Tackling the Alapin | Speelman vs Tal & Varley vs King

[@PowerPlayChess]

►My Anti-Sicilian course: www.chessable.com/king-s-anti-sicilians-for-black/course/139388/

[@willhk4809]

That Tal game is spectacular (as one would expect)!

[@emilsadykhov123]

By the words of Mikhail Tal-“when two of your pieces are hanging, offer a third”

[@davidcopson5800]

This is very helpful as I come across the Alapin occasionally and never really know what is best against it.

[@ReachingHigher001]

Too many lines to choose from, huh?

[@LateCloser]

I used to be a e6 Sicilian player, liking the Schveningen variation. However, I never tried it against the Alapin, oddly enough. Always played d5, after I saw a Seirawan game which plays e6 (later though) blocking in the bishop on c8. Never had trouble against the Alapin, but it can get complicated. Going to try the suggested lines in your course, which I bought. Haven't got to the Alapin yet, tackling the Rossolimo atm. Also, different than what I normally play. Very interesting stuff. Looking forward to future videos highlighting your Anti-Sicilian course on Chessable. Lot of material, looks like everything one would need to know is covered and it's great that you present it as a compliment to the Kalashnikov course.

[@PowerPlayChess]

Thanks!

[@robcampbell3118]

Entertaining, informative and eductational, and relaxing too, thanks!

[@otherguylb5629]

As an e4 player, I have been playing against Sicilian for many years. Alapin has never been my reply to c5. It feels great right? You get those pawns in the centre, what could go wrong? :D Well, this video shows it. It's like that famous(or infamous) Ponziani. It has all the characteristics of a great move for white, yet nearly no one plays it. :) Great video as always Mr. King.

[@markjuhasz2803]

I have alred bought It. Fascinating Creates new problems to my opponents

[@agentm-8389]

8:06 I love this quote 🤣

[@dr.deepakgore1079]

Best teaching and versatile teacher , thanks King sir🎉❤

[@markjuhasz2803]

My game today went: 1. e4 c5 2. c3 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. exd exd 5. d4 Nc6 6. Bb5 Bd6 7. 0-0 Nf6 8. Re1+ Be6 9. Ng5 0-0 10. Rxe6 fxe6 11. Nxe6 Bxh2+ 12 Kxh2 Qd6+ 13. Nf4 g5 and I were clearly better, but as I were out of book so I only achieved a draw. :) But I consider this as an excelent opening full of traps . Thx Mr GM.

[@PowerPlayChess]

There you go! ...Bxh2+ BOOM!! It works!

[@joseraulcapablanca8564]

Sparkling from Tal and a little bit of Tal from yourself. Thanks Daniel

[@RoyGazoff]

A very smooth vid, both very nice games, by Tal and by Daniel

[@i.g.l.z.9215]

A lovely and instructive presentation, such a sparkling energy that you convey indeed 😃!

[@DG-ss2zd]

Qb6 great move, I was unsure on the follow up to sacing the pawn, thanks for the content again

[@Appelsientje284]

Litterly the best course of 2023! Thank you so much!!

[@PowerPlayChess]

Delighted you like it!

[@yanair2091]

Nice video. I like how you show two games with similar motive.

[@natureechoesmusic]

Instantly bought the course. Bit confused about learning a good chunk of French theory, but love it so far!

[@PowerPlayChess]

There isn't much French theory to know about - only the Advance Variation!

[@Nozzle8765]

As a long time French player I’m always very happy to face the advance. Less theoretically rated than Nc3 and white players often don’t seem to be well prepared. I think they see it as the lazy option

[@ReachingHigher001]

​@@Nozzle8765 That's why it gives you a worthwhile advantage.

[@melrakan]

@@Nozzle8765 This is absolutely it for me as well. If we get into French territory, I'm happy and likely the more prepared of us between me and my opponent.

[@brouquier7172]

Will you release the course in book form like you did with the Kalashnikov variation? It's a great edition and I much prefer it over learning the course online

[@PowerPlayChess]

That is going to be my next project, but it will take some time to realise.

[@predpalina]

That was very spectacular GM DK!?:)

[@thomaskember3412]

I think after this I might start playing the Sicilian again. I’ve been playing the French lately and almost all my opponents play the exchange variation rather like in these games.

[@robinesperoza]

Great video. :) Very entertaining games, both of them.

