Great video. I have played the Alapin all my life and only recently when I reviewed my performance on lichess in the different openings I got a shock when I saw that Sicilian is my weakest performance. Now I tried this variant and won immediately. Most importantly, I liked the position
I thought that for your first cast you did very well. Specifically your explanations were clear and direct. You did not seem to linger on a sublect longer than it took to get your point made which to me is refreshing. For myself, I applaud you and would gladly watch any future videos. Thank you.
Thanks, Alina and iChess. I'm a c3 sicilian player and learned so much from this video. The chess community is better for your invaluable contribution.
This is the best chess video I've watched in quite a while. Keep making them! This looks like a really good approach for the player who simply doesn't have time to learn all the nuances of the sicilian. Great work. The pace of the narration was just right, not so fast that it was hard to keep up but not so painfully slow that you just want it to end. :)
Thanks. Watching this video broke me out of a chess funk. I changed my strategy a bit and I coincidentally landed in a position that created a counter-attack with opening lanes that reminded me of this video.
you can see, how proud alisa melekhina is because of this game, and that for a good reason! gg, well explained, and now i know how to answer 1. e4 c5. thanks for that!
This was a really good video in my opinion :). The explanations were clear and concise and I felt that the variations were easy to understand also. Sometimes I watch videos where the presenter seems to bombard the viewer with detailed step-by-step variations, which obviously suits some people, but for me personally I think the way you quickly get straight to the point is fantastic. Hope to see some more videos from you Alisa, you've got a natural talent for this :D
Awesome! Really fast delivery, giving out a lot of detailed information very efficiently. It takes a bit of focus for a fairly new player like me to keep up, but that's a skill I should be working on anyway. Thanks for the video!
I would see Alisa Melekhina at the Amateur Team East and other tournaments every year but she never spoke a word to anyone that I could hear. That was like 10 years ago crazy to see how much we've all grown up.
Thanks for your feedback! I think the Alapin is a good alternative to the main Sicilians with d4 and as this video shows..there's lot of potential to win before the middlegame! GM Lemos
This video has helped me incredibly! About 95% of my games in which I played White,Black always responded with the Sicilian. Now it's time for me to counterattack Black! I also have a chess tournament tomorrow,so I don't have to worry a lot about the Sicilian. Thanks!
Thanks for the reply -- nice to hear from you. More videos -- that would be great! I've been focused on grad school and hadn't thought much about chess recently but this video was a nice reminder of what I like about the game. I guess I'm your newest fan :)
I am bad at chess too, which is why I like watching these sorts of videos. I found a lot of it a little too fast too. I like when commentators use the visual aid of the arrows for everything they are talking about, not just the line being discussed. Too bad none of my friends ever play the Cicilian! I'd love to try this C3 line.
Very nice video! Please do more. With regards to the commentary itself I enjoyed it quite a lot, I've been getting a lot of Sicilian games recently and I've had cause to reinvestigate a old line or two for which I'd forgotten the nuance. That said, d4 c3 wasn't actually one of them haha, though I learned a few details and it's always good to see the crushing continuations that can arise from the misstep here or there. As such any further videos on Sicilian variants would be much appreciated, I'd be quite keen to see you talk through how you'd handle this your own c3 Sicilian as black. I see a few people commenting on FM Alisa being pretty and whilst I suppose it is always the case that comments tend to be overly familiar, particularly towards potential idols, it's rather irritating to see so much of this particular type of comment. I don't see these comments on videos with Kasparov's commentary, and he's one sexy man. Presumably then this is simply how we talk to ladies? Not trying to rile anyone up here, just strikes me as unnecessary and not something anyone would say to someone they don't know after say...giving a a presentation face-to-face in a lecture hall on the c3 Sicilian in real life.
Very interesting video. Thanks for showing and explaining these games. I dabble a bit in the c3 sicilian just because I want a workable anti-sicilian that doesnt requite too much of my time. This gave me food for thought.
Thank you for an instructive video. For a beginner such as I, c3 sicilian looks kind of slow, but thanks to your explanation and video, you've proved me wrong, and opened my eyes. I'm going to further explore this openeing, as I really don't like c5 as an answer ;). Thanks again, and good luck in your games!
