***** Kopec7.10.97 ***** Thu Jul 10 05:12:51 PM EDT (Thu Jul 10 21:12:51 GMT) Following Drk. You are now observing game 169. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 **ANNOUNCEMENT** from POTZY: LECTURE by INTERNATIONAL MASTER Danny Kopec! \ "follow Drk" to watch! Drk(IM) kibitzes: The Kopec System Against the Sicilian Defense Drk(IM) kibitzes: It originally started as a joke; I was about 15 and was tired \ of seeing Drk(IM) kibitzes: how mechanically my peers seemed to learn and place chess. Drk(IM) kibitzes: I wanted something refreshing and new Drk(IM) kibitzes: One thing I could not stand was losing a game entirely to \ theory Drk(IM) kibitzes: No talent, ability, or originality on my opponent's part Drk(IM) kibitzes: Especially after travelling far to tournaments, the worst \ thing is to Drk(IM) kibitzes: LOse a non-game, as for example Kasparov lost to Deeper Blue \ in Drk(IM) kibitzes: game 4 Drk(IM) kibitzes: so I was looking for something sound against the Sicilian \ that would develop Drk(IM) kibitzes: pieces, but avoid theory. Drk(IM) kibitzes: And that is how I came about 3.Bd3 Drk(IM) kibitzes: NOT 2.Bd3 or 3.c3 but 3.Bd3 Drk(IM) kibitzes: The move is sound because it 1) develops a piece Drk(IM) kibitzes: 2.controls the center and 3.prepares Castling Drk(IM) kibitzes: The only problem is that the B should not stay on d3 because TheSlyOne kibitzes: behind a pawn it develops a piece...isn't there a rule that \ pieces are better behind pawns? Drk(IM) kibitzes: it obstructs the d-pawn for the QB development Drk(IM) kibitzes: And of course Kopec System players know that the Bishop TTNguyen kibitzes: I thought moves like that were unsound especialy in the \ opening. Drk(IM) kibitzes: does not stay on d3; Now i have had over 200 games with this \ opening POTZY spoofs you: "set kib 1" kibitz set to 1. Drk(IM) kibitzes: over nearly 30 years (that is tournament games with an \ excellent **ANNOUNCEMENT** from POTZY: LECTURE by INTERNATIONAL MASTER Danny Kopec! \ "follow Drk" to watch. "Kopec System against the Sicilian". Drk(IM) kibitzes: score; Drk(IM) kibitzes: Many Games turn into Ruy Lopez type games, e.g 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bd3 Nf6 4. c3 e5 5. Bc2 Eldrik whispers: Lets just listen. Hopefully questions will be answered as we \ continue. 5. Bc2 Nc6 6. O-O Bg4 TheSlyOne kibitzes: Black's 4th move gets a question mark Drk(IM) kibitzes: this does not bother me one bit Drk(IM) kibitzes: Later White follows with d3 and Nbd2 and h3 Drk(IM) kibitzes: Also Re1 and Nf1, just like in the Ruy Lopen Drk(IM) kibitzes: Lopez that is xiao kibitzes: I have a question Drk(IM) kibitzes: If Black takes on f3 then White can comfortable Drk(IM) kibitzes: Recapture with the N/d2 xiao kibitzes: what's the good of the kopec system ? Drk(IM) kibitzes: Yes Xiao your Question?? xiao kibitzes: what's the plan ThatFatMoogle kibitzes: it avoids theory Drk(IM) kibitzes: Did you get the beginning introduction? xiao kibitzes: so it's like a position game yutheman kibitzes: hello Drk(IM) kibitzes: It avoids theory and yet gets White an advantage xiao kibitzes: ok thanks Mandrake whispers: yes, sure! Drk(IM) kibitzes: today I have prepared 3 games to show you TheSlyOne kibitzes: Black's light squared Bishop that is LuisF kibitzes: isn't this an improved ruy lopez for black ? Drk(IM) kibitzes: but I have 80 onfile which anyone can obtain for $10 LuisF kibitzes: he hasn't played a6 and b5... Encondium kibitzes: what's up with that queen? Drk(IM) kibitzes: Many with ...d5 Tailoong kibitzes: this is not new.. GBPacker(DM) kibitzes: NOT an improved Ruy, black has nothing going on \ queenside yet, and white has his Bishop on c2 already. Drk(IM) kibitzes: Key questions are: 1) How many Sicilian players are happy Encondium kibitzes: Drk(IM), how