Anti-sicilian moves...

I usually play the sicilian defense against e4 openings, I've fooled around with the Dragon and I've been trying out the Najdorf variations as well. I'm wondering though, about two anti-sicilian moves in particular that seem to foil both of these variations nicely. They're 1. e4 c5 2. c4 (transposes to English, where I would usually not want to respond with c5 on my first move) and one I've encountered a lot recently, 1. e4 c5 2. Bc4. Looking in databases I've seen e6 listed as a common response, but only in one game against this have I been able to successfully transpose into a traditional Sicilian style position. I've tried experimenting with a6 as a response and it hasn't worked out well for me.

To players on black: How would you respond to both of these moves by white, and what is the logic behind your responses?

To players on white: What are your favorite anti-sicilian moves, and why (please don't say 'Play the Reti' 😀)?

Thanks to all for your thoughts.

-mike

hey, i think that the move 2. c4 is poor in the sicilian. i believe the right way to take advantage of this mistake is to move Nc6 and fianchetto your king bishop to further control whites weakened d4 square.

oh, and the bishop move Bc4 is also bad, the response is e6 followed by maybe Nf6 preparing for the push d4 which gains a tempo attacking the bishop

I play c4 in response to e4 quite a bit and I am surprised at just how many people play 2.Bc4. I think this is the Bowlder attack or something similar, but as chessprophet says, after 2...e6 black can go onto play 3...d5 and gain a tempo and there isn't an advantage for white. The Bc4 move seems to be a big favourite with a lot of people here at RHP, and am not really sure why...mebbe I'm missing something!

I think people just know the Giouco Piano and feel comfortable with Nf3 and Bc4 type moves, eh?

Maybe - they're also good developing moves, in that they traditionally attack the center. I've tried attacking the light bishop after someone has played Bc4 against me - sometimes it works well, but if you've played Nc6 already they can force a bishop/knight trade that results in a doubled c-file pawn, which can be troublesome during the middle game.

-mike

Hello Mike in New York

First some statistics that I found in my database (Mega 2003):
As general filter I used: both player's Elo >= 2300

a) e4 c5 c4 = 55%/239 games for black
most common response Nc6 with 57%/198 for black
b) e4 c5 Bc4 = 51%/39 games for black
most common response e6 with 65%/24 for black

In both lines I myself also would prefer those moves for black and see if I can reach a hedgehog-position, which I like more and more. But in any case I think these moves are good developing moves for black ... and d4 is weak in whites position.

Excuse my English, but I hope it's understandable.

Greetings from Mike in Vienna/Austria

hi legionnaire, I too practise the open sicilian reply to e4 and you can check out my reply to 2.Bc4 in game #188634 against elf30. It's the classic response and will win material. My gripe is that with so much material loss lower ranked players dont resign which forces a piece swap off until the ir position becomes to them recognisably hopless.

BR's skeeter (new RHP player but serious club player )

Hello Mike in Austria (and skeeter)! Thanks for the suggestions. I agree that Nc6 seems like the best developing move for block in response to 2. c4. I've tried a few games with it and it gives solid control of the center, and seems to compromise white's control of d4 very well.

Skeeter - You're right, it can be very frustrating playing against people who drag out the game until the bitter end. But you never know, even when someone is at a serious material disadvantage they can still win - check out my game against dustnrogers, #146123, or an even more interesting exampe, bbarr vs. miss take, #112265.

-mike

😀
i have just lost a game and my rating went up? can someone please tell me how the ratings are calculated

why has no one mentioned 2.c3? preparing d4 with a classic pawn center...this is regarded as sound (at master level too) and is more complex than originally thought.

definitely takes some people out of the book pretty fast

1.e4 c5
2.d4 xd4
3c3 xc3

the smith-morra

this is a fun opening to do against the sicilian
gives white great attacking opportunities

Actually, I'll give a shot at answering my own question and ask what people think of the Yugoslav for white. I have only tried it once or twice but it seems to equalize nicely for white, and allows for firm control of the d file by white as soon as it opens. Any thoughts on this stratagem?

-mike

Are we talking about the Yugoslav attack in the Dragon, because otherwise it's not called the Yugoslav. 😀

Hey all

If you know your opponent playing Najdorf or a sicilian dragon, why not test
e4 c5
Nf3 d6
c3
as the most popular variant on the 2.c3 sicilian is d5, i propose this
could be a variant with a strong centre, where white might not be forced to leave its d-pawn to its opponent's c-pawn, i just played it in some 5-min-Games, connected with the idea of developing the king's bishop to d3-c2. I' appreciate hearing your opinion on this variation.
(btw, i also played the smith-morra in some 5-min-games, it's great fun attacking till one lies down😉)