Recommendations for a 1700 Federation-rated player wishing to give up the Scandinavian vs. 1.e4

Hi Shivsky, for some time the Scandinavian with 2...Qxd5 and 3...Qa5 has been my exclusive weapon against 1.e4, though nowadays I have moved on to the Sicilian and only play a Scandinavian game once in a while.

I have never regretted taking up the Sicilian, as most posters praising its great scope for counterattack are absolutely right: imho there is no more ambitious opening after 1.e4. However, the problem of the Anti-Sicilians is not to be underestimated, some of those lines are just as dangerous as the Open Sicilian, and since they are played quite frequently, their theory is in constant change, too, albeit to a less degree than that of the Open Sicilians. In particular, I am referring to the Rossolimo 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5, which is relevant only if you want to play a Sicilian main line involving 2...Nc6 such as the Accelerated Dragon or the famous Sveshnikov and the Alapin 1.e4 c5 2.c3, which can hit every Sicilian player. In my experience, these lines are not a rare bother but appeare quite frequently. Along with all those other systems like the GPA, the Closed Variation, oddball gambits, 2.b3 they have made up at least a third of my otb games. Here, where people are allowed to use databases, it's actually much better because nobody has to run for the sidelines, but if you are thinking of constructing an otb repertoire with the Sicilian, I would take that into account.

Actually the fact that in my otb games I'm hardly getting to play my favourite Open Sicilian lines makes me think of taking up something else instead...