grand prix attack anti sicillian.

hi a month back i posted a question on the c4 d3 e4 white formation and was answered with a very helpful analysis by a better player. i am trying to learn the grand prix attack against the sicillian. does anyone know is this ONLY effective against the dragon, or other variations?  there are so many sicillians. i am trying to learn them all. what is black's method of deflecting the grand prix? if it were so great, wouldn't kramnik, anand, and carlsen be using it?  is it really just a premature way to expose one's queen. doesnt the grand prix attack have a flaw in it if black replies well???????

Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFuErC9DFSs

This will give you a few thoughts

I personally don't like the Grand Prix as white, I think the closed sicilian is much more effective and if black gets d5 in one move, what did white accomplish?

Two possible ways of interpreting your comment:

A) by "d5 in one move", you're talking about the line 1 e4 c5 2 f4?! d5!, which can be avoided with 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 f4 

B) by "d5 in one move", you mean ...e6 and ...d5, which can also be played against the Closed...

Mainline, I personally like the g6 and d6 variations for black so I never play it in one move! The positions are different..against Grand Prix I just never had much trouble equalizing.

In the Grand prix attack (1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4) blacks best defensive setup includes black fianchettoing their DSB.

-I think this may be why OP believes it is only used against ''the dragon''. 

First, as noted, it is not a dragon because the dragon occurs in the open sicilian. Second, it can be played against other black setups, it's just other setups are generally somewhat better for white than the mainline.

The reason you do not see top level players using it is because black can equalise quite easily. Top players are unlikely to play something as white which allows their opponent equality, especially if the line is as well known as the grand prix (they may allow equality if they will be able to out experience their opponent in a rare line).

-Thus, the grand prix's ''flaw'' is that it does not allow white to take full advantage of having the first move, but this is rather irrelevant below high master level, and it remains popular among amatuers.

On the note of white bringing the queen out prematurely. I assume this refers to the Qe1-Qh4 plan by white to try and attack the kingside. Usuaully this happens quite late (move 9-12ish from memory?) after white has setup their pieces in such a way to attack the kingside. It is probably white's strongest plan in the position, so it is not really premature, and black cannot really take advantage of the early queen excursion.

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