Sicillian, french variation

What do you think about the Sicillian, French variation?  I've been using it (or trying... I haven't really been able to figure out all the possible lines yet), and there are some things that I like about it and some that I don't...

i honestly wouldn't think of combining them the usual 2nd move of sicilian is d6 but d5 for french how does that work together? probably not to well

Well I can't say that I've studied it that much but I usually move 5...a6 and then 6...d6 before 7...Nf6.  My idea with 5...a6 is to prevent 6.Bb5+ that usually happens if 5...d6 is first.  Blocking the check wih 6...Nc6 ends up ruining the pawn structure and blocking with the Bishop can end up with the Queen's Knight in an awkward position or in losing a tempo if you take back with the Queen.  Then I prefer 6...d6 rather than 6...Nf6 to prevent 7.e5 forcing my knight to move again and allowing a pawn into my pasture.

Sorry, I don't know how to put in the chess board to show what I mean like you did.

Your not playing the French variation yet! Here is the French variation:

Which could also have been reached through the French Defense:

2... e6 is the 3rd most common reply in the Sicilian Defense, and there are definitely some interesting variation, and is completely playable. If you want to play the French, why not just play a French with 1. e6? However if you want that sicilian flair, you can check out the Paulsen and Kan variations in the opening explorer. 

Wow - I think the two should be one.

I often try and play 1. e6 for my sicilian

c5, i almost always play with the french

The ability to slow the bleeding from a failed sicilian via french positions is really interesting.

Scrubadubdub, the reason you have a defensive position is moves that seem questionable. 4...h6 seems to accomplish nothing, as there is no real threat from Ng5, as the c4 bishop is blocked from f7 by the e6 pawn. 6...Nxe4 is also a possibility to reduce his central dominance (if 7Nxe4 d5 with a solid position). If you want a more aggressive position, you will have to play more aggressive moves. 

Following from Bondiggity's second line, the problem that I always seem to run in to is 5. e5.  This is why I've done 4...h6, to give my knight some place to go...  It isn't such a tough question if 2. d4, but often, I see 2. Nf3 3. Bc4 4. e5:

I think what you're saying, nqi, is that I really don't need to worry about the bishop... but I guess my question, then, is how the French deals with this very common white line.  I haven't studied any of the French... which may seem strange, as that's the variation of the Sicillian that I am playing...  Perhaps not so much strange as just ignorant!

First of all, if you are going to play the 2... e6 Sicilian, study some of the standard info on it (line names: Taminov, Kan, Paulson).  There are thousands of games, check standard databases.

1. e4 c5  2. Nf3  e6  3.  Bc4?  The bishop does nothing, bites on granite and is asking to be evicted.  3.... a6 comes immediately to mind.  3.... Nf6? is a mistake which is punished by e5.  If you don't want to be bothered by e5 don't put the Knight out there with a "kick me" sign.  If you must move a Knight play Nc6.  The King's Knight in the Taminov often goes to e7.

This link leads to a Taminov Sicilian.  It was lost by Black but it gives you some idea.  I like it as it is a win by one of my favorite players, GM Larry Christiansen, is his best style.  A much prettier game than the one he crushed me in at a simul a couple decades ago.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/14/AR2008121401757.html

This is GM Kavalek's column in the Washington Post.

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 is a strong and well known variation of Sicilian, especially when white plays the weak 3 Bc4.  CarlMI gave you some good info.

The Najdorf variation of the Sicilian turns into a more interesting game than the French.

ADK

um...thats the paulsen attack...with 2....e6