the sicilian is the most sucessful defense for black.   what is the best way to counter the sicilian.

according to GMs, it's the Open sicilian : 2.Nf3 and 3.d4

However, the best way for you (or for me, or for any given player) may be another variation

You can be pleased to play either side of the board in a Sicilian game. Both sides have excellent opportunities, many chances to steer the game down avenues they approve of. Same as the Spanish or French, perhaps its better to PLAY these top-notch opening systems instead of trying to sidestep them all the time.

The open

jcoby: lol

The best is the open. But if you don't want it:

I think that grand prix attack and alapin are bad, they are useful only against a <1700 elo guy or if he's not well prepared. A not so bad variation against a 1700-2100 elo player can be the closed sicilian.

I find interesting the stonewall 1. e4 c5 2. c4

That's not the stonewall that's a botvinnik formation. The stonewall is pawns on d4 e3 and f4.

Playing the closed sicilian is always a surprise. You can let it transpose into the grand prix. 

Instead of playing the typical Nf3 play Nc3. 

How would playing the closed be a surprise? Black has in all likelyness seen it much more than you have since he plays the sicilian (I'm assuming) everytime he sees 1.e4

ericmittens: i know it's called botvinnik formation, i used the word stonewall because even if it's used for f-pawn, the basic ideas are the same :)

c3 maybe

well for me d4

but i dont play the sicilian ....

if my opponent plays e4 i also reply

with e4 but if he uses another opening

i use the caro-kann (c6)

that is for black!