do I play sicilian? xiao kibitzes: me ! though I need more stufing on my dragon Tailoong kibitzes: why e5? Drk(IM) kibitzes: Playing the Black side of the Ruy Lopez, or Lopez type \ Positions Eldrik kibitzes: I wouldn't have played e5. xiao kibitzes: doesn't that weaken d6 ? TalTale whispers: let the IM give his lecture, yours can come later :) xiao kibitzes: :) Drk(IM) kibitzes: and 2) Does the omission of ...a6 , and ...b5 help or hurt \ Black vis a vis the Ruy Lopez? Tailoong kibitzes: I believe g6 Bg7 is a better plan... Eldrik whispers: Black isn't under any pressure here, unlike most Sicilian \ games. LuisF kibitzes: that is a good point ,drk Encondium kibitzes: what about pawn on e5? Drk(IM) kibitzes: i.e. Does Black get counterplay with ...a6 and ...b5 Drk(IM) kibitzes: or do they just weaken him? ThatFatMoogle kibitzes: he gets a waste of tempo with them. :) LuisF kibitzes: he weakens himself with a6 and b5 Encondium kibitzes: I wish I knew the coordinates :( TheSlyOne kibitzes: g6 and Bg7 seems better instead of the terrible e5 Drk(IM) kibitzes: There are essentially 3 setups Black can use: xiao kibitzes: why does black tend to put his Bishop on g4 ??? this is in the \ alapin too Drk(IM) kibitzes: 1) The Lopez setup as shown here ak kibitzes: .. e5 isn ThatFatMoogle whispers: let the IM speak, everyone chill Drk(IM) kibitzes: 2) What I call the Dragon setup where Black fiancettos ak kibitzes: e5 isn't terrible :) Drk(IM) kibitzes: And usually omits ...e5 xiao kibitzes: it keeps white from doing d4 for a while that is GBPacker(DM) whispers: GUYS!! so far every question has been answered by Dr. \ Kopec, let him lecture! Drk(IM) kibitzes: and 3) Where Black plays ...e6 and ...d5 (or ...d6) Drk(IM) kibitzes: I have many games organized by all three categories Drk(IM) kibitzes: Against players of all strengths up to GM with excellent Drk(IM) kibitzes: Results over many years Drk(IM) kibitzes: For the definitive article on The KOPEC SYSTEM Drk(IM) kibitzes: See CHESS LIFE April, 1980 Game 169: Drk reverts to main line move 1 ---- -------------- -------------- xiao kibitzes: you sure can remenber dates well ~ lovetoplay kibitzes: haw about a little respect for the IM 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bd3 Nc6 4. c3 g6 5. Bc2 Bg7 6. h3 e5 7. O-O Nge7 8. d3 Eldrik whispers: e5, ew TheSlyOne kibitzes: that e5 appears to be black's downfall once again ak kibitzes: whats wrong with e5 ? Drk(IM) kibitzes: etc. This is a very popular setup for black Drk(IM) kibitzes: Notice that I have learned that h3 must be Drk(IM) kibitzes: played before d4 Tailoong kibitzes: I like black here.... Eldrik whispers: Well. The knight on e7 means e5 ain't so bad. Black appears to \ be going for a kingside attack. Drk(IM) kibitzes: Just like in the Ruy Lopez Nudnick kibitzes: 169 the pawn on e5 does a good job of blocking in his bishop \ on g7! Tailoong kibitzes: compared to the previous position... xiao kibitzes: what about that dark squared zzzBishop ak kibitzes: bishop helping to control d4 xiao kibitzes: ignore the zz's TheSlyOne kibitzes: that Bishop is terrible and the Kt is much stronger on f6 xiao kibitzes: ok Drk(IM) kibitzes: What kind of game would you like to see first Drk(IM) kibitzes: A positional one or a tactical one??????? ak kibitzes: knight on e7 instead of f6 allows f5 ak kibitzes: tactical! Nudnick kibitzes: a short game ThatFatMoogle kibitzes: tactical Mandrake kibitzes: one with easy play for white xiao kibitzes: big attacks on both sides ! FaBBian kibitzes: positional!:) nutzmania(DM) kibitzes: tactical Tailoong kibitzes: here maybe black can play 0-0, f5..kingside initiative \ perhaps? Z159 kibitzes: positional Pompano kibitzes: tactical Drk(IM) kibitzes: I am know as an attacking player but my game against xiao kibitzes: I need