Awesome vid! I'm no titled player by ANY stretch, but did want to point out that in game#1 your move 20.Bc2 was quite incorrect, allowing 20...Nxc3; Qxe4...Nxe4; By far the better move was 20.f3...Qd3; THEN 21.Bc2...Qb5 (any other move is worse for Black.) 22.Qxb5...axb5; (and the queens come off) 23.Nxf5...exf5; then either 24.Bxf5 or Rfd1 are both equally winning. While your move 20.Bc2 maintains a winning game, it's still a grievous move. LOVE this opening rep! GREAT GAMES! THANK YOU! :)
She's convinced me to take up the c3 Sicilian, and I DO play chess!! Do more of these! I like to listen to women , who finally tell me for once in my life something that actuallly makes sense ;-)
I have always been a fan of the Polgar sisters, especially Judit, and it is refreshing to see that woman's chess has come a long way, thanks to Lady's such as yourself. I admire your love of chess.
Great third game in video also! Great move knight to e4. Couldn't see it! You are huge in your own right! Yes I would like to see you covering more games. I enjoyed it very much your analysis.
Good video. You are well spoken and explain your thinking well. The one real weakness is those colored arrows which appear on the screen, seemingly having nothing to do with the narrative. I'm sure that "feature" could easily be turned off. More videos from you would certainly be welcome.
Thank you for an excellent video. Sicilan 2. c3 is my favorite in white, too, although lately I only play blitz..please make more chess videos : we amateurs have a lot to learn from you !
Thanks Alias. Great video. I've made a few videos myself and I know how much time it takes up. Also you were VERY kind in giving me your autograph at the 2010 World Open. You are a class act. John Cordisco
Good leeson, thank you. I'm a 1500 beginner and always get in a mess against the Sicilian, usually playing d4. I'll study this video and hopefully learn a better way to play against it.
You have a clear and precise method of presenting RUclips Chess Vids. Thank you for the info, I will be sure to use this opener on my dad who loves the Scilian. P.S. slow down a bit for us slower guys, remember we are your audience =)
Dear Alisa, thanks for the video, I love it! One suggestion: since I am not such a knowledged player (about 1600 ELO) some of your moves are very quickly done, so I really have difficulties to follow. If you could move on with your explanations a bit more slowly and step by step it would even be more helpful for me :-). thanks again and good luck for your next tournaments!! Cheers, Michael
Wow! This video is as enjoyable as it is enlightening! She does an amazing job communicating and teaching the subtle theory behind each moves....and she's gorgeous. FM Alisa, if you read this message, how about you and I play a game, and the winner treats the other to lunch. Lol. I'm a budding 2000 player. Serious about chess...and about lunch. Lolol. Thank you for the vid.
Excellent video. I would prefer you to play out all of the final checkmates on all 3 games just to make the endings clearer to us beginners. Great stuff. Bravo! Cheers.
Nice video liked the french defence video as well. Very logical systems, which are based on rapid development and logical moves. Been playing Grand Prix against Sicilian but might test this as well. Your french defence ideas resembled a lot the ideas in French Tarrash variation, which I been learning lately.
Very instructive, easy to understand. coherent and nice. Alisa you certainly are a formitable opponent, i guess thats why you are a FM !! (Double exclamation mark chess video)
![Megan Thee Stallion - Bigger In Texas [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QxTkZTLWdo4/mqdefault.jpg)
Congratulations! Very eloquent, to the point, down-to-earth annotator with a sweet voice and face that nails the audience to the monitor!
Thanks for your post...youre a lot easier on the ears,and the eyes! I couold listen to you all day I think.
Great video. I have played the Alapin all my life and only recently when I reviewed my performance on lichess in the different openings I got a shock when I saw that Sicilian is my weakest performance. Now I tried this variant and won immediately. Most importantly, I liked the position
ALISA!!! Very good instruction, clear and concise with enough variations for us to connect the dots!!!! Thank you so much!!
I thought that for your first cast you did very well. Specifically your explanations were clear and direct. You did not seem to linger on a sublect longer than it took to get your point made which to me is refreshing. For myself, I applaud you and would gladly watch any future videos. Thank you.
Thanks, Alina and iChess. I'm a c3 sicilian player and learned so much from this video. The chess community is better for your invaluable contribution.
