Some good ideas:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hivS_qqB49Q
For Sicilian players: Handling the annoying Grand Prix Attack
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Sep 1, 2021
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#2
Sep 1, 2021
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#3
The correct answer: d6. (Drago-dorf, I think)
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If d6 is good enough to beat the world- champion, then it's good enough for me...
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more games:
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Not d6, but Nc6. Drawing against the world champion is... fine... not bad..
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Games taken from Lichess database.
Sep 1, 2021
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#4
Solmyr1234 wrote:
a6 is a Stockfish move (0.1 for White). I believe it's good because:
1. Opponent is out of book.
2. It prevents the Grand Prix moves - Bb5 / Bc4.
3. You can kick the horse and take the pawn, at your leisure.
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(I assumed White would play f4 and Nf3, because he wants to "Grand Prix Attack" you).
2...a6 is not out of book! It is the recommended move for Najdorf or Kan players.
I myself play 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 as White and 2...a6 is a non-issue for White. It is a line, and has lots of theory. If you are trying to play it for trickery, you are in for a rude awakening. Most 2.Nc3 players know what to do against 2...a6. That move is not refuted - again, it is recommended for Najdorf and Kan players - but you are not fooling White.
The reason 2...a6 is recommended for Najdorf and Kan players is because in the open Sicilian, their N goes to d7, not c6. If 2...Nc6 and White plays 3.Nf3, intending 4.d4, Black is in a pickle. 3...e5 is inferior for Black, and 3...Nf6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 will force Black into a Classical or Four Knights Sicilian.
The reason 2...a6 is more popular than 2...d6 for Najdorf players is 2...d6 3.f4 leads to a favorable Grand Prix Attack.
After 2...a6, White can always play the Closed Sicilian (3.g3) or Grand Prix (3.f4) and be fine. I myself play the former as White.
Sep 1, 2021
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#5
In the last game - Carlsen-MVL, it's a Sinquefield Cup, not blitz or blindfold, the opponent is more than 100 points higher, and he's highly positional, yet he didn't play (the very annoying) f4... so... I Assume he just Couldn't.
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So, I guess that's my game - just the standard Nc6.
Sep 1, 2021
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#6
The *New* Grand Prix Attack - 2.Be2... scary, just scary...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcxlcvAyg_c
While this man isn't an e4 player, he Did play the London, Botvinnik System - which is e4 c4 d3... and he's a GM, No# 14 in Engand... I kind of want to discard the Sicilian because of it, but let's see the video first...
Sep 1, 2021
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#7
GM Paragua:
Black Repertoire against Sicilian Grand Prix Attack
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEKD6qVlIJ4
I'm impressed, very thorough.
On the Grand Prix, from minute 15:00.
I'd rather meet unsound stuff with principled chess and if my opponents want to play sub-optimal moves then I'd rather let them do it. As for the "out of book" part, if they play the Grand Prix Attack chances are they will never be out of theory as they are probably never studied the lines in the first place
Sep 1, 2021
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#9
ConfusedGhoul wrote:
I'd rather meet unsound stuff with principled chess and if my opponents want to play sub-optimal moves then I'd rather let them do it. As for the "out of book" part, if they play the Grand Prix Attack chances are they will never be out of theory as they are probably never studied the lines in the first place
If by "unsound" you mean the G.P. Attack, I beg to differ - I myself had played it - look at this game - I don't even attack him, I just hide behind pawns, slowly improving, until opponent gets angry and lose - that's the problem with G.P. Attack - these 2 pawns - they're strong.
https://www.chess.com/game/live/22717226275
The G.P. Attack is positional - White pushes pawns... hard... but GM Paragua seem to have good ideas, thankfully.
Sep 1, 2021
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#10
ConfusedGhoul wrote:
I'd rather meet unsound stuff with principled chess and if my opponents want to play sub-optimal moves then I'd rather let them do it. As for the "out of book" part, if they play the Grand Prix Attack chances are they will never be out of theory as they are probably never studied the lines in the first place
A 1201-rated clown thinks that Grand Prix specialists don't study their lines? Hate to break this to you pea brain! We know!
I predominantly play the Closed Sicilian (3.g3) rather than the Grand Prix Attack (3.f4), but I do play the Grand Prix occasionally if Black plays 2...d6 instead of 2...Nc6 or 2...a6.
