im not saying that its good but you can play the brussels gambit or Colorado gambit
@Susik_Gaboyan said (#9):
> Sicilian is the most active one against e4
Sorry, but in the way you said that it amounts to nonsense. Sicilian (well, to be precise: *some* sicilian lines, especially all sorts of the Lasker-variation, the Najdorf, the dragon, etc.) are very active AND at the same time result in very asymetrical unbalanced positions so that the fight immediately becomes very sharp and tactical. Other lines (i.e. the Grand Prix, Alapin, closed, Rossolimo) are more positionally themed but still have asymmetrical structures. *IF* this - unbalanced positions with lots of tactical opportunities - fits your definition of "active", then yes, the sicilian defense is a quite active response to e4. Still, the same could be said for the French Defense, the Two Knights (how "active" would you rate the Traxler- or Fritz-variation in comparison to a Sicilian, hm?) and many others.
If you want a similarly sharp position but a more symmetrical setup then the Scotch or the Marshall attack gives you that and i dare say that is no less "active" than any of the (sharp) sicilian lines. Yes, white can opt out and play the exchange variation in the Ruy Lopez or some rock-solid scotch line, but after 1.e4 c5 white is not obligated to play 2.Nf3 and 3.d4 either. See above, 2. Nc3, 2.c3, etc. are there and you cannot prevent that as black like you cannot prevent having to play the Giuoco Pianissimo, the exchange RL, etc. if white wants to.
So: yes, sicilian *can* lead to sharp, tactically loaded positions - as can other openings. I play the French regularly against 1.e4 and i had my share of McCutcheons and Alekhine-Chatard-games - as sharp as any sicilian dragon. In fact most half-open games have "counter-attack" as their overarching theme: French, Sicilian, Alekhine, Pirc-Ufimzev, Robatsch, ...
@AshrafulNafi :
Basically, black is always at an ever so slight disadvantage from the beginning of the game because white moves first. So, for black to become active - if white plays perfectly - he needs to accept some disadvantage to gain that activity. That can be material, space, time or whatever. To gain activity you need to be prepared to either "sacrifice" something (space in the Modern/Pirc/Robatsch systems, material in the Marshall attack, the mobility of the white-squared bishop in the French defense, etc.) in order to do so. Depending on what you give you get certain types of positions and you may like them or not. If the latter - look at the next one.
The principal alternative is not to give/concede anything and try to eliminate whites advantage over time. If you want to do that, look at the Ruy Lopez (main line, closed, Breyer, etc. - not the Marshall) and Italian variations. You will not gain as much activity but on the other hand you have a much more robust position. The problem with the very sharp and concrete positions is that one slight mistake is usually all it takes to make them implode on the spot. That goes for both sides - so, if you like or have no problem being in that situation, then go for it. If you want a position with more room for error then these very concrete positions are not suited well for you.
Also, if you want/tolerate to learn many variations by heart then go for concrete openings. Be aware, though, that you have to rely on your memory because usually it is not possible to find these lines OTB. You know them or you don't and if you don't you are usually dead. "Concrete" means there are very few or even only one line(s) of non-natural moves and everything else immediately loses. Playing less concretely on the other hand may not be so sexy but the second-, third- or fourth-best move which you may find OTB will at least give you a manageable position. That means, even if you forgot your theory you have still a chance in the game.
krasnaya
> Sicilian is the most active one against e4
Sorry, but in the way you said that it amounts to nonsense. Sicilian (well, to be precise: *some* sicilian lines, especially all sorts of the Lasker-variation, the Najdorf, the dragon, etc.) are very active AND at the same time result in very asymetrical unbalanced positions so that the fight immediately becomes very sharp and tactical. Other lines (i.e. the Grand Prix, Alapin, closed, Rossolimo) are more positionally themed but still have asymmetrical structures. *IF* this - unbalanced positions with lots of tactical opportunities - fits your definition of "active", then yes, the sicilian defense is a quite active response to e4. Still, the same could be said for the French Defense, the Two Knights (how "active" would you rate the Traxler- or Fritz-variation in comparison to a Sicilian, hm?) and many others.
If you want a similarly sharp position but a more symmetrical setup then the Scotch or the Marshall attack gives you that and i dare say that is no less "active" than any of the (sharp) sicilian lines. Yes, white can opt out and play the exchange variation in the Ruy Lopez or some rock-solid scotch line, but after 1.e4 c5 white is not obligated to play 2.Nf3 and 3.d4 either. See above, 2. Nc3, 2.c3, etc. are there and you cannot prevent that as black like you cannot prevent having to play the Giuoco Pianissimo, the exchange RL, etc. if white wants to.
So: yes, sicilian *can* lead to sharp, tactically loaded positions - as can other openings. I play the French regularly against 1.e4 and i had my share of McCutcheons and Alekhine-Chatard-games - as sharp as any sicilian dragon. In fact most half-open games have "counter-attack" as their overarching theme: French, Sicilian, Alekhine, Pirc-Ufimzev, Robatsch, ...
@AshrafulNafi :
Basically, black is always at an ever so slight disadvantage from the beginning of the game because white moves first. So, for black to become active - if white plays perfectly - he needs to accept some disadvantage to gain that activity. That can be material, space, time or whatever. To gain activity you need to be prepared to either "sacrifice" something (space in the Modern/Pirc/Robatsch systems, material in the Marshall attack, the mobility of the white-squared bishop in the French defense, etc.) in order to do so. Depending on what you give you get certain types of positions and you may like them or not. If the latter - look at the next one.
The principal alternative is not to give/concede anything and try to eliminate whites advantage over time. If you want to do that, look at the Ruy Lopez (main line, closed, Breyer, etc. - not the Marshall) and Italian variations. You will not gain as much activity but on the other hand you have a much more robust position. The problem with the very sharp and concrete positions is that one slight mistake is usually all it takes to make them implode on the spot. That goes for both sides - so, if you like or have no problem being in that situation, then go for it. If you want a position with more room for error then these very concrete positions are not suited well for you.
Also, if you want/tolerate to learn many variations by heart then go for concrete openings. Be aware, though, that you have to rely on your memory because usually it is not possible to find these lines OTB. You know them or you don't and if you don't you are usually dead. "Concrete" means there are very few or even only one line(s) of non-natural moves and everything else immediately loses. Playing less concretely on the other hand may not be so sexy but the second-, third- or fourth-best move which you may find OTB will at least give you a manageable position. That means, even if you forgot your theory you have still a chance in the game.
krasnaya
Look at this position from the sicilian: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be3 g6 7. f3 Bg7 8. Qd2 Bd7
9. Bc4 O-O 10. O-O-O Rc8 11. Bb3 Ne5 12. h4 Nc4
13. Bxc4 Rxc4 14. h5 Nxh5 15. g4 Nf6 16. Qh2 Rxc3
17. bxc3
Who is better, Black or White? The analysis board said it was equal, but what do you think about this position?
5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be3 g6 7. f3 Bg7 8. Qd2 Bd7
9. Bc4 O-O 10. O-O-O Rc8 11. Bb3 Ne5 12. h4 Nc4
13. Bxc4 Rxc4 14. h5 Nxh5 15. g4 Nf6 16. Qh2 Rxc3
17. bxc3
Who is better, Black or White? The analysis board said it was equal, but what do you think about this position?
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