Move 6

Brian-E · 2012-11-03, 08:41

The two reasonable moves which occur to me are 6.d3 and 6.Nf3. Does anyone consider any other moves worth considering?

As far as the above two are concerned:
6.d3 transposes back into the standard line of the closed sicilian which we avoided before.
6.Nf3 keeps the option of playing the d pawn straight to d4 later on instead. as mentioned by Zeta-Flux in our discussion of move 5. This might, in my opinion, indeed be possible at some point, saving a move if we have avoided playing d2-d3. However, I don't think it is a good idea to play d2-d4 too early. If, for example, 6.Nf3 Nf6 7.d4 I think Black can equalise without trouble with 7...cxd4 8.Nxd4 Nxd4 9.Qxd4 O-O. However: there's no harm in keeping Black guessing for the moment if we are intending to play d2-d4 immediately on move 7 and keeping the genuine possibility open that we might play it after suitable preparation.

richs · 2012-11-04, 00:07

I like Nf3. Commands d4, and I think they will respond with either e6 or Nf6 since they have been conservative so far.

henryzz · 2012-11-04, 13:23

It looks to me if we do Nf3 planning d4 then we are basically deciding to abandon the closed sicilian for a more open variant. I recommend attempting a kingside attack using the queenside bishop, the queen, the kingside knight, pawns and maybe the kingside bishop.
The queenside bishop will need d3 to free it.
Nf3 is an okay move although I would prefer not to do d4 afterwards. I still vote for d3.

Brian-E · 2012-11-04, 19:38

[QUOTE=henryzz;316944]It looks to me if we do Nf3 planning d4 then we are basically deciding to abandon the closed sicilian for a more open variant. I recommend attempting a kingside attack using the queenside bishop, the queen, the kingside knight, pawns and maybe the kingside bishop.
The queenside bishop will need d3 to free it.
Nf3 is an okay move although I would prefer not to do d4 afterwards. I still vote for d3.[/QUOTE]
I agree with the reluctance to play d4 as things stand. But 6.Nf3 is not committing to this move by any means. It's simply leaving the option of being able to play d2-d4 without losing a move if it turns out later that this is a good idea. It also leaves them guessing if we are intending to play d4.

Given that we don't want to develop our g1 knight anywhere else (e2 and h3 are not promising squares now that we have played f4), 6.Nf3 is a good, non-committal move which waits to see what Black does. 6.d3 shows our hand unnecessarily.

henryzz · 2012-11-04, 22:46

If people want Nf3, then I am fine with it. It does block the diagonal path of the queen but that is the only downside.

We are just waiting for Zeta.

Zeta-Flux · 2012-11-05, 20:46

I was actually favoring d3 now, LOL.

I think both moves are good. One bonus to playing d3 earlier is that we can get our bishop out so we can castle queenside. We don't want to leave our king in the middle.

I'm for whichever move the other 3 of you have a majority on.

Brian-E · 2012-11-05, 21:14

Equally a bonus of 6.Nf3 is that we can castle [I]king[/I]side quickly.:grin:
Where the king goes may be a hot subject of discussion later.
Like Zeta-Flux, I think 6.d3 and 6.Nf3 are both good and will be happy with either, whichever gives a majority. So no definitive vote for one or the other from me either.
So, it's over to henryzz and richs to decide which of the two moves it will be.:smile:

henryzz · 2012-11-06, 09:28

richs voted for Nf3 early on. Zeta has voted for d3. Brian doesn't seem to mind which according to his last post. I would prefer d3 although Nf3 is also good.
Looks to me like it adds up to d3. It's not like we can't do Nf3 next turn. I will make d3 sometime this evening if there are no objections to my logic.

Brian-E · 2012-11-06, 13:48

Okay, and in that case: I now formally vote for 6.d3 so that you can be even more confident in your judgment of which move wins the vote.:rolleyes:

richs · 2012-11-06, 13:57

I'm ok with d3 since it's my second choice. So let's move ahead!

