How To Counter The Sicilian?
Use Niche Lines Against The Sicilian
The Sicilian Defense is complicated to learn and master
It’s not possible to learn its hundreds of variations
To beat the Sicilian: specialize in a niche line that people don’t know
And use that line as your weapon of choice against the Sicilian
A niche line is a line that is good but not commonly played
This is what is done at the highest levels of chess
E.g. In the World Championship match between Caruana and Magnus
Caruana started with a King’s Pawn Opening
Magnus responded with a Sicilian
Caruana plays the Open Sicilian...
And Magnus responds with this move
This move indicates an Accelerated Dragon is coming
Caruana knows that (1) Magnus is an expert in this opening
(2) This opening will lead to a positional game
This is not good for Caruana
Since against Magnus, Caruana wants to play more tactically and aggressively
Because that will allow for positions where Magnus can make mistakes
So Caruana plays this move...
This move is a niche line of the Sicilian (the Rossolimo)
This is a good move that is uncommonly played
And Magnus was unprepared for it
This line leads to tactical board positions
This same idea happened with Kasparov and Karpov
Karpov started with a King’s Pawn Opening
Kasparov responded with a Sicilian
Karpov plays the Open Sicilian...
And Kasparov counters with the Open Sicilian
After the regular moves are played...
After the regular moves are played...
After the regular moves are played...
After the regular moves are played...
After the regular moves are played...
Kasparov surprises Karpov with the Pin Variation
This is a Niche Line that Kasparov prepared...
And Karpov was unfamiliar with it
