Anybody like the closed sicilian

Anybody else like the closed sicilian to take all that book work away from the open sicilian lines. Whew!!!!

I find the open sicilians great fun! I dont dislike the closed but the open sicilians are more my thing. I like long lines of theory anyway.

I like the Grand Prix Attack in the Closed.

1. e4 c5

2. Nc3 (any...usually Nc6, g6, d6)

3. f4

The closed sicilian also has a good store of theory.  All openings do these days with chess programs, databases and internet communications.  I sometimes play the closed OTB when I'm tired or just not ready but it really doesn't do as well as the Open Sicilians.

If you are a closed sicilian fan as white study Spassky's games . I doubt anyone played it better than He did. Though Karpov played it well too.

 I agree with you Reb,B.Spaskky was an expert on the closed Sicilian.Just check out some games in the quarter-finals against GM Lajos Portisch (HUN) in México City in 1980.

It seems very good for white! If its attack prevails, black king is died.

 Everybody says that this opening is not dangerous for black, but i am not in agree. Is difficult finding anything for black.

I like the Closed Sicilian quite a bit; it reminds me of the Ruy Lopez. However, I can see why masters prefer the Open Sicilian, as Black doesn't really have a good way to use his extra center pawn =/

The Closed does not maintain as much pressure on Black thus he has more options and usually gains equality quickly.  In addition a minor inaccuracy or two  will not condemn Black to an inferior game.  Finally, if white is not careful an energetic black can take advantage of normal white moves like f4, g3, etc to get into an airy King position. 

In general, Black scores better in the Closed than he does in the Open.  Part of this is because most White players who use it are lower rated than their opponents, hoping to avoid theory and are trying to survive, striving for 1/2 point rather than maximizing White's opening advantage and playing for a win

I have used the closed sicilian twice in games and have won both times against people that were rated higher then me and won.I can"t remember how to play  the closed again and want to study it more and have lost from it as well.