The best anti-sicilian by far is 1.d4 
Anti Sicilians or the Open Sicilian?
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Since no one else has mentioned it in this thread, I've been having some success lately with the Chameleon 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 [..Nc6..d6..e6] 3.Nge2. There are some unique lines you must learn (and I learned one of them the hard way against an IM) but they aren't that difficult. The benefits of this system are pretty obvious and often stated: White can play d2-d3, or d2-d4 in one go, which typically leads to an Open.
This system can be used as a gateway to mostly play Closed, but incorporate Open Sicilians against a few move orders.
I too see a lot of the Bowlder attack, mostly from coffeehouse players who can't be bothered to prepare theory. The best approach for Black is clearly one with ..e6 and ..d5 but there are some nuances and Black should be careful he doesn't end up with a center that is difficult to defend. I prefer a system with (after ..d5 and an exchange) ...Be6 and ..h6 to keep bad guys off g5.
There are only one good reason to play anti Sicillian. It is way less lines to learn. Read up on Wing Gambit (or what ever your choice is) and you are set. Open Sicillian? You need to learn maybe 4 common variants to begin with, but preferbly 10. Black can manage with knowing one suitable mainline, say Najdorf or The Dragon.
Its simply to much work to learn 10 mainlines and all variations that comes with it to the 20th move. Since the Sicillian player knows his particular choice of Sicillian that deep. And even if I do read up on them, the Sicillian player will be playing his line more often then I do (more used to its particular pros and cons then I am) since I dont get to play the same variant each time.
Sicillian is by far the most common respons to e4 if you stop playing against homegrown chess players #2 is likely e5 followed by French Defense. So to those who think they play the wing gambit more often then I am... That will only stand as true if you play a lot more then I do, since I play that every time. Suprise wepon? No. Its a matter of staying on equal terms when it comes to depth of knowleage around the opening.
Fiveofswords wrote:
Unlike the fashionable 'point' for anti sicilians. I have no worry about learning lots of theory. Thats not the problem for me. It really can be as simple as some particular line other than the open sicilian being better suited for you.
Yeah I agree, I should have formulated that a tad softer. The most practial reason to etc etc...
Because to low rated players this is an issue. An Sicillian player with an elo of 1600 can have extensive knowleage in one of the Sicillian mainlines. I at an elo of 1850 need to keep the same depth in 10 mainlines. Or I will lose more often then I should, to them.
Jul 25, 2014
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#46
I generally tend to play mainline, because I want to test my knowledge of sicilian theory against theirs. Not the moves per se, but ideas & strategy in any established system. Anyone can follow variations by rote, but do they really know the 'what' & 'whys' behind them?
Heh. Just my opinion, because in my experience, people who start out playing anti-sicilians gradually evolve to mainline inevitably.
8)
I agree with many on here and add my own 2 cents.
I thought I heard that bent larsen famously said that d4 (meaning the open variation of the sicilian) is a cheap trick by white.
I tend to agree, I think the open sicilian is the anti sicilian. I figured that trading a center for a wing pawn your strategy is really to provide an easier game for yourself to play. White gets the fun attacks in almost every open sicilian line. And having played the open myself, I find that I often have more experience in the resulting positions (thank you anti sicilian players)
Bb5 = best Sicilian. Learn it.
The simplest Anti-Sicilian that most of my op
ponents play is 3.Bb5
Too boring
maybe