We know the theory! Just because it's not the Najdorf or some other open Sicilian doesn't make us White players morons! I can smack any 1201-player silly with the Closed or Grand Prix!
calm down I wasn't meaning to insult anyone! My statement is based on my personal experience against Anti-Sicilians and it's a fact when I say that most of them end the theory pretty early. As for the: "1200 rated clown" I'm sad to inform you I don't play a ton of live chess on chess.com, so my rating isn't accurate at all while I'm higher rated in l*chess where I play the most. I think there has been a misunderstanding between us and I would like to clarify I don't think every Anti-Sicilian player doesn't know his stuff well, I think that's what happens most of the times to most of MY opponents
Ignore ThrillerFan, something's not quite right with him . Having said that the grand prix is a high class opening that is worthy of super gm play, it's not some "annoying" sideline black will throw up to catch you out like the Latvian gambit or Smith morra. While it's not very popular anymore among gms it's still dangerous and good. Maybe you could say it's annoying for gms, since theory considers there are on paper better tries, for the rest of us it's just a strong opening, with dangerous tactics and good positions.
Sep 1, 2021
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#13
Uhohspaghettio1, yes I agree with every word. When I said it's annoying, my intention was to say it's very good, and therefore annoying. I think it's so good that I almost gave up on the Sicilian, until I found this quiet GM - Paragua, who explains move by move how to refute it, with tactics. (f4 Does open the white king, and there's tactics).
Sep 1, 2021
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#14
Solmyr1234 wrote:
Uhohspaghettio1, yes I agree with every word. When I said it's annoying, my intention was to say it's very good, and therefore annoying. I think it's so good that I almost gave up on the Sicilian, until I found this quiet GM - Paragua, who explains move by move how to refute it, with tactics. (f4 Does open the white king, and there's tactics).
Words 3 thru 8 of his are wrong! You should be smarter than to believe his BS.
i didn't know mark made a video about the grand prix, although i have seen some a3-b4 ideas recently, or just a3 and bc4-a2. those are quite new and requires a bit different handling than bc4 or bb5. especially this a3-b4 stuff. i play the najdorf and i prefer 2..nc6 just because i think 2..a6 is not very useful if white goes for g3 bg2 be3 without necessarily committing to f4 so early. also it's not clear that you want to expand so early with b5 or put your bishop on b7 when it may just obstruct the b-file, or it may turn out that b5 is weakening as you don't have enough to fight on the queenside.
Sep 2, 2021
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#16
king5minblitz119147 wrote:
also it's not clear that you want to expand so early with b5 or put your bishop on b7 when it may just obstruct the b-file, or it may turn out that b5 is weakening as you don't have enough to fight on the queenside.
I kind of feel so too. I've only recently build my opening repertoire, and started to play Sicilian. I play the Kan, because Facing the Kan (and the Pin var.) was the hardest. I wonder what is it about the Najdorf that makes it 'the best', I mean... it Looks, to my not very trained eye, that 6.Bg5 by White is an immediate attack. well, I'll need to learn I guess... (I used to be an 1...e5 player, it's Solid, but it's inviting White to play gambits on Black...)
Black's best reply to 1.e4:
6 bg5 is aggressive, but most of the lines are forcing especially the poisoned pawn lines, which i am using. white has to know a lot too, and he has to keep playing dynamic.
the four knights is not as demanding theoretically and easier to transition to since you probably use the 2..e6 move order. it does involve crazy complications but hey you play the sicilian you kind of expect that.
the main plan is bb4 and d5 if allowed. white's main moves are 6 nxc6 and 6 a3 as far as i know. other moves you can rely on your knowledge of scheveningen structures.
The Najdorf is considered a better try for a win as the Bg5 lines are very Sharp but there is nothing wrong with the Kan
Of the few 2000+ rated players and coaches that I have encountered and asked, the Grand Prix (with 2.Nc3, not 2.f4) has so far been the consensus number 1 way recommended for lower level amateurs to play as White against the Sicilian because of “simpler” attacking plans and relatively less theory. I am guessing, however, that any player who is seriously booked up in the Sicilian as Black is probably already at least a higher level amateur (1800+ rated).
1. Opponent is out of book.
2. It prevents the Grand Prix moves - Bb5 / Bc4.
3. You can kick the horse and take the pawn, at your leisure.
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(I assumed White would play f4 and Nf3, because he wants to "Grand Prix Attack" you).