Anti-Sicilian Help

#15
Both Alapin 2 c3 and Closed Sicilian 2 Nc3 are positional and slower than the open Sicilian.

Sveshnikov was of the opinion that the Open Sicilian 2 Nf3 3 d4 is wrong as it trades central pawn d4 for wing pawn c5 and he insisted that 2 c3 is the right way.

You can also play a delayed Alapin: 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 c3 Nf6 4 Be2 Nc6 5 d4. Central pawn e4 is indirectly defended by the check Qa4+. It avoids the two main defences 1 e4 c5 2 c3 Nf6 and 1 e4 c5 2 c3 d5.

I’ve been following this thread. My initial hunch, (which has come full circle now) leaves only one solution to the underlying problem. Your answer: study the living daylights out of the Sicilian leaving no stone unturned. Put in the diligence and we’ll see you back on chess.com in 2 weeks😁

If you don't like the "attacking" thing (I feel that white has a slight edge in most open siclians), play the much worse alpin or grand prix attack. 

Siclians are aggressive as most positions do end up on the offensive. If you are more of a positional player, screw e4, play d4 or c4. They are better anyways. 

Anything in the Sicilian other than the open is garbage.

As a Sicilian player, I'd love to agree, but unfortunately, that is just not true.

No it's true

As one that plays the Closed Sicilian myself, you should not fear the King.  Often times, White does not play f4 in the 2...e6 lines while in the main line, 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 d6, there are Two main lines.  One of them is indeed 6.f4, but the center is usually closed in that line (similar to the Kings Indian Defense where Black can advance the kingside pawns due to the Closed nature).  The King often goes to h1, off the open diagonal.

However, you should look into the 6.Be3 lines.  Get Carsten Hansen's "The Closed Sicilian Move by Move and thoroughly study the first 28 games (not sure if that is the first 4 or first 5 chapters.)

I actually play both lines as White, though admittedly, I play Spassky's 6.f4 more frequently.