Explore from here
Train this openingAbout this opening
White has made the natural developing move and is ready for d4. Your choice now decides which Sicilian you get. d6 is the most played choice here. It leads to the Najdorf and the Dragon after d4 cxd4 Nxd4 Nf6, where you keep a small center and play down the c-file. Nc6 keeps the knight active and heads for the Sveshnikov and Classical lines. e6 prepares d5 and leads to the Taimanov and Kan, flexible but slower. g6 goes straight for the fianchetto without committing the d-pawn. All of them share the same trade: White gets the center, you get a half-open file and a queenside majority.
- Play d6 and keep a small center with e6 or e5.
- Recapture on d4 and use the half-open file for a rook.
- Push b5 and a6 to expand on the queenside.
- Castle short and watch the d5 square White wants.
- Rook: c8, on the half-open file
- Pawn: a6, stopping pieces landing on b5
- Knight: f6, hitting e4 and covering d5
- Bishop: g7 or e7, depending on the system
- Pawn: b5, starting the queenside expansion
You play on the queenside and down the c-file while White attacks your king. Count the tempi honestly, because if the attack lands first, being solid will not save you.