Anti-Sicilians

1 e4 c5.
The Sicilian Defense, statistically one of the best openings for black. It appears in 1/6 of Grandmaster games. There are many ways of playing the scenario. Most common are. 2. Nf3 (often goes along classical lines and the dragon) 2. d4 (morra-smith) 2. Nc3 (Closed, but often goes to a Grand Prix Attack). 2. c3 (Alapine)

And one of my old favourites, very agressive. 2. f4 (Grand Prix attack, often comes from closed). Those are the main anti-Sicilians, recently though, i have found an almost unknown alternative: 2.b4. The Wing gambit. Maybe it is my mania for trading c pawns for d pawns, and b pawns for c pawns, or extinguishing the opposition's central command, but I like the look of it.

I started this topic to see what the general audience uses as an anti-Sicilian

At the GM level I believe the alapin sicilian is the most popular anti-sicilian.

Yes. the alapine looks interesting. Through abit of logic for inexperienced players I think that the Alapine is a bit more positional, as it can lead to knight and bishop development problems

I play the Alapin.

As far as I know, the Bb5(+) systems are also very popular at GM level (besides the Open, of course).

And then there's Zviaginsev's 2.Na3!? :-)

 For practical purposes 2 c3 is a better anti-sicilian because the Bb5(+) lines cant be played against 2...e6 or 2...a6 ( OKelly)  sicilians.

I do not think the Wing's Gambit is sound enough, as IM Andrew Martin pointed out in one of his recent articles, 3...d5 gives black full equality. Nevertheless, you might find enough fire in 2.b4 in club level matches!

I think I have read somewhere that in the Alapins, should black choose to take the pawn (for example, 1.e4 c5 2.c3 g6 2.d4 cxd4, with black intending to strike back in the centre with d5), instead of white taking back with the pawn, some masters have tried Qxd4!? instead.

ye shte first wuld work

Yes. the basic winning idea for White when playing the Wing gambit is.

I really like the Closed Sicilian because theory is not an huge portion of understanding the opening.  Knowing the ideas and how they relate to one another can turn the game in your favor

yes! and thats how the 2.b4 bites if black doesnt know the theory (very often in clubs!) and does not play the 2...cxb4 and 3...d5!

There is also 1.e4 c5 2.a3!? which has quite a large book written about it. I blieve it's great because it is possibly the most unknown of the anti sicilians.

I think that the e pawn will stop d5. for example.

Its better to play 2...cxb4  3 a3  d5 ! which scores 58% for black

sry, i meant 1.e4 c5 2.b4 cxb4 3.a3 d5

ok thanks. I do notice that against inexperienced players it can come as an absolute surprise. my friends are Sicilian players and I see the shock horror on their face when instead of my usual 2. f4. I play Wing gambit. I wrote an article on the psychology of gambits. interesting (i hope)
Although Wing Gambit is quite dubious

I play the Alapine as it takes all the book out of those dragon or Najdorf players.

White allows an isolated D pawn for well placed bishops as well as well posted knights and an open C file to play in.

I sometimes get a strong attack in the Grand Prix AttacK!

I play a closed Sicilian with 2. Nc3,f4,Bb5 and Nf3. I have had very good success with it. I have started playing 2.c3 in correspondence games and my results have been good.

I play the Wing Gambit against the French but do not like it against the Sicilian as an early...d5 gives Black a good game.

I quite like the agressive Grand Prix style. Less positional and more open warfare