Expert: Len Molden - 11/21/2010

Question
QUESTION: Mr Molden:
Thank you in advance for your time and expertise.
I am USCF 1300 to 1400 and I play chess weekly and participate in about two tournaments per year.I am also an adult with limited time to study.I like to play the semi-open defenses vs e4 and already play the
French and Caro-Kann so naturally the Sicilian should be my next natural step.My question is:since there are so many variations to the Sicilian, some very theoretical,which line would recommend an amateur to learn first? I am looking for a solid line with good chances in the endgame since am presently spending 80% of my book time on "strategic endgames as well as on "technical endings".Could you also recommend study some material?
Thank you.
Ed








ANSWER: Hi Ed,

Thanks for your excellent explanation of what you're looking for in the Sicilian Defense.

The variation I'd recommend is the Sicilian Kan:

http://www.chessmastery.com/sicilian-kan.html

It's one of the most flexible and easy-to-play variations in the entire Sicilian complex.  In contrast to opening labyrinths like the Dragon and Najdorf, Black is not forced to memorize massive amounts of opening theory.

Success in the Sicilian Kan is based on understanding certain principles and a system of development.  White players are often confused by Black's elastic approach.  Players like Kasparov and Kramnik have employed it in their careers.

Regards,

Len

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Mr.Molden:
Thank you for your prompt reply.
Could you expand a bit on the endgame aspect of the Sicilian Kan defense.
Thank you.
Ed

Answer
Hi Ed,

As the Sicilian Kan is probably the most positional variation in the entire Sicilian complex, it naturally will lead to more endgames - which is what you're looking for.

Here's an example of two endgames resulting from the Sicilian Kan:

[Event "Gibraltar Masters"]
[Date "2004.02.03"]
[White "Chanda Sandipan"]
[Black "Vladimir Epishin"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2522"]
[BlackElo "2633"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Be3 d6 7. Nd2 Nd7 8. Qg4 Qf6 9. N2b3 e5 10. Ne2 Ne7 11. Qg3 Bxe3 12. Qxe3 O-O 13. O-O b6 14. Nd2 Nc5 15.b4 Nxd3 16. cxd3 d5 17. f4 Qh6 18. Rac1 Bg4 19. h3 Bxe2 20. Qxe2 exf4 21. Qf2 Rac8 22. Rxc8 Rxc8 23. Qxf4 Qxf4 24. Rxf4 Rc2 25. exd5 Rxd2 26. d6 Kf8 27.dxe7+ Kxe7 28. Re4+ Kf8 29. a4 Rxd3 30. Rc4 Ke7 31. Rc6 Rd6 32. Rc7+ Ke6 33.Ra7 b5 34. axb5 axb5 35. Rb7 Rd5 36. Rb6+ Kf5 37. Rb7 Kg6 38. Kf2 h5 39. g3 Kf6 40. Rb6+ Kg5 41. Rb7 Rf5+ 42. Ke3 g6 43. Rb6 f6 44. Rc6 h4 45. g4 Rf1 46. Rc5+ f5 47. Rxb5 Rh1 48. gxf5 gxf5 49. Rb8 Rxh3+ 50. Kf2 Rb3 51. b5 h3 52. b6 Kf4 53. b7 h2 54. Kg2 Rh3 55. Kh1 Rh7 56. Ra8 Rxb7 57. Kxh2 Rb2+ 58. Kg1 Re2 59.Ra5 Ke4 60. Kf1 Rd2 61. Ke1 Rc2 62. Ra3 Kf4 1/2-1/2
======================================================================

[Event "Bundesliga-2 West 2000/2001"]
[Date "2001.01.07"]
[White "Lothar Vogt"]
[Black "Sebastian Siebrecht"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2478"]
[BlackElo "2386"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. O-O d6 7. c4 Nbd7 8. Nc3 Qc7 9. f4 b6 10. Kh1 Bb7 11. Qe2 Be7 12. Bd2 O-O 13. Rae1 Rfd8 14. Nf3 Nf8 15.e5 N6d7 16. Be4 Bxe4 17. exd6 Bxd6 18. Nxe4 Ng6 19. Nxd6 Qxd6 20. Ng5 Nf6 21.Bc3 Qd3 22. Ne4 Nxe4 23. Qxe4 Rac8 24. Qxd3 Rxd3 25. Re4 Nf8 26. Rd4 Rxd4 27.Bxd4 Rxc4 28. Bxb6 Rb4 29. Bc5 Rxb2 30. a3 Rb5 31. Be7 Ng6 32. Bd6 Rd5 33. Bc7 Rd7 34. Rc1 f6 35. g3 Ne7 36. Ba5 Kf7 37. Bb4 Nd5 38. Rc6 Nxb4 39. axb4 Ra7 40.Kg2 a5 41. bxa5 Rxa5 42. Rc7+ Kg6 43. g4 h5 44. h3 h4 45. Re7 Ra2+ 46. Kg1 Ra6 47. Kg2 Rb6 48. Kf3 Rb2 49. Rxe6 Rh2 50. Ke4 Rxh3 51. g5 Rh1 52. Ra6 h3 53. Kf3 Rg1 54. Ra2 fxg5 55. fxg5 Kxg5 56. Ra5+ Kh4 57. Ra4+ Kh5 58. Ra8 Rg6 59. Ra5+ Rg5 60. Ra8 Rb5 61. Ra3 g5 62. Kg3 g4 63. Rc3 Kg5 64. Ra3 Kf5 65. Rc3 Rb1 66.Rc5+ Ke6 67. Rc2 Rg1+ 68. Kh2 Re1 69. Kg3 Re4 70. Rc5 Kf6 71. Ra5 Re1 72. Ra2 Kf5 73. Ra5+ Re5 74. Ra3 Rb5 75. Rc3 Rb1 76. Rc5+ Ke6 77. Rc2 Rb4 78. Rc5 Kf6 79. Ra5 Rb1 80. Ra2 Rg1+ 81. Kh2 Rg2+ 82. Rxg2 hxg2 83. Kxg2 1/2-1/2

I recommend that you buy the book I listed, and play over the games in the book.  Also look at Kan games in online databases like:

http://www.chessgames.com

http://www.newinchess.com/NICBase/Default.aspx?PageID=400

...and play both regular and speed games with it.  You'll start to get a feel for the typical endgames that can arise.

Regards,

Len