The open sicilian is good. I play it and enjoy it.
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 (any reasonable Black move except a6) 3. d4
That line isn't nearly so good against 2. ... a6, though.
If you prefer a quieter game, the closed sicilian is also good.
1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 followed by g3 and Bg2.
Based on your rating, then I would say the Grand Prix... It's a simple system to learn, the Open Sicilian has many variations that Black can go into and you have to be prepared...
You only have to be prepared if you are a strong player facing strong opposition. Games between weak players are decided by blunders, not by the result of the opening.
Not really,there are a lot of players (1200-1500) that study a particular opening, mainly because it is way more fun than studying endgames, positional play, or middlegame imbalances... so technically, people of that rating tend to be better in openings than in any other aspect of the game.
True, but a player who is strong in the opening and weak in other aspects will lose most of his games to a player who is weak in the opening and strong in other aspects.
Opening preparation works best against players who follow the lines that you've been studying.
grand prix scicillian is the best
+1 The Grand Prix Attack variation of the closed Sicilian is a good choice.
You get plenty of play and pressure against the black king along the f file.
Go to the game explorer masters database here with your diamond and play through the moves of 20 games where white played it and won in less than 40 moves to get a good grasp on the main ideas.
See what all the masters who won share in common and internalize the ideas.
For example, there will be some interesting and fun ideas with f5 you'll see. :)
You'll also see the right time to play d3 to prevent attacks against your light square bishop and alleviate the pressure on the queen side if need be.
You might also see some games where instead of exchanging the white f pawn for a central black pawn, you invest that f pawn into ripping apart the pawns in front of the black king on the g file instead. (Opponents often aren't sure how to reply before you can steer the position into your advantage and before they have a chance to recover with adequate defense against your attack.)
Personally, I dislike the open sicilian for white (sure, objective it may is the best way to play) becuase black gets the centre majority. So I tried to find a way to avoid black of getting the centre majority and find it in the moscow system against 2. ...d6 and the rossolimo attack against 2. ...Nc6. In my opinion, the Alapin is a little bit to slow and harmless, even though it keeps two pawns in the centre.
I know that this is certain not the only aspect of the siclian, but in my former games with the open sicilian I recognized that I find this aspect the most unpleasent.
Hi AChessPatzer--depending what you enjoy, any of the anti-Sicilian moves could be viable as well. They aren't arguably better or worse than anything else, but they lead to very different types of play and they're worth attempting in a few casual games to see what happens. After 1. e4 c5 you may appreciate something like 2. c4, 2. b3, 2. g3, 2. d3, or the Rossolimo with an early Bb5.
After 1. e4 c5 you may appreciate something like 2. c4, 2. b3, 2. g3, 2. d3, or the Rossolimo with an early Bb5.
All of those look reasonably playable except 2. g3
Hm...what's the refutation for the Steinitz, blueemu? The only problem response that comes to mind is 1. e4 c5 2. g3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5, but after 4. Nf3 with Bg2/Nc3 to follow, white seems as comfortable as anything else. Otherwise he can segue into a Closed or KIA offshoot.
It's the 2. ... d5 move that I was thinking of. To me, it looks like White has lost his opening pull already, on move 2.
If you want to get out of the "book" lines by fianchettoing your Bishop to g2, the proper way to do it is either by 2. Nc3 or else by 2. d3 so that you can reply to 2. ... d5 with 3. Nbd2 avoiding a Queen-swap.
Personally, I dislike the open sicilian for white (sure, objective it may is the best way to play) becuase black gets the centre majority. So I tried to find a way to avoid black of getting the centre majority and find it in the moscow system against 2. ...d6 and the rossolimo attack against 2. ...Nc6. In my opinion, the Alapin is a little bit to slow and harmless, even though it keeps two pawns in the centre.
I know that this is certain not the only aspect of the siclian, but in my former games with the open sicilian I recognized that I find this aspect the most unpleasent.
Which is why I play 2...e6; the Alapin is easy for Black to play against at a slow time control. (I lose tons of bullet games by hanging h7!) The Grand Prix has its issues, namely the fact that Black's queenside attack gets an incredibly quick start. I believe the Short-Nunn (English) Attack is viable though.
Any line that forces black to not play conventionally, make your opponent uncomfortable as possible by playing quick sharp attacks, don't allow the Sicilian to build up a defense too quickly.
I was wondering what is a good system against the Sicilian defence?