Sicilian for 1200?

Wanting to add to repertoire of openings.  Considering some of the variations of the Sicilian - Maybe closed, maybe accelerated dragon, 

And then adding a white response - maybe Grand Prix or Smith Morra

It all looks pretty complex - but I figure if I start with some lines now I can build on that knowledge over time.  

Thoughts?  Is Sicilian too complex at this level?  

or - maybe another way to ask this question is "what is the best entree into the Sicilian for black and for white at this level"?

Sicilian, especially the open sicilian is very theory-heavy.... but the thing is your opponent will not know the theory either so it doesn't really matter.... If you want to, by all means go for it... but don't get too hang up on memorizing moves and lines, instead you should try to understand the ideas, common themes, tactical motifs to keep an eye on, usual piece placement, piece maneuvers, etc

Do not worry about openings.
You do not lose because of the opening, you lose because you make blunders and mistakes.

Gotta be someone every time with this nonsense.

I'll do me - you do you.  My progress in chess has been just fine, tyvm.

Technically it is not nonsense.. it is actually very sound lol... it's just repetitive, but a lot of people don't know that... and it is a fact, in terms of chess development, your time would be better spent on something else, but as I said, if you're having fun by all means go for it....  and it doesn't really matter which sicilian you choose... some are a little bit easier than other, but at the end of the day it is just a matter of preference.... open, closed, canal attack, rossolimo, smith morra, wing, alapin, grand prix, whatever.... it's a personal choice which one to pick

You can play it if you want to. You will have some crushing defeats from time to time, but it can happen with other openings as well. You can build gradually, by playing games and reviewing opening explorer afterwards. You will plug the holes as they appear, but I would at least know what I am going for in advance. But don't overdo it, the advice that openings are not that important is correct. But it is of course fine to try to find something where you feel comfortable.

You can't really go for closed Sicilian as black. Don't get me wrong, white will play it from time to time with 2. Nc3, but you should try to bear in mind some variation in case white goes for open Sicilian. If he deviates and plays closed Sicilian, sure, then you will play it, but you can't force it.

Here is the example. I play Najdorf. There are multiple variations of Najdorf Sicilian, and I have some idea on how to play against the most common variations white can go for.

There are many ways how white can deviate before we reach Najdorf position, as there are multiple anti Sicilians before those 5 moves are played, and even some open Sicilians that are not as common as Najdorf (like Prins variation).

I don't want to bore you to death, the point is to decide on the end variation so to speak, in case white goes for open Sicilian, and have some vague idea on what will you play against the most common Anti Sicilians. The rest will come through playing. If I can help you further, feel free to ask.

Yep. He says it every time even though it's patently false. I'll stick with what GM Daniel Naroditsky says: anyone at any level can benefit from theory. If you know what to do and don't have to waste any time doing it, you're at an advantage over someone who doesn't know what to do and has to spend time thinking.

Does opening theory guarantee a win? No. Does it help? Yes.

I've had many successful attacks with the Grand Prix (mostly cause 90% of opponents castle kingside) and a blast to play with its aggressive and risky nature, win or lose. Not that difficult to learn and understand either compared to the other variations of the Sicilian. Highly recommend it.

Maybe wait a couple hundred points, but don't wait until 2000 or so, I switched to the Sicilian after hitting 2000 and it was a major adjustment. In my opinion, maybe 1500 is the best time to learn it.

yeah sicilian is too early for you. wait until 1500-1600. but learn basic lines in case someone plays it against you.

Are you not supposed to castle kingside against the grand prix? I usually do, fiancheto my bishop and if I can get in d5 I like my position... just gotta keep and eye on the f6 square if they advance e5 but it's usually no trouble... although I often have to trade queens, which for the most part I try to avoid... I would have to check but I think I have more W than Ls against the grandprix

Yes you can. I play the same setup. I am crushed sometimes, but that is not due to the opening but due to a sharp position (which I can misplay) or/and my temporarily insanity. There might be exceptions, for instance a few days ago, my opponent thrown a kitchen sink at me, rushed with his kingside pawns. It turned out that it was around -1.5 or -2 by that point, but I should've just left my king in the middle and open up the position with f5, because his king was more exposed than mine. Instead I castled without too much thought and lost like a patzer. 

But in a normal situation, yes, castling kingside with that setup is fine.

Castling kingside against the grand prix is fine if you know what you're doing. But if the opponent doesn't try to stop white's plans, white gets to open the f-file, lift the rook, and gather the queen and other pieces to bombard the kingside. And trust me, not a lot of people around my level and below are good at defending against big attacks.

OK - thanks!  I'm interested but I have to say watching some videos on it it's pretty complex -- and so many lines!  That's why I've stayed away from Ruy Lopez (other than to answer as black).

Alright - it may be a bad idea, but I'm going to go for it.  I'll study a few of the main lines and answers and see if I can't figure out the theory.  I figure I'll get lit up for a while so I'll go play on lichess where I don't care about my rating until I get to a place where I'm winning about half the time.  

And maybe it won't work out - maybe because no one plays the Sicilian at this level and I never get to play out the theory.  But we'll see - if anything I'll be a bit ahead of the curve when I do get to 1400 or 1500 and it starts to become a thing people play.

The tricky part about learning openings is not why certain moves are considered good (aka "theory") but why other moves that look equally decent are, in fact, bad.

Good luck on your Sicilian journey

You can start playing any openings you like  I guess you want to seek new position arising from another opening. Have fun playing Sicilian.

First up - I think the Dragon and the accelerated variations.  

Might as well start with something sharp and combative!  Also - I'm already playing KID and Catalan - so I'm already playing a lot with the fianchetto bishop on the long diagonals, so it won't be totally unfamiliar play.  

hey hey- dragon strikes - 1-0 for Sicilian. . .

good start!  

https://lichess.org/RWGCdcny/black#0