Good instruction on c3 Sicilian; I smiled when your gestures told how proud of these games you were.
Usually I fall half asleep watching these but she's great at explaining! also I won a game using this :D , Thanks!
more of these videos please. well explained and enjoyable to watch. she doesn't make my head spin like shirov...
This is the best chess video I've watched in quite a while. Keep making them! This looks like a really good approach for the player who simply doesn't have time to learn all the nuances of the sicilian. Great work. The pace of the narration was just right, not so fast that it was hard to keep up but not so painfully slow that you just want it to end. :)
Very good commentary. Clear and fluid. Both strategical and tactical motives covered.
I am a 2300 player and I enjoyed it. Keep it up miss Melekhina!
Thanks. Watching this video broke me out of a chess funk. I changed my strategy a bit and I coincidentally landed in a position that created a counter-attack with opening lanes that reminded me of this video.
your pic is just.... too much! HAHAHAH
wonderful explanation! 3 neat games with lot of subtleties depicted - thanks
I've been meaning to learn about the c3 Sicillian, and this was the first time I've been convinced to really do it. Thanks! Please make more videos!
Incredible voice, I could listen to it all day :) very instructional video!
Thanks Alisa! Yes please make more!
you can see, how proud alisa melekhina is because of this game, and that for a good reason! gg, well explained, and now i know how to answer 1. e4 c5. thanks for that!
Very instructional video. Thank you.
thank you Alisa for these games I love them.
Very instructive and well done. Your commentary is concise and precise.
Roger, uscf 1878
Thanks!
The first chess video with analysis I enjoyed . Great stuff, you realy described every move so that even amateurs can understand whats it about.
good lesson. thanks alisa will try this out.
Great games! more videos from Alisa please!
Thank you so much Alisa this opening is so effective against the Sicilian.
thanks for lesson,this is what i was looking for
a wonderful and instructive video hoping that you'll continue to make more videos...
Stone cold FOX! Just looking at her is improving my game!
Biff Bifford Ahah very good
My favorite anti- sicilians from fav to least:
1. Closed Sicilian chameleon variation
2. Smith-Morra gambit
3. Grand Prix Attack
4. Rossolimo
5. c3 sicilian
6. Kopec system
7. Wing gambit
This was a really good video in my opinion :). The explanations were clear and concise and I felt that the variations were easy to understand also. Sometimes I watch videos where the presenter seems to bombard the viewer with detailed step-by-step variations, which obviously suits some people, but for me personally I think the way you quickly get straight to the point is fantastic. Hope to see some more videos from you Alisa, you've got a natural talent for this :D
Awesome! Really fast delivery, giving out a lot of detailed information very efficiently. It takes a bit of focus for a fairly new player like me to keep up, but that's a skill I should be working on anyway. Thanks for the video!
Thanks for watching and for the great feedback!
Excellent video ! I dont get all the concepts just yet but something like this video lets me know im on the right track!
I would see Alisa Melekhina at the Amateur Team East and other tournaments every year but she never spoke a word to anyone that I could hear. That was like 10 years ago crazy to see how much we've all grown up.
Thank you Alisa, most informative, shall give it a shot.
thanks for watching! :)
Please do. This was great! I have a lot to learn.
Thanks for your feedback! I think the Alapin is a good alternative to the main Sicilians with d4 and as this video shows..there's lot of potential to win before the middlegame! GM Lemos
I'm in love with Alisa! Thanks for posting XOXO
An excellent and impressive video! Very good games and a very articulate presentation.
Great one! Thank you Alisa.
This video has helped me incredibly! About 95% of my games in which I played White,Black always responded with the Sicilian. Now it's time for me to counterattack Black! I also have a chess tournament tomorrow,so I don't have to worry a lot about the Sicilian. Thanks!
I'm glad this video is helping you to achieve good results against Sicilian. Good luck in your tournament!
Well Will Alisa is actually working on a DVD for black against 1. d4 playing King´s Indian Defense!
Thank your coming to our chess club!
Thanks for the reply -- nice to hear from you. More videos -- that would be great! I've been focused on grad school and hadn't thought much about chess recently but this video was a nice reminder of what I like about the game. I guess I'm your newest fan :)
Nicely done and easy to understand, more videos.