2012-11-03, 08:41	#1
Brian-E "Brian" Jul 2007 The Netherlands 2·11·149 Posts	Move 6 The two reasonable moves which occur to me are 6.d3 and 6.Nf3. Does anyone consider any other moves worth considering? As far as the above two are concerned: 6.d3 transposes back into the standard line of the closed sicilian which we avoided before. 6.Nf3 keeps the option of playing the d pawn straight to d4 later on instead. as mentioned by Zeta-Flux in our discussion of move 5. This might, in my opinion, indeed be possible at some point, saving a move if we have avoided playing d2-d3. However, I don't think it is a good idea to play d2-d4 too early. If, for example, 6.Nf3 Nf6 7.d4 I think Black can equalise without trouble with 7...cxd4 8.Nxd4 Nxd4 9.Qxd4 O-O. However: there's no harm in keeping Black guessing for the moment if we are intending to play d2-d4 immediately on move 7 and keeping the genuine possibility open that we might play it after suitable preparation. Last fiddled with by Brian-E on 2012-11-03 at 09:06 Reason: Deleted some erroneous analysis.

2012-11-04, 13:23	#3
henryzz Just call me Henry "David" Sep 2007 Liverpool (GMT/BST) 13775₈ Posts	It looks to me if we do Nf3 planning d4 then we are basically deciding to abandon the closed sicilian for a more open variant. I recommend attempting a kingside attack using the queenside bishop, the queen, the kingside knight, pawns and maybe the kingside bishop. The queenside bishop will need d3 to free it. Nf3 is an okay move although I would prefer not to do d4 afterwards. I still vote for d3. Last fiddled with by henryzz on 2012-11-04 at 13:31

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2012-11-04, 00:07	#2
richs "Rich" Aug 2002 Benicia, California 2·859 Posts	I like Nf3. Commands d4, and I think they will respond with either e6 or Nf6 since they have been conservative so far.

2012-11-04, 19:38	#4
Brian-E "Brian" Jul 2007 The Netherlands 110011001110₂ Posts	[QUOTE=henryzz;316944]It looks to me if we do Nf3 planning d4 then we are basically deciding to abandon the closed sicilian for a more open variant. I recommend attempting a kingside attack using the queenside bishop, the queen, the kingside knight, pawns and maybe the kingside bishop. The queenside bishop will need d3 to free it. Nf3 is an okay move although I would prefer not to do d4 afterwards. I still vote for d3.[/QUOTE] I agree with the reluctance to play d4 as things stand. But 6.Nf3 is not committing to this move by any means. It's simply leaving the option of being able to play d2-d4 without losing a move if it turns out later that this is a good idea. It also leaves them guessing if we are intending to play d4. Given that we don't want to develop our g1 knight anywhere else (e2 and h3 are not promising squares now that we have played f4), 6.Nf3 is a good, non-committal move which waits to see what Black does. 6.d3 shows our hand unnecessarily.

2012-11-04, 22:46	#5
henryzz Just call me Henry "David" Sep 2007 Liverpool (GMT/BST) 3·23·89 Posts	If people want Nf3, then I am fine with it. It does block the diagonal path of the queen but that is the only downside. We are just waiting for Zeta.

2012-11-05, 20:46	#6
Zeta-Flux May 2003 7×13×17 Posts	I was actually favoring d3 now, LOL. I think both moves are good. One bonus to playing d3 earlier is that we can get our bishop out so we can castle queenside. We don't want to leave our king in the middle. I'm for whichever move the other 3 of you have a majority on.

2012-11-05, 21:14	#7
Brian-E "Brian" Jul 2007 The Netherlands 2×11×149 Posts	Equally a bonus of 6.Nf3 is that we can castle [I]king[/I]side quickly.:grin: Where the king goes may be a hot subject of discussion later. Like Zeta-Flux, I think 6.d3 and 6.Nf3 are both good and will be happy with either, whichever gives a majority. So no definitive vote for one or the other from me either. So, it's over to henryzz and richs to decide which of the two moves it will be.:smile:

2012-11-06, 09:28	#8
henryzz Just call me Henry "David" Sep 2007 Liverpool (GMT/BST) 1011111111101₂ Posts	richs voted for Nf3 early on. Zeta has voted for d3. Brian doesn't seem to mind which according to his last post. I would prefer d3 although Nf3 is also good. Looks to me like it adds up to d3. It's not like we can't do Nf3 next turn. I will make d3 sometime this evening if there are no objections to my logic.

2012-11-06, 13:48	#9
Brian-E "Brian" Jul 2007 The Netherlands 2·11·149 Posts	Okay, and in that case: I now formally vote for 6.d3 so that you can be even more confident in your judgment of which move wins the vote.:rolleyes:

2012-11-06, 13:57	#10
richs "Rich" Aug 2002 Benicia, California 2×859 Posts	I'm ok with d3 since it's my second choice. So let's move ahead!