The grand-prix is not as good as other anti-sicilian lines in terms of early attacking and tactical chances if that's what your looking for. Some better ones that come to mind are the Alapin variation 1.e4 c5 2.c3 the Smith-Morra 1.e4 c5 2.d4 and the Wing gambit 1.e4 c5 2.b4.
Grand Prix Attack. How Solid is it?
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You may consider switching to the Alapin. The Grand Prix isn't very good.
I think the "modified" grand-prix where you play Nc3 before f4 is supposed to be better than the standard grand-prix attack. Personally I've never played either but I've seen some of the theory of the Nc3-f4 lines and white has some pretty straightforward attacking ideas. I think there's a line where you play Qe1-h4 and just hack away at the kingside. Of course black can equalise against pretty much any anti-sicilian if he knows what he's doing. I think for tactically minded players the open sicilians really are the way to go with white, the attacking ideas are pretty simple really and if people are playing dragons against you fairly often the Yugoslav attack pretty much plays itself - learn the basics of it and you'll win alot more than you lose. The Najdorf is tougher to crack but the English attack (more or less the Najdorf equivalent of the Yugoslav vs the dragon) is still a relatively easy way for white to play imo. The only people who should really be playing anti-sicilians are those who want a quieter game - but if its attacking chances you want I would strongly recommend playing the mainline Sicilians with white.
Fiveofswords wrote:
i think its fine. the main choice is the open sicilian. I play the alapin myself and its fine but rather a stylistic choice. The grand prix is also stylistic. Yes, black can equalize. Black can always equalize, also against the open or alapin sicilian. But the sort of equal positions you get have a different feel. I think you could play the grand prix all the way to the top levels of chess, if you like...but as you understand yourself more you probably will change your preference.
Areez writes: I don't think the Grand Prix is playable at the top levels.
Actually the Grand Prix is a better attacking choice than the Alapin, granted the Alapin is a better opening in terms of soundness, but it's more positional and dry.
Ok thank you guys for the feedback
Play English attack against najdorf and Yugoslav against the Dragon. If you learn the lines you will crush black unless they really know what they are doing. I know my sicilian lines pretty well and I still cringe at those attacks. Its very unpleasant lol
ewq85 wrote:
Play English attack against najdorf and Yugoslav against the Dragon. If you learn the lines you will crush black unless they really know what they are doing. I know my sicilian lines pretty well and I still cringe at those attacks. Its very unpleasant lol
Agree with this regarding the Yugoslav attack, the Najdorf is a different story though since black's counterplay arrives earlier. In my opinion the Najdorf is basically black's strongest defence to 1. e4 and is probably equal. The English attack is the best try but I don't think it gives white a significant advantage if any.
Yea wesley so recently lost against a grand prix that answers my question.
Tell me higher rated players. I have picked up the grand prix attack as my main weapon against the sicilian. It had facinated me when I learned about it and I feel like it does me well against those who only know dragon and najdorf lines. My problem is now that I'm starting to face 1500+ competition is I am running into more and more players who seem to know good lines against it and my attack runs short. I usually play the line that ends up sacrificing my F pawn for a attack on the F7 and F8 squares. I end up many times abandoning the main attacking ideas of the line to save myself or having my attack come up just short. Tell me if it is a line that one should stick with or should I go back to the C3 anti sicilian as my main weapon of choice. I really don't feel like indulging myself into mainline open sicilian lines, but I'm starting to have a love hate relationship with the closed sicilian lines mainly the Grand Prix attack which has been my reponse lately 100% of the time against the sicilian. Should I abandon the Grand Prix or stay with it?