So we're up to four for Team Sicilian.
As for the transposition issue, there's no way to completely avoid it. Certain openings, like the Reti, are more often used to transpose (in the case of the Reti, usually to the QGD) than they are used directly. If you play 1. ..c5 you are in the Sicilian Defense, whether you stay there is up to you. However, if you start 1. e4 e6 2. d4 and black plays 1. ..b6, that's an Owen Defense, and it was never a French Defense to begin with.
Only the first moves as listed are required for this challenge. After that, anything goes for either team.
I dont want in but Im kind of wondering what would prevent a transposition from the alapin sicilian to the french advanced? 1. e4 c5 2. c3 e6 3. d4 d5 4. e5?
Nothing would prevent it. In chess openings transpose from one to another all the time!
One of the most humorous examples if a transposition occuring after every move would be the Bird's Opening: 1.f4, transposing to the From Gambit: 1...e5, transposing to the King's Gambit: 2.f4, transposing to the Falkbeer countergambit: 2...d5. In only two moves the opening has changed four times!!
yes of course...but wouldnt such a transposition be against the spirit of this particular event. If such a transposition occurred then the sicilian player would be playing the black side of the french advance.