.CansClinic fantastic, thanks for the videos

[@erikfromc]

d5 has to be the move here, with the idea of opening up the bishop, perhaps bringing it to a3.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Correct!

[@yuezhao4576]

After white play Na4 and Ka1, black can play QB4 take the Knight and C3, Rb2 right? Thanks!@@Dr.CansClinic

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Na4 allows ...c3!@@yuezhao4576

[@ShaShaSha534]

This video is beautifully done! I started learning the Sicilian and kept finding myself trapped in the opening. Thank you. I also just got your calculation course on Chessable and as a 1000 rated player, it's helping me instill the habit of calculating checks, captures and threats from both mine as well as the opponent's perspective.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is so amazing to hear, thank you so much! More Sicilian patterns will follow! And thank you so much for studying my calculation course! Really happy to hear your feedback on it. Wishing you all the best in your chess journey! Please do not hesitate asking any questions along the way! ☺️

[@ShaShaSha534]

@@Dr.CansClinic Thanks! Actually, I am curious about a couple things if you happen to get a chance to reply. I was wondering how much game/analysis you recommend a 1000 ELO player (1500 lichess) vs. tactics training, and then if you accept students? I'll potentially be looking in the summer and appreciate your approach (I have an appreciation for neuroscience and metacognition, in general.) I am a consistent practicer.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you for the questions! I think you can spend around equal time on tactics and playing/analyzing at that level. You can contact me on lichess or chesscom when it comes to coaching inquiries (usernames on video descriptions). Thanks!@@ShaShaSha534

[@MichelHoetmer]

Very nice format! Najdorf and Catalan will be great too

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you! Those will follow surely!

[@user-gg6df4xr3i]

Im the playing the taimarnov at the moment,the new course on chessable by FM Christoph Kuberczyk.It's very very good indeed,but these patterns are essential none the less.

[@ThortheMerciless]

But the advantage of the Taimanov (and the Kan) is that the d5 square is not usually an outpost.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Yes I heard good things about that course too! I will also mention Taimanov structures in the future. Please let me know if there is a particular Taimanov pattern I should mention.

[@user-gg6df4xr3i]

@@Dr.CansClinic Will do,i will go through the typical structures and ideas chapter from the course and give examples for you.

[@peterstickland105]

Great video. I hope you cover some typical dragon positions in the next episode.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you! Time will come to Dragon structures too! Sicilian is so vast.

[@user-lu6mq1xv8w]

muhteşem bir yayın olmuş yine , tebrikler...

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Cok tesekkur ederim!

[@supermario1123]

The best teacher around! :)

[@Dr.CansClinic]

That is your awesomeness, thank you!

[@fernriver]

Absolutely Superb! Thank you!! ♟️

[@Dr.CansClinic]

My pleasure, thank you! ❤️

[@rafawerkauser]

Thats an amazing vídeo!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Glad you liked it! Please do not hesitate sharing it with your chess friends so we can reach more people. That is very important for me to keep on producing this series.

[@Not_that_Brian_Jones]

Love this video! Now, off to part 2

[@Dr.CansClinic]

❤️ Part 3 will follow too, Sicilian is a big jungle!

[@odinakauduma-stupendousmat749]

I really appreciate you for this video 🎉

[@Dr.CansClinic]

❤🙏

[@clintongryke6887]

Another brilliant one; the format I do like.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

❤️

[@RAFAELSILVA-by6dy]

Thanks

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much for your generous contribution! ❤️

[@donovan665]

Brilliant, more patterns more learning.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

❤️ More to come!

[@christophepaillette3077]

Very interisting vidéo, thanks a lot. I would love to learn French défense patterns.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

You are welcome! French will follow soon!

[@KF1]

This was a good episode. For the homework assignment, let's imagine we are immune to checkmate for 4 moves. So we have time to go bonkers attack. First D5. Material mashmerial. Then we play bishop all the way out. We are taking next nomatter what. Even if we lose we did a good one.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you so much! Excellent answer!

[@KikanKikan-wb1wr]

I am using dragon line for sisilian, but nice reference master

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Dragon structures will follow on the next part!

[@eschiedler]

homework spoiler - no engine The black king has not castled, thus the question is whether the black player can create any threat before castling kingside. The ensuing question becomes if both kings have castled on opposite flanks, whose attack has a positional or tactical threat and will strike first and be winning? The immediate Black d5 opens up the black bishop. d5 exd5 Ba3 threatens checkmate or wins queen after b3. d5 Ka1 d4 Nd5 Nc5 queen guards bishop so king can castle bringing the second rook into some attacking lines and the c5 pawn supports a cxb3 break if needed. If black castles now, it allows Nd5 and white will control exchanges, bury the black bishop and later pile up both rooks on the d6 pawn. Maintaning the initiatve keeps the black king safe. Edit: I missed that the tactical shot Nxh5 is killer for white if black castles and is far stronger than Nd5. Very interesting. 0-0 Nxh5 Nxh5 Bxe7 Re8 Bxd6 fantastic

[@irjake]

As a not very advanced player I could see d5 to open the bishop and the threats that come along with it, but predicting black's response is a bit too hard for me.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thank you! 1...d5 is good! 2. exd5 Ba3! 3. Na4 and what is your move?

[@eschiedler]

@@Dr.CansClinic Yes I did see Na4 defense of b2 I think I was going to calculate starting with Qb4 or Nb6. Nc5 is poor. Edit add: ok I took a few minutes and Qb4 white Qd2 defends. Nb6 bxa3 Nxa4+ Ka1 and black wins. Nd6 Nc3 Nxd5 I think wins.

[@Dr.CansClinic]

We have ...c3! against Na4. The b2-pawn is extremely pinned! ☺@@eschiedler

[@eschiedler]

@@Dr.CansClinic great idea for a pattern. Thanks.

[@adomaskuzinas2137]

Some nice ideas in there. But what happened at 23:21?

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks. I do my edits myself, and I did not reach perfection yet ☺️

[@adomaskuzinas2137]

​@@Dr.CansClinic damn near though!

[@Dr.CansClinic]

Thanks!@@adomaskuzinas2137