The strength and dependability of the Sicilian Defense as Black

Hello again Chess.com. Today we will be talking about the Sicilian Defence for Black. This is said to be one of the strongest strategies that black can use against white. Especially against 1.e4, it has been known to be both defensive and aggressive. I disagree however. I have used the Sicilian Defense as Black and it has the same level as wins and losses as every other Defense out there for both black and white. What do you think chess.com? Is the Sicilian Defense one of the best or is it the BEST for black to use?

I'd play 1. e4 more if not for that Sicilian.... so much theory, so little advantage for White!  If I think my opponent is going to play the Sicilian or the Slav, I play 1. f4.

I'm going to have to look into openings with 1.f4, they sound interesting and unexpected :D

The thing about the Sicilian, if white doesn't try for much, black doesn't get much, usually.

But if the harder white hits it, the harder the Sicilian will hit back.

But white can turn up the volume to just about any level of crazyness he wants.

Playing either side of an Open Sicilian is probably my favourite kind of game to play.

I used to play the Sicilian, but I kept losing. I think white wins most of the time. White has an advantage in the Yugoslav, I think.

I have used the Yugoslav before and I liked using it for a while. Went over the the Ruy Lopez for a while though. The Open sicilian does have some advantages. Not many but a few.

A plan is as good as the one who carries it out. That being said, using it really depends on your preferences. There are a number of ways to play with and against the Sicilian so you're spoilt for choice. If you just don't like the Sicilian there are lots of other openings you can play.

I agree with you on that one. You don't have to use the Sicilian Defense. It does depend on who is using the opening. If you play your cards right you can win or you can lose. I personally do like the Sicilian but I don't prefer to use it.

Why not 1.Nf3 or 1.b3?  They don't weaken the kingside. 

Being a former Caro-Kann player, too often I was in the situation where if white played even a bit poorly in the some lines, but did not blunder material, black wouldn't get much in this opening. At least with the Sicilian, White has to work a little bit more if he does nothing.

1. Nf3 and 1. b3 aren't as much fun as the Bird!

Maybe it's just the way you play the carokann. If you treat it as a defensive opening then you will just be defending. If you find productive ways to be aggressive in it, a lot of fire works can go off.

Heres a blitz game I played against a 1970 rated player, I think you wont find it too boring.

The Sicilian Defense:  Against 1.e4, what we are really looking for is an opening which is dynamic yet sound but also offers good opportunities to quickly seize the intiative or to develop a strong attack.  The Najdorf Variation, 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 provides the above mentioned factors and when you add the critical bonus that there is no practical way for White to kill the game off after 5...a6; it fulfills Black's criteria for the best defensive system against 1.e4 (the best by test according to Mr. Fischer).

There are 2 intrinsic factors that favor Black long term.  First, the thematic square d5 is logistically closer to Black's pawns and pieces.  Second, Black enjoys a 2 vs. 1 pawn majority in the center (d6,e7 vs. e4) which will  endure into the endgame where it comes to fruition.

I thought there were some forced drawing lines you can go into as white in the najdorf?

I found one a long time ago.  It is called the Poisoned Pawn Variation 8...Qb6.  Every line was so riddled with tactics that I had to memorize 400 subvariations just to achieve a draw against a strong opponent.  I still know those lines cold.  I remember thinking, "...how cool, a classic question of whether Black has violated opening principles and gone grabbing pawns with his Q in the opening.  At the time I thought, let White prove it!  come and get me!!..."  

oh boy another chess.com thread discussing the usefulness of a half millennia old opening

Well Kinghunter75, I understand what your getting at with that post. I am a Freshman in college though and I have played in over 40 tournaments outside of this website. I have played against many players including GrandMasters and I have played against the Sicilian Defense many times. Everytime I play against it, it doesn't really do much for either player in my personal opinion. I do understand and note that my post did sound somewhat childish but I was only using terms and quotes that I had heard from other people including Masters. I have nothing against that opening or other openings or comments by other players but I do not let my age, which might be young still, get in my way as being wise beyond my years. Thanks for your comment, it has given me something to think about for future discussions.

The greatest Counter of Sicilian Defense
I used Central Borneo Opening whith odd pawn sacrifice on center of board when I face an opponent who used Sicilian. Please, check out an example as follows:

http://www.chess.com/livechess/game?id=824362826