a "solid" sicilian?

Happy New Year everyone!

I was wondering if you experienced sicilian players could give me some advice. I'm still working on finding an e4 response that I am happy with, and I believe I'm ready to tackle the sicilian. However, I realize that there are many, many different sicilians. I tend to like solid positions, but I get a bit frustrated with the cramped positions in the Caro Kann and the difficulty in development with the French bad bishop. I've experimented with 1..c5 recently, and I like the added space that it gains. I know that many people play the sicilian with a vicious counterattack in mind, but I was wondering if there is a line (or lines) of the sicilian that leads to a more solid position? I'm certianly willing to trade off some immediate counterplay to get a good pawn structure and a sturdy position. I was thinking of the Taimanov, from what little I've read. Is this a reliable defence? Are there any others you might recommend?

Thanks so much for your input.

Scott

The naidorf is solid but there's this relatively unknown variation called the lowenthal that is also very solid. Its played by a lot of possitional players in my chess club and can lead to an early trade of queens and an advantage in development for black.
it starts like this : e4 c5 nf3 nc6 d4 cxd4 nxd4 e5. very simulair to the sveshnikov.

Try the Scheveningen Sicilian if you're looking for a solid, hard to crack setup for black. Typical opening moves would be:
1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 d6
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 e6

Black plans to play Be7, O-O, Nc6, (or maybe Nbd7) then expand on the Queen side with a6 and b5. Like in any Sicilian, black wants to play d5 when the time is right.

Originally posted by smrex13
Happy New Year everyone!

I was wondering if you experienced sicilian players could give me some advice. I'm still working on finding an e4 response that I am happy with, and I believe I'm ready to tackle the sicilian. However, I realize that there are many, many different sicilians. I tend to like solid positions, but I get a bit frustrated with the ...[text shortened]... defence? Are there any others you might recommend?

Thanks so much for your input.

Scott

Originally posted by LordOfTheChessboard
The naidorf is solid but there's this relatively unknown variation called the lowenthal that is also very solid. Its played by a lot of possitional players in my chess club and can lead to an early trade of queens and an advantage in development for black.
it starts like this : e4 c5 nf3 nc6 d4 cxd4 nxd4 e5. very simulair to the sveshnikov.