The Sicilian Defence

The Sicilian Dragon variation of the defence
played out on our sitting room rug.

The excellent Toot has been investigating my family-tree and has discovered that I have Sicilian blood from my paternal grandmother's line.

No wonder then, that when playing chess as Black, I always enjoy deploying a Sicilian Defence.

The Sicilian Defence is one of the most popular and successful responses by Black  to White's opening of - pawn to e4.

There are many variations to this defence including; the 'Dragon', the 'Najdorf', the 'Alapin'.

For more information  on the Sicilian Defence see the excellent chess sites:
http://www.thechesswebsite.com/chess-openings/sicilian-defense.php
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessopening?eco=B70

"If I call you Betty, you can call me Al"
(thanks to Wikipedia)

What constitutes a good chess opening?

1. Keep your pawn moves to the minimum and make only those that are necessary to develop your major pieces.
2. As soon as possible, put all your chess pieces on squares that have plenty of scope for further movement.
3. Deploy your pieces and pawns in a manner, which ensures your pieces are not exposed to attack.
4. Do not waste time and /or lose the initiative by making moves that do nothing to increase the activity and impact of your pieces.
5. Never put a 'horses head' in an opponents bed as its seen as unsporting by most players of the game.