Best Sicilian for Intermediate players like me

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Avatar of chesskid6969696969

I want to learn a new sicilian repertoire. Which variation to start with?

Avatar of Chess_Player_lol

o'kelly variation can by a little tricky to deal with as white since the usual quick d4 plan white has is not that good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjYPcWhVrUI

Avatar of EKAFC

I have a Taimanov Sicilian study I'm working on. It may go over your head with all these variations but most of the extra variations are just there to explain the ideas of the mainline more. If you understand the ideas then you should be fine. However, I am still working on it and it doesn't include the most popular variations yet

Avatar of Zidanefre
chesskid6969696969 wrote:

I want to learn a new sicilian repertoire. Which variation to start with?

The kalashnikov is much narrower than the other Sicilians, and don’t subject you to as much pressure as lines like the dragon do. It’s also quite sound and can take you far. Ever since I picked up the kalashnikov a couple months ago, I’ve been getting better results while needing to know less theory

Avatar of Chuck639
chesskid6969696969 wrote:

I want to learn a new sicilian repertoire. Which variation to start with?

What are you going to do with anti-Sicilians and transpositions?

Avatar of tygxc

@1
"I want to learn a new sicilian repertoire." ++ Why? What is wrong with what you used to play? What do you expect from a new repertoire? Be prepared to lose more than you used too.
Yes, O'Kelly 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 a6 and also Rubinstein 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nf6 and hyperaccelerated dragon 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 g6 are good.
Kalashnikov 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 e5 is good too, but then the Rossolimo 3 Bb5 happens often.
The main Dragon has 20+ moves of theory.
Indeed anti Sicilians like 1 e4 c5 2 c3, 1 e4 c5 2 Nc3, 1 e4 c5 2 f4, 1 e4 c5 2 b4 can surprise you.

Avatar of TheEagle91

I recommend that you should start with Sicilian Kan. I have written the detailed article in an easy way. 

Url: https://thechessforum.com/sicilian-kan/

Avatar of Ethan_Brollier
Chess_Player_lol wrote:

o'kelly variation can by a little tricky to deal with as white since the usual quick d4 plan white has is not that good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjYPcWhVrUI

I guess, but you can play the Venice System against it (1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. c3) and then just play d4 the next move, and it's a better version of the Alapin essentially.

Avatar of Isaac_Primm
Ethan_Brollier wrote:
Chess_Player_lol wrote:

o'kelly variation can by a little tricky to deal with as white since the usual quick d4 plan white has is not that good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjYPcWhVrUI

I guess, but you can play the Venice System against it (1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. c3) and then just play d4 the next move, and it's a better version of the Alapin essentially.

Yes, but however, in the Venice system of the O'Kelly as black, sometimes you can get a improved French with the light squared bishop outside of the pawn chain (!). It's fun to play against c3 for me

Avatar of Zidanefre

How are you getting a French defense structure out of the o’kelley 

Avatar of Isaac_Primm

By playing e6 and d5

Avatar of Zidanefre

ok im seeing it now i dont know why i couldn't visualize it earlier

Avatar of Ethan_Brollier
ShuckleSquad13 wrote:
Ethan_Brollier wrote:
Chess_Player_lol wrote:

o'kelly variation can by a little tricky to deal with as white since the usual quick d4 plan white has is not that good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjYPcWhVrUI

I guess, but you can play the Venice System against it (1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. c3) and then just play d4 the next move, and it's a better version of the Alapin essentially.

Yes, but however, in the Venice system of the O'Kelly as black, sometimes you can get a improved French with the light squared bishop outside of the pawn chain (!). It's fun to play against c3 for me

The Lichess Database has this to say about the O'Kelly:
Sicilian - O'Kelly variation - "Enhanced" Alapin
3. c3
The only line for black that even approaches equality (by winning percentage) is 3. ... e6. In every other line it seems white has a much easier time of it, with win percentages approaching double that of black. This can be referred to as an "enhanced" Alapin based on white getting an extra developed Knight due to black's essentially wasted a6.
So if e6 is essentially an only move, how are you getting the LSB out of the pawn chain?