Just looking into the Grand Prix Attack as a "Sicilian Killer." Seems to work pretty well over the board, as there are lots of mines black has to avoid to survive. I'm wordering if anybody has used it on RHP, where players have time to make more considerate decisions (and use databases). And what the results have been. In case anybody doesn't know the GPV, it's 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4... Sometimes white plays 2. f4 immediately, according to taste. I've played against it OTB and have had a tough time with it, so i've thought of adopting it myself.
Having faced it on many occasions, I'd say playing 2.Nc3 is more than mere preference. After 1.e4 c5 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 Nf6 white is hoping for a draw, and after 1.e4 c5 2.f4 d5 3.e5 black is fine. With the 2.Nc3 move, on the other hand, black has some opportunity to err, although in general black survives the GPA with accurate play.
Thx for insight, Wulebgr. I have the Plaskett book on Grand Prix and he states the choice of immediate f4 or Nc3 first "may well depend on which systems you feel most comfortable with, or which move orders are most likely to confuse your opponent." The people OTB I run up against invariably play Nc3 first.