Standard Chess

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In the O'Kelly Variation (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6) White must refrain from immediately entering an Open Sicilian with 3.d4. Here a more strategic battle takes shape after my choice, 3.c4.

[@NeverInterpreter]

42:25 Chess is not checkers, you're not forced to recapture! :)

[@shubhamajumder3233]

Hi,
John do you consider playing on playchess instead of ICC ur rapid games because I think not only is the interface of playchess much better but also I find lots of FMs and IMs playing rapid chess there. I think that might be a choice for you to consider and even wanted to let u know that I love ur rapid videos and tournaments but there are also tournaments on playches, the official ones have FMs and IMs and sometimes ever GMs like Goerge Mier play so I think that might be a choice to explore too considering you have explored all the other major chess servers so fast.
Thanks a lot for ur quality videos!

[@nancyr.9265]

C4 is always explosive!!

[@md65000]

From a lower-rated perspective, I prefer 1d4 for a very simple reason: You're pretty much guaranteed about 6-7 good moves before you * * * * up. :-/

[@chesterturley1]

+md65000 lol, same here

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

+md65000 Haha, I guess that's one decent reason.

[@man0utoftime]

You mentioned 3. c4 and 3. Nc3 as white's main choices against the O'Kelly, but the main line (and potentially strongest candidate) is 3. c3. Any reason you don't like this move? Or just an oversight?

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

+man out of time Ah, I forgot about 3.c3. I've never played that move, but it seems perfectly logical (trying to go for d2-d4 and an improved version of a c3-Sicilian), so it looks good to me!

[@man0utoftime]

+John Bartholomew Thanks for the reply. The reason I asked is because I used to play the O'Kelly as black against weak players like myself, usually facing d4, giving me an early edge. Occasionally, I would face c3, which would typically complicate my lack of a deeper plan. "Damn, he knows. I guess I'll have to play chess."

[@jddrew00]

Would Nxd8 have been good for move 33, instead of Rf1?

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

+jddrew00 If 33.Nxd8 Black can reply with 33...Rxd8. Not quite as clear-cut as the game continuation, in my opinion.

[@gillywibble]

Interesting position.

[@gabe9454]

Watch for a few seconds after the evaluation at 44:08 and pay attention it goes to 0.00 after Kf7

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

+Gabriel Sam (Gabe) Glitch :)

[@swagsterog5074]

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