Recently, I've been experimenting with a new variation of the Sicilian. Seen it used by Alexei Shirov before. It goes like this...

 

1.e4 c5

2.Nf3 d6

(still standard sicilian here)

3.d4 Nf6!?

(This is a new line for me)

 

Usually, Black goes for

3. ... cxd4

4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 a6(Najdorf Variation)

 

My question is this...after 3.d4 Nf6, what should I do in case White does dxc5 or Bb5?

 

Oh yeah, and if anyone knows the name of this variation let me know ok?

 

Thanks

-Mark-

I went through my book with 100 some odd pages with different varitians of the sicilian alone. Unless my book is missing something I don't think it's a known variation. Is it possible it's a transposition into another opening? I don't know, the book I have is pretty comprehensive. It doesn't seem to recognize 3... Nf6

I have a database with over 10,000 grandmaster games. I found 28 games that have this position, but all transpose into a known line of the Sicilian. I found 3 Dragons, 4 Richter-Rauzer, 2 Scheveningen and the rest are Najdorfs.

Perhaps you can post the Shirov game where you saw it? 

I agree with ravl; it will always transpose into some other sicilian variation (usually a najdorf, scheveningen or dragon).

Sounds like an interesting position to analyze.