Should I learn the Sicilian?

@TheSquare said in #10: Yeah at 1800 going further u don't want Alekhine as a top 2 but it's a great surprise weapon. > """"I'll have a look at that, thanks. Btw what are the main plans and how do I deal with my backward d-pawn?""""" GM Daniel King has a book and great videos on Kalashnikov. At 1800 you might want to start the Najdorf or Taimanov lines instead. But again not many are as prepped for Kalashnikov. To me it's like an improved Petrov or Berlin. And yeah you will need to keep eye on d5 hole and d6 pawn. Use queen, rook something. Similar strategies as other e5 Sicilians. Queen side push. Pushing f5 is also big or Fianchetto bishop on g7 happens sometimes. White seems less aggressive against it. And if they make the wrong knight move they can lose tempi. Even Nb5 gets kicked then potentially another time while expanding queenside. But at 1800 if Najdorf is too played out for u do Taimanov and add Kalashnikov eventually. https://youtu.be/csGNIu0cyxw?si=GxSpsC4_Brvyz37L