I am bad at chess too, which is why I like watching these sorts of videos. I found a lot of it a little too fast too. I like when commentators use the visual aid of the arrows for everything they are talking about, not just the line being discussed.
Too bad none of my friends ever play the Cicilian! I'd love to try this C3 line.
Excellent and thanks
my favorite lesson .by Alisa.
Thank you!
Learnt a lot . . keep posting new videos
While I've enjoyed and benefited from every chess video I've watched so far, this vid is easily best yet. Watching it has made me a better player.
Thanks! I'm glad that this video was useful for you!
Very well explained. You're a great teacher as well as very strong chess player.
you are the first person who is telling to play 2.c3 I will definitely try in my games 😊
Oh it's a very famous Sicilian line. In fact there are whole books on the c3 Sicilian (or more commonly known as the Alapin Variation).
Very nice video! Please do more.
With regards to the commentary itself I enjoyed it quite a lot, I've been getting a lot of Sicilian games recently and I've had cause to reinvestigate a old line or two for which I'd forgotten the nuance. That said, d4 c3 wasn't actually one of them haha, though I learned a few details and it's always good to see the crushing continuations that can arise from the misstep here or there.
As such any further videos on Sicilian variants would be much appreciated, I'd be quite keen to see you talk through how you'd handle this your own c3 Sicilian as black.
I see a few people commenting on FM Alisa being pretty and whilst I suppose it is always the case that comments tend to be overly familiar, particularly towards potential idols, it's rather irritating to see so much of this particular type of comment. I don't see these comments on videos with Kasparov's commentary, and he's one sexy man.
Presumably then this is simply how we talk to ladies? Not trying to rile anyone up here, just strikes me as unnecessary and not something anyone would say to someone they don't know after say...giving a a presentation face-to-face in a lecture hall on the c3 Sicilian in real life.
+Vibius Morquairch Thanks! I agree with you about this type of comments.
Thanks John!
Great Video!
Thanks for c3, Alisa. Just what I was needing. Your commentary is good and I hope you can do other games as well.
Great videos took a lot away from these thank you.
I'm in love!!!!
great video, i have to study more the c3 sicilian....
Very interesting video. Thanks for showing and explaining these games. I dabble a bit in the c3 sicilian just because I want a workable anti-sicilian that doesnt requite too much of my time. This gave me food for thought.
The c3 Sicilian is definitely one of my favorite Sicilian responses. The Smith-Morra Gambit is pretty effective as well.
Great video with great insights and attacking ideas. I have started playing this and think your video will help my games. thanks!
Thanks for posting!
Alisa,you rock. Liked video very much. Continue to make More.
Excellent job Alisa!
Thanks Alisa. I tested the c3 Sicilian out and here is the result. I won in (you guessed it) 21 moves. I don't think I played the opening quite right though.
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "1921"]
[BlackElo "2039"]
[TimeControl "900"]
1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Na3 Bg4 6. Bc4 Qh5 7. Nb5 Na6
8. Qa4 Nd7 9. d4 Bxf3 10. gxf3 Qxf3 11. Rg1 e6 12. Be3 g6 13. Bf1 Nb6 14.
Qa5 cxd4 15. Bg2 Qg4 16. Bc6+ bxc6 17. Rxg4 dxe3 18. Qxa6 exf2+ 19. Kf1
cxb5 20. Qxb5+ Nd7 21. Rd4 1-0
thank you very much great explain
thanks for watching
Thanks for the Video, never played it, tended toward Smith Morra for active play, but seems like a great alternative TY! :)
This was great stuff!
nice vid alisa, and gl with your future matches
i love this,....FM Alisa!!!
Thank you for an instructive video. For a beginner such as I, c3 sicilian looks kind of slow, but thanks to your explanation and video, you've proved me wrong, and opened my eyes. I'm going to further explore this openeing, as I really don't like c5 as an answer ;). Thanks again, and good luck in your games!
Thanks!