to learn how to play poistions with attacks coming both \ sides GBPacker(DM) kibitzes: anyone so we get to see all 3 :)) QueensMan kibitzes: one that underscores the strength of the Kopec Sys Drk(IM) kibitzes: Robert Bellin was played on a very special plane Pawner kibitzes: positional] ThatFatMoogle kibitzes: just pick the first one TheSlyOne kibitzes: a dragon variation w/o e5 ThatFatMoogle kibitzes: and lets stop flooding the screen folks Drk(IM) kibitzes: I will start with the positional game Rachevsky kibitzes: tactical xiao kibitzes: darn Drk(IM) kibitzes: But you must lister to a little story around it. Drk(IM) kibitzes: in 1980 I won the first Edinburgh Congress in Scotland Drk(IM) kibitzes: with a perfect 5-0 score. xiao kibitzes: did you beet any famous people ? Drk(IM) kibitzes: so the organizers invited 3 IM's up from England Drk(IM) kibitzes: To provide me with competition Drk(IM) kibitzes: Paid expenses and all. Drk(IM) kibitzes: two happened to be good friends and roomed at my Drk(IM) kibitzes: flat over the weekend. Drk(IM) kibitzes: I won the first 3 games; Drk(IM) kibitzes: And for the 4th round was scheduled to play IM robert bellin Drk(IM) kibitzes: Bellin one of the invited IM's Drk(IM) kibitzes: Week before the tournanemnt I had had a little Drk(IM) kibitzes: spill on my Suzuki 100 motorcycle trying to squeeze Drk(IM) kibitzes: in one too many things during a Weekend Training Drk(IM) kibitzes: session with the top juniors of Scotland Drk(IM) kibitzes: I had a little "collision" with the Castle Gate of Edinburgh: Drk(IM) kibitzes: Luckily, thanks to strong bones (steaks I attribut this too) Drk(IM) kibitzes: No major injuries, just bruises and had to use a cane Drk(IM) kibitzes: for awhile. Drk(IM) kibitzes: It was just this experience which gave me tremendous Drk(IM) kibitzes: confidence and will to show that I was given an opportunity Drk(IM) kibitzes: And some talent for a reason. Drk(IM) kibitzes: sometimes the funniest (weirdest) things can affect Drk(IM) kibitzes: Our performance Drk(IM) kibitzes: Anyway, Bellin was a noted theoretician and Dragon Expert Drk(IM) kibitzes: No need to go into any theoretical discussion with him!! Game 169 (which you were observing) has no examiners. Drk, whom you are following, has created an examined game. You are now observing game 169. Game 169 (*kopec vs. *bellin) ---- -------------- -------------- Drk(IM) kibitzes: Here is the game; give me your questions anytime Drk(IM) kibitzes: In Bellin's defense: he is a slow Sunday starter! litch kibitzes: should we kibitz or tell? Drk(IM) kibitzes: Ask questions anytime Game 169 (*kopec vs. *bellin) ---- -------------- -------------- 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bd3 g6 Drk(IM) kibitzes: the Dragon setup makes its appearance Game 169 (*kopec vs. *bellin) ---- -------------- -------------- 3. Bd3 g6 4. c3 Bg7 acz kibitzes: this is what Chris Ward recommends against your system in hhis \ anti-sicilian video. :) Game 169 (*kopec vs. *bellin) ---- -------------- -------------- 4. c3 Bg7 5. O-O xiao kibitzes: I have taht tape ! TalTale kibitzes: did bellin comment on Bd3 or look shocked ? Pompano kibitzes: did Bellin expect you would play your system or was he \ surprised? Drk(IM) kibitzes: I don't know Chris Ward --- perhaps he would like to discusss \ it with me litch kibitzes: ?? Drk(IM) kibitzes: I think he was a junior in England when I lived in Drk(IM) kibitzes: in Scotland; Drk(IM) kibitzes: Yes, Bellin expected it, but was not particularly prepared. Game 169 (*kopec vs. *bellin) ---- -------------- -------------- 4. c3 Bg7 5. O-O Nc6 6. Bc2 GBPacker(DM) kibitzes: Chris Ward recommends this setup but NOT this move \ order. Drk(IM) kibitzes: From c2 the B often emerges on b3 or a4, or if the **ANNOUNCEMENT** from ROBOadmin: "h