[@thomasb9225]

Looks interesting I will give it a try - at the moment I always play 2.g6 against the Alapin

[@ReachingHigher001]

That's actually one of the worst responses, but if it works for you...

[@nomoreblitz]

@@ReachingHigher001 Does that mean that you take after 3.d4 with cxd4 and White gets the central-pawn duo plus the c3-square for his Knight? (Or do you gamble your c-pawn: 2.c3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.dxc5. If 4...Qc7 5.Be3?)

[@ReachingHigher001]

@@nomoreblitz That's not what I meant, but White is better in the line you mentioned either way.

[@thomasb9225]

@@ReachingHigher001 why? The hyperaccelerated dragon is a dangerous weapon if you know how to play it. It has all the advantages of the dragon and white has no chance to play the english attack like in the normal dragon.

[@shouldersofgiants4649]

Congratulations on the course Mr. King, excited to check out your recommendations. Any chance we will get this in a traditional book format?

[@PowerPlayChess]

That will be my next project, but it will take me some time to realise.

[@Komnenos1234]

These positions are sort of like what you reach with the Tarrasch Defense.

[@PowerPlayChess]

They are similar of course - but with the difference that White's pawn is on c3 so that development is just a little slower.

[@tomas-wi8dy]

Thank you!

[@sam-lz6pi]

Maybe they meant two pawns and a "cheque" as good compensation?

[@BMIELTS]

Can you do a video on Nodirbek’s game against Esipenko from WR Chess Masters round 2? It was one of the most entertaining games ever played

[@m42orion12]

New course is good danny,drooling over the book.

[@PowerPlayChess]

Patience!

[@m42orion12]

@@PowerPlayChess lol danny,does a series of chess middle game or end studies as books....or a new edition of one of your old ones.

[@djgresearch]

Looks good! I think you'd need to be ready for the Advance French though.

[@roqsteady5290]

Yes, but there is a clear strategy for black - to attack white's extended centre with moves like c5 and f6, so not too hard to learn what to do.

[@melrakan]

King does have a course on the French as well. Combining that course with your own research will do you nicely. I will say that if I get an Advance French out of the Alapin I'll call that a small win already.

[@kenhoadley1798]

And what line is recommended against the Advanced French? If you play the standard 3...c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf6 Qb6 you have to be ready for 6.a3, 6.Be2 or Milner Barry Gambit variants with 6.Bd3, each with their own supporters. Many club players who play the Alapin (aware of this transposition) play the Advanced against the French anyway.

[@melrakan]

@@kenhoadley1798 The gambits are really good for Black if you just know how to deal with them. You do have to be comfortable in slightly cramped positions but the Advance is a really good opening for Black, too.

[@kenhoadley1798]

@@melrakan who says the gambits are good for Black? How do you answer 1.e4 c5 2.c3 e6 3.d4 d5 4.e5 c5 5.c3 Nc6 6.Nf3 Qb6 7.Bd3 Bd7 8.O-O cxd4 9.cxd4 Nxd4 10.Nbd2 and her 9.Re1 has also been played at a high level.

[@bonghunezhou5051]

Game #1: a B *and* a R sacrifice; wow, and in a blitz game, no less!

[@alirzagorgun9028]

I'm interested in buying the course but I have a problem with the rossolimo does the course entail a sharp reply for black?

[@PowerPlayChess]

Against the Rossolimo I recommend 3...Nf6. It cuts across White's attacking options and can lead to some sharp positions (depending on how White plays) but above all, it is sound!

[@Ebobster]

Very interesting but what happens if White transposes into the Advanced French defense with e5 instead of exd? Most Sicilian players are not too keen on playing the Black side of the French defense.

[@PowerPlayChess]

Once White players go in for 2 c3, Black is not going to reach the free-flowing structure that Sicilian adventurers crave, so one has to settle on something else. And in that case, why not a French Advance variation? Or the IQP positions? Both offer excellent counter-attacking chances. Theoretically both are fine for Black. The French Advance is certainly not a problem for Black - there are many different ways of handling it and I discuss that in the course and the book (and provide a clear recommendation). Book is published on 6th November! www.newinchess.com/king-s-anti-sicilians-for-black

[@jddrew00]

Nobody versus King and gets away with it!

[@LongBananaProduction]

For game 2, what happens if 12. Bxd5?

[@PowerPlayChess]

12...Nxd5 13 Qxd5 Ra7 gives Black a huge initiative. Look at those bishops!