Awesome vid! I'm no titled player by ANY stretch, but did want to point out that in game#1 your move 20.Bc2 was quite incorrect, allowing 20...Nxc3; Qxe4...Nxe4; By far the better move was 20.f3...Qd3; THEN 21.Bc2...Qb5 (any other move is worse for Black.) 22.Qxb5...axb5; (and the queens come off) 23.Nxf5...exf5; then either 24.Bxf5 or Rfd1 are both equally winning. While your move 20.Bc2 maintains a winning game, it's still a grievous move. LOVE this opening rep! GREAT GAMES! THANK YOU! :)
fluid and insightful analysis ... good stuff! full marks! : )
She's convinced me to take up the c3 Sicilian, and I DO play chess!!
Do more of these! I like to listen to women , who finally tell me for once in my life something that actuallly makes sense ;-)
Thank you!
Thank you ! (btw i see you in many chess video .-. :)
beautiful instruction!
Very good video. Thank you!
Superb analysis, thanks ! C3 seems like a very solid & antidynamic line, against dangerous players, the same as the Rossolimo sicilian 3.Bb5
Great second game! I could follow you nicely
I enjoyed your Video. Very instructive. I encourage you to make more Chess Videos. Thank you. Good job.
I have always been a fan of the Polgar sisters, especially Judit, and it is refreshing to see that woman's chess has come a long way, thanks to Lady's such as yourself. I admire your love of chess.
Wow the second game FM Alisa just annialated him I like the 2nd game better it's brutal.ty Alisa
Thank you!
Great third game in video also! Great move knight to e4. Couldn't see it! You are huge in your own right! Yes I would like to see you covering more games. I enjoyed it very much your analysis.
Steve Sebzda Thanks!
Good video. You are well spoken and explain your thinking well. The one real weakness is those colored arrows which appear on the screen, seemingly having nothing to do with the narrative. I'm sure that "feature" could easily be turned off. More videos from you would certainly be welcome.
Querent2000 Thanks for your feedback. I'm glad you like these videos
Thank you for an excellent video. Sicilan 2. c3 is my favorite in white, too, although lately I only play blitz..please make more chess videos : we amateurs have a lot to learn from you !
awesome, thank you.
James Donaghy Glad to see you enjoyed it
Very interesting strategy. Deep analysis and very instructional tutorial! Subscribed.
thanks for commenting!
Sublime ! Voice as well as Tutorial.Thanks
Thanks Alias. Great video. I've made a few videos myself and I know how much time it takes up. Also you were VERY kind in giving me your autograph at the 2010 World Open. You are a class act.
John Cordisco
Good leeson, thank you.
I'm a 1500 beginner and always get in a mess against the Sicilian, usually playing d4. I'll study this video and hopefully learn a better way to play against it.
Very informal thanks for sharing.
Thanks!
You have a clear and precise method of presenting RUclips Chess Vids. Thank you for the info, I will be sure to use this opener on my dad who loves the Scilian.
P.S. slow down a bit for us slower guys, remember we are your audience =)
very helpful
Dear Alisa, thanks for the video, I love it! One suggestion: since I am not such a knowledged player (about 1600 ELO) some of your moves are very quickly done, so I really have difficulties to follow. If you could move on with your explanations a bit more slowly and step by step it would even be more helpful for me :-). thanks again and good luck for your next tournaments!! Cheers, Michael
You can stop the video anytime you like. For a better understanding this can be a good method ... :D
Wow! This video is as enjoyable as it is enlightening! She does an amazing job communicating and teaching the subtle theory behind each moves....and she's gorgeous. FM Alisa, if you read this message, how about you and I play a game, and the winner treats the other to lunch. Lol. I'm a budding 2000 player. Serious about chess...and about lunch. Lolol. Thank you for the vid.
thank you
Thank you Alisa. I am subscribed!
Excellent video. I would prefer you to play out all of the final checkmates on all 3 games just to make the endings clearer to us beginners. Great stuff. Bravo! Cheers.
Nice video liked the french defence video as well. Very logical systems, which are based on rapid development and logical moves. Been playing Grand Prix against Sicilian but might test this as well. Your french defence ideas resembled a lot the ideas in French Tarrash variation, which I been learning lately.
Nice work Alisa
Very instructive, easy to understand. coherent and nice. Alisa you certainly are a formitable opponent, i guess thats why you are a FM !! (Double exclamation mark chess video)