I have faced this line,1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.f3, instead of the standard 5.Nc3 a few times now and it actually looks like a pretty good choice for white if he wants to avoid open sicilian theory but still play an open game against the sicilian.

Sure it commits white to moving his f-pawn early in the game, but it also leaves him the option of playing 6.c4 against any black response, setting up a maroczy bind. Weather this maroczy is good or not without black commiting to a accelerated dragon, I am not sure, but it is interesting. White can also possibly play Nc3 at a later stage and maybe even transpose to some type of yugoslav or english attack system.

So is there a name for this system? What do you sicilian players usually counter it with? I usually play Nc6, and eventually e5, but perhaps this isn't the best choice. Is there a downside to not playing Nc3 right away? It will interesting to read what everyone thinks about this.

2. ...d6 a good move? I have no idea, I never play the sicilian with black.

I don't know if there is "theory" on it.  But, it would seem to me that black could simply play d5 and if white pushes then you have entered a quasi-advance french(no e6 yet-meaning they can possibly get the light square bishop out before e6.  Or even trade the light square bishop off via b6 and b-a6)

I would see the play going forward something like d5 2.e5, nd7 3.  f4....

Of course if black is playing a sicilian they don't necessarily like playing french positions do they? 

There is a Franco-Sicilian defense for those who can't decide. d5 could transpose into that opening.

it's the prins variation. i have no idea how to play it though.

5. ...e5! is strong here.  The Knight has f3 taken away from it and need to go to b3.  If it goes to b5 it gets kicked with a6 and it ends up on a3 and White has a disjointed position.

The line with e5, if there is one goes 5. ...e5 6. Nb3 Be6 7. c4 Nbd7 8.Nc3 Rc8 and each side brings out their pieces.  White can keep a slight edge in this line.

Another chance is 5. ...g6 looking to get into Dragons, or maybe even Qb6 !? to see what White's intentions could be.

5. ..d5? would be an error here, I think, with something like 6. Bb5+ Nd7 7. e5! Bxb5 8 Nxb5 Nfd7 9. Qxd5 looking like it gives White a lot of good play.

once again done in my head..so correct me if I am wrong.  

But, It seems you mean 6. b-d7 and not n-d7.  but after b-b5+ b-d7 7.e5,q-a5+8. n-c3, bxb5 9.nxb5, d4!?  because after qxd4 then n-c6 followed by nxe5 and if the knight captured the d pawn then the e pawn is captured by the queen. 

Any mistakes in my analysis?  Bueller, bueller anyone? 

Actually, although this is not considered to be the best plan for white, it is nevertheless not that bad and can be quite tricky; so much so, in fact, that a master friend of mine affirms that he plays ...Nf6 before cxd4 in order to avoid this variation. There is theory on this, but nobody I've talked to can quite remember it, and I don't feel like looking it up at the moment.

 by the way e5 is a good move.  But, whites position isn't as bad as you seem to think.  a3 and c3 are the classical positions of the knights in the main line of the schevenigen(sp?).  The only difference is white has already played f3(I don't know if that would be good or bad in this case. Especially since I don't know the theory that well on that opening-especially since I may have even mixed up the name of the variation)

I do not think White's position is bad here, but if the Knight goes to a3 Black equalizes easily whereas with it on b3 White can keep a slight advantage, in theory.   

I think 5. f3 is a decent try by White to get Black "Out of Book" early and there is scope for original and creative play in the line for both sides.  I just don't think it is considered sharp or the most critical attempt for White to shoot down the Sicilian.  Unless White has some concrete ideas, I feel Black should have nothing to fear with some sensible moves and if that player also has deep understanding of playing Boleslavski and Sveshnikov pawn structures, Black can look forward to a good fighting chance for a full point.

 Well, black always has a good chance at a full point if they understand the opening and the pawn structures which they are playing.  And like I said I would be interested to know if f3 as opposed to the knight on c3 makes it better or worst for white.  I will have to look through some of my other "materials" when I get home to see what I can find.

By the way what did you think of my analysis of d5?

Yes, I think I typo-ed and meant Bd7! And you are correct, but i still feel d5 is a bit suspect here taking a 2nd move this early to get it in.

Also, I was using my brain as well and will have to look at your Queen moves a little deeper with  board when I get the chance.  I don't play many sicilians as black anymore (I been puntin 1.e5! lately) but had an partner many years aho that would play this 5.f3 line as White against both 2. ....d6 and 2. ...Nc6 systems and over time I found e5 gave me posiitons better suited to my Sicilian needs (central pawn majority in the endgame) than the other options.

 Well I like the idea of playing e5 to kick the knight to b3 but what if white throws in Bb5+ first, looking to exchange off the light squared bishops and increase control of the weak d5 square? I play the najdorf in the open sicilian and I know one of the reasons for 5.a6 is to prepare e5 without allowing that bishop check, so how would the situation be better for black here? Maybe this is insignificant but I feel since in the najdorf d5 is very important, it would be in this structure too. I think I would play Nc6 and then e5 for this reason, but maybe it isn't such a big deal...

Bb5 to early lets black equalize easy.

5. ...e5 6. Bb5? Nbd7 7. Nf5! a6 8. Bxd7 Qxd7 and Black should be just fine.

If 7. Nb3 then I think 7....d5 is stronger here than it was at move 5 because eventually Black will have good counterplay on the weakened g1-a7 diagonal.

 Ah, very good.  I had meant to calculate out the e6 variation.  But, first I went through the b-b5+ variation and was happy to seemingly calculate it out. 

Then I proceeded to forget that you could play e5 first as well.  (You should always calculate the simple stuff to see if it gets you crushed before you calculate a deep variation.  But, I just like the complex so much more)

But, your analysis seems pretty good on e6.  Only thing I would say is it is possible to take with the knight on f7 and black would have solid center pawns.  Does white have an edge?  I would argue no.  I would say it is unbalanced position with "winning chances for both sides" or in other words an interesting game ahead.  

Btw, this has been an educational thread for me.  opening theory probably is my weakest point

I like this. I will try it in my next game against Sicilian. It looks good to play against Najdorf players as 5... a6 c4 and they they will be feeling a little confused.