The most common variation after 2 a3 is 2...g6.

What if Black play 2.g6?  This is a pretty good move if you are not sure what White is up to.

The games shown here with 2. a3 have a lot of neat sacrifices that put white in a winning position. However, I think that this is not a very sound opening. I think that if black is careful, he'll be able to successfully defend himself and come out with the advantage. I also agree with wango that 2... g6 seems like a good counter. However, I don't have a thorough analysis on this yet, so I'll come back later with more info.

I got this in a tournament game once (can't say I wasn't shocked).  I think I ended up losing the game because my opponent got a massive attack on the queenside.  Don't underestimate 2. a3...

I couldn't find 2. a3 in MCO, so I had to make up most of the moves. Please correct me if I did something wrong. Here is my analysis so far (I'm still working on possible variations).

In the final position, material is equal and the position seems about even. Both sides have an open file for a rook. White has more pawns near the center, but has an isolated pawn. To me it seems that black has achieved equality fairly easily and so far my conclusion of 2. a3 is that it's certainly playable, but seems like a bit of a waste of time as it takes two moves (a3 b5) to start the attack. This is time that black uses to develop pieces and achieve easily equality. However, I don't think I have done nearly enough analysis yet to reach a final conclusion and I don't expect you to take my word over a GM's. I'm also interested in this opening, so please tell me what you think of my analysis, so that I can improve it.

i think that 4.Nc3 or 4.c3 are much better than Ra2, which seems pointless as the rock later has to return to a1.

Thanks. I forgot about c3.

These are three lines from Rybka. Play seems dinamic. These are from 2.Nc6, and after I get one more line I will research 2. g6

Here is the final variation after 20 HOURS of anylasis.

I will now calculate 2.g6

what does [%eval -38,24,Rybka 3 1-cpu w32] mean???

take a look at this review on the book

http://www.chessville.com/reviews/ChallengingSicilianWith2a3.htm

I find 2...g6 an interesting answer : it makes b4 more clumsy (beware of the bishop coming on g7), while keeping flexibility in the center...

To back my recommendation, here is a game by someone who plays much better than I do

Even though Bezgodov seems to recommend this line, the only time he ever played 2.a3 in a rated game, it ended with a quick win for Black.

Hey Lycan148, I've been using this move steadily for some months now. I have to say it brings the effect of surprise, although some people cleverly hide it( or maybe they aren't even surprised?).

Nc6 is definitely not the favourite move among chessplayers. Let's see.......

hello? LYCAN?

After 1.e4 c5 I like to play Ne2.

sorry,i lended the book to someone...

It'll be back on the 29th

Ok,here we go...

For 2...Nf6 The author says

"We now have a situation simlilar to a Alekhine's defence after blacks interesting and totally acceptable move.There is some important differences though...black can fight for the center better with his pawn on c5,but white has the possibillity of playing b4,which is just unthinkable for the Alekhine's defence.The development of the game is going to be original and unpredictable,just like the rest of the lines with 2.a3"

It seems that we have to play e5.And blacks N only has 1 dgood move

3.e5     Nd5

Now white has 3 good moves

A:Nf3

B:c4

C:d4

I'll only look at Nf3 here,if you want analysis on c4 and d4,ask me

4.Nf3   Nc6

5.Bc4

This is a calm move the requires precise play from B to reach equality

5...Nb6

This is just about the only move

6.Ba2

Now we see another idea of a3,white's B will be excelent in this diagonal

6....d5

7.exd6

White takes to give the LSB more range

7...Qxd6

8.Nc3

Black now has the possibillity of Ne4 to worry about,so he/she should control that square.

8...Bf5

9.d3    e6

10.Be3   Rd8

11.0-0   Be7

12.Ne4  Bxe4

13dxe4

White 2 Bs give him a good position

I'll talk about 2..d6 on the next post

So,2...d6

This is about the shoutest chpt

This modest move defends the c pawn and destorys the development of the DSB

It is not easy to make direct threats right now.

3.b4!

White MUST play his,or his 2nd move is senseless

3...Nf6

4.Nc3 e6

5.Bb2

play on the long diagonal is one of th main motives of this system.His other possibilities do not promise him much

5...Be7

Now there are two sharp moves

A:f4

B:g4(!?)

We are going to go through g4 only because it is sharpest(yay)and give white more chances that f4

6.g4

This flank attack is quite risky for both B and W.Similar ideas enjoy great popularity now,as white should try to win from move 1!

3 options arise

A:e5

B:h6

C:d5

6...e5

I won't analyse this but i believe this is a bad choice for black,f7 is forever weak,d5 is SOOOO weak and black moved this pawn twice!

White should do stuff like Bc4(targeting the f7 square),Nc3,(getting ready to jump in to THE SQUARE.the pawn should go to g5 and h4.Q might go on f3 and stuff.

6...h6

7.h4   Nc6

8.Rh3(!)、

Quite original,now the R might move to g3,f3 or get the other R to double on the h file!

6...d5

Normal book tell you to attack a flank attack with a central counter,this position is nothing wrong with that plan!

7.g5(of course)Nfd7

8.exd5   exd5

9.Nxd5   0-0