[@huddunlap3999]

I enjoyed the video but I was hoping you would cover the Nf6 or d5 lines. These are very common anti smith morra lines.

[@PowerPlayChess]

But these moves are not my recommendation against the Alapin, nor against the Morra (take the pawn!) so why would I discuss them?

[@huddunlap3999]

@@PowerPlayChess I am surprised you suggest taking the pawn in the Smith Morra. This can be very costly against a lower rated but well prepared opponent, as Luke Van Wely found out in his game against Mark Esserman.

[@PowerPlayChess]

@@huddunlap3999 Citing one game doesn't really provide much evidence that the Miora is any good. Please take a look at the course (and my games). It's really quite straightforward for Black.

[@skakdosmer]

Love it!

[@pierremontz2628]

Bravo!

[@BMWE-hm7uz]

I play the alapin against 1 c5, and welcome the advanced French if it's possible. In my experience sicilian players don't really want to play a French, hence 1 c5 and not 1 e6. So whilst I accept that it's hardly a dangerous line, it's not a game black wants. Instead of Be3 though, Bb5 seems to give white a bit better chances with Qa4 and Ne5 simply. Can easily gain a pawn if black isn't fully conversant of what is happening. Whites dark squared Bishop isn't so obvious where it belongs so early, on f4 or g5, maybe even d3 in some lines, depending on where blacks dark squared Bishop is, generally good to trade those off in an IQP/ hanging pawns position.

[@szilagyiandras-o9j]

Greeting. Dear GM Daniel King. What do you think of Fischer's bizarre claim that the Kasparov Karpov games were fixed? I think Fischer's statement is nonsense

[@PowerPlayChess]

Obviously nonsense.

[@szilagyiandras-o9j]

@@PowerPlayChess Thank you for response

[@stoutlager6325]

Nice p-bass, Daniel.

[@PowerPlayChess]

Oh yeah.

[@tonysu8860]

Yeah, I see White always playing exd5 and wonder why it seems like such a natural move. It transposes into the Exchange French where Black already has played c5 (on the first move offering the Sicilian) and usually the Exchange French favors the player that can get in the c pawn advanced to the fourth rank first, getting the IQP with the typical advantage in space as compensation for the possible endgame weakness. But giving a player like Tal extra attacking resources is inadvisable. And, maybe the same for any lower player against a GM. In other words, playing a dull Exchange French might good strategy against a lot of players but if you're playing a player with attacking talent, this is one opening to avoid (as White).

[@XX-ih8zu]

11:56. Why can't white simply take that d5 pawn with their bishop? I don't get it.

[@derekjones2511]

I was wondering about that as well.

[@melrakan]

Well what you'll notice is that after Nxd5 Qxd5 White can't really castle kingside because of Bxh2 and White's Queen is gone. So White's King is just really stuck in the centre while Black goes Ra7, castles kingside, and then White really has to castle queenside and immediately comes under the fire of all Black's heavy pieces. The Queen is vulnerable in the center of the board as well. Black just gets a really nice initiative and has a clearly better position if that pawn is taken and it's all because White's king position is a bit weak and White can't develop as quickly as Black due to that c3-pawn and taking so much time taking on d5.

[@chessmaster9638]

Because of Qe7+! and then after White loses His castling Right you win the bishop pair and can play Bb7 with tempo and a winning position

[@alexsoundias1974]

@@chessmaster9638 where’s the check? There’s a knight on e2

[@chessmaster9638]

@@alexsoundias1974 Sorry my mistake. I thought the knight was on f3. Yes Ra7 was Right with clear advantage

[@slowslav6653]

Power play to 100 K

[@nomoreblitz]

Black needs a line in the advance French.

[@PowerPlayChess]

Naturally. The French Advance is covered in the Chessable course.

[@V-li6wo]

Sorry mate, as a sicilian player I wont go into a french defense.

[@PowerPlayChess]

If White plays the Alapin, one cannot achieve the dashing open Sicilian to which you have nailed your identity. So why not go for the line I mention? After all the only French variation you need to concern yourself with is the Advance, and that is hardly a huge theoretical concern.

[@luigi777aa]

Alapin is almost always winning! Remember, You are not Tal, You are not King. You are going to lose if you play 1. ... c5.

[@PowerPlayChess]

Haha.

[@ReachingHigher001]

😆 Yeah. Ha-ha, indeed.