u/conscientiousoneday

1680 FIDE, want to start studying endgame. Which would you guys recommend for my first endgame literature?

Feel a bit stupid. I have been playing OTB chess for around 2 years now. I never analysed games, and never even kept the gamesheets. I have some game sheets lying around (perhaps 10 percent of games played), but I wish I had a record of all the games I have played.

Going to make a change from now on, to analyse all my games, preserve every game sheet, and it may be ambitious but I would like to commit my future games played to memory as best as I can.

Reason for the post is my friend was dumbfounded that I didn't save all my games, and called me a fool. Have the majority of you guys saved every game you've ever played OTB?

Is there any lectures/videos or books/chapters of books that display the strength of two pieces versus a rook in the middlegame and endgame?

Only ever played 1...e5 before. I want to play 1...c5 online from now on to experience this side of chess.

I am a bit overwhelmed at the abundance of systems to choose from. I want to find the best variation that serves my goals, which is to learn the most thematic Sicilian structures and plans, and to improve my chess knowledge and understanding.

The first crossroads I have encountered is whether to play 2... Nc6, 2...e6, or 2...d6.

Don't even know where to begin. I guess the only idea I have is that I wouldn't want to play a Najdorf or a Dragon.

Any advice would be appreciated. I hope I have explained my motivation for learning the Sicilian well, and if I haven't I am sorry.

Also, some context in case it is important. I am 1690 FIDE, I have never played 1...c5 in my life, I play into the Open Sicilian as white, and I do not care in the slightest about the practical value of my chances to win games with the variation I choose in the Sicilian. I can lose every game for all I care, my only purpose is to enrich my chess knowledge and culture.