Sicilian - Gran prix attack

Hi all,

Another question on basic principles please. As a beginner playing the Sicilian I often run into a sort of Gran Prix attack that differs what I've seen on the main line videos. As I've understood B's basic ideas when playing against 1.e4 c5 2.f4 is to develop  Nc6 & Bg7 which along with the c5 pawn are all aimed at the d4 square allowing for tactics later in the game. So you can imagine my annoyance when after 2.... Nc6 white invariably plays 3. c3. Also at some point in the game after I play e6, W pushes to e5. And if I understand correctly having pawns on f4 and e5 also gives W a further advantage?

Thanks

Nikhil

If your opponents are playing 2.f4 it's not a grand prix attack, well I think some databases still call it grand prix, some call it the McDonnell attack but it's not a grand prix IMO. It's also bad because it allows 2.d5 which is the tal gambit and it's good for black. This is why good players will play 2.Nc3 before f4. As far as your "annoyance" when your opponents play weird moves is concerned, this is why people need to forget about memorizing openings and study the things that really matter. Middle game planning, endgames, pawn structures, tactics, and basic opening principles. These things are all far more important than memorizing some opening lines that your opponents (in all likelihood) will deviate from leaving you scratching your head wondering, what do I do now?

Thanks Erik. Leaving aside 2....d5 for now, 1. e4 c5 2.f4 Nc6 seems a common enough move sequence in the opening databases , though not followed by 3.c3. So I still have my earlier two questions on the use of the d4 square by B and W's ability to play e5, once W plays c3 either right upfront in move 3 or shortly thereafter? 

Regards

Nikhil

What is played according to databases is irrelevant to me. I've never played 2.Nc6 after 2.f4 I always play the tal gambit. Immediate equality for black on move 2 seems good to me so I don't see a need to play anything else.

So 1. ...c5 is a good response to the Bird, even if you are afraid of find yourself transposing to a Sicilian? I've always avoided it just because of that.

Hi Pfren, a follow up question please. If W plays e5 in response to the d5 push, the resulting pawn structure seems pretty much what I've been ending up with. Its not that I'm losing from here but I just want to check that I'm not making a fundamental mistake. In the below setup I try and use the f5 square for my Knight and it does seem that W's pawns are actually offering my king some protection. But am I thinking about this correctly or are the f4 and e5 pawns a problem for B and advantage for W.

Generally we've both castled king side, W is trying to put pressure on my e6 and f7 pawns and my light squared bishop gets used to protect there. My dark squared bishop is boxed in at g7, I never manage to use the d4 square for my knight, so I wonder if I've played incorrectly. But quite often W isnt really able to breakthrough and eventually I get some counter attacking chances. Any guidelines on playing such a setup would be great. Thanks

Thank you very much!