"a standard move is Qd1-e1-h4 in the Grand Prix"
Might be a line some play but it isn't required for it to be the Grand Prix attack. I've actually never played that in my times playing the Grand Prix attack.
Granprix Attack
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"Grand Prix is a system"
skotheim2,
This is the keyword to your statement on g3 here. A system can break down into a lot of different kinds of lines. The London system is any system with 2. Bf4 after 1. d4 but there are different variants and lines to it as well. My challenge would be for you to show me where in the ECO Qd1-e1-h4 is a requirement in the Grand Prix attack.
pfren, you were somewhat right..
newengland7, in a system you play the moves that is in your plan, not moves that are of other systems. If you mix it up too much, you will be badly punished by your opponent. Here g3 is not a part of The Grand Prix, and is of the system Closed Scicillian.
Hence you never played Qe1-h4 you have never actually played this system. You've played closed scicillian. You get confused by ECO.
Skotheim2,
I found a game just now where the Grand Prix attack is played and Qe1 to Qh4 is not played in this game.
As I have already demonstrated, the Grand Prix attack is a variant of the closed Sicilian.
http://www.365chess.com/eco/B23_Sicilian_Grand_Prix_attack
ECO B23 is a closed Sicilian. Note that the only line in the Grand Prix attack that actually is categorized as a closed Sicilian is the line I don't play where 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 is played. I always play 2. f4 marking it under ECO B21 which is a straight-up Grand Prix attack and can diverge into variants such as the Tal defense if 2. ... d5 is played.
http://www.365chess.com/eco/B21_Sicilian_Grand_Prix_attack
"in a system you play the moves that is in your plan, not moves that are of other systems"
INCORRECT: You play according to the situation and you want to try to use your own ingenuity as well (a 2000+ told me that).
..Nh6 and ..f5 is a strong setup when white plays Bb5 and allows a black ..Nc6-d4xb5. Black then has the bishops and a very flexible pawn structure and i dont see what white got for it.
against setups with Bc4 Black plays ..e6 and ..d5.
1.e4 c4 2.f4 d5 is also very comfortable play for black.
Example:
Thats all to say about Grand Prix.
@ newengland :
When white plays g3, it transposes as i already said...
Its just a different move order where u play f4 then g3, but u go into a closed sicilian (g3 then f4 is often played at some moment)...
f4 without g3 is a GP attack.
About Qe1-h4, with f4-f5, Bh6-Ng5, its a common way to attack in GP attack, for sure not in all cases because it depends on black's set up...
If u are unable to understand all this, ok i resign, hopeless.
IM poucin,
Please suggest to me a better opening databse to use then. I have put my g3 line through an engine and no transposition was given. It simply said it was still the Sicilian Grand Prix attack and normally the engine I use does in fact detect transpositions (English to QGD for instance).
IM poucin,
To further add, I did put the following line through an engine:
#31 If in your diagram, if white plays Nc3 in a few moves it transposes to a closed sicilian. He can play c3 and d4 (d3!? probably better) but this looks a bit slow. So most probably it will transpose to closed sicilian structures. Also, 2.g3 is rarely played because it gives black more options, eg ..e5 or ..d5 or ..b6.
As poucin already said, Grand Prix is: white plays f4 but not Bg2, while closed sicilian is: white plays Bg2 and often also f4. Both setups have in common that white does not play his d-pawn to d4 (immediately) but to d3.
Newengland7 the below article can help you and the OP.
http://www.chess.com/blog/X_PLAYER_J_X/understanding-the-grand-prix-attack
The reason you are getting confused is because high level players do a move order trick.
1.e4 c5 2.f4
use to be the normal way of playing a Grand Prix Attack
However, as the years have gone by black has found a way to get a nice position after the response 2...d5.
The position is said to be equal so some white players play this way still.
However, Most GPA players do not play this way any more.
So instead of playing 2.f4 and having to deal with 2...d5 players.
GPA players decided to be sneaky and hide there intentions.
They play 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3
Which falls under the Closed Sicilian;however, most GPA players don't plan on staying in the Closed Sicilian they only trying to confuse there opponent.
It is actually very easy to remember if the line is a Closed Sicilian.
If white has a knight on c3 and plays g3 + Bg2 in a fianchetto than white is playing the Closed Sicilian.
If white has a knight on c3 and has bishop on c4, b5, or e2 than white is more than likely playing the GPA
@OP
If you like playing g6 than try 2...g6 against Nc3.
It is a nice response which doesn't hurt you any.
The queen move white does in the GPA is similar to the queen move seen in the Dutch.
It does a 2 step shuffle to get on the dark squares so it can swing on over to the king side.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyjFtqqpVoU
Its hard finding defense measures when a person is just sending everything at you in a line designed to allow the moves to flow.
http://www.chess.com/blog/X_PLAYER_J_X/understanding-the-grand-prix-attack
X_PLAYER_J_X very helpful your GPA blog!
I understand now, that d6 is a waste of move playing against GPA but if its not played will white do e5?
He might, but Bc4 is not the best line anymore because of ..e6. However Bb5 lines are very nice for white in my opinion
it is bad to play e6 with g6, if white can play d4...
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.f4 g6? 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.d4! c5xd4 6.Nxd4 and now u have to play a6 (otherwise Nb5), and black has some weaknesses...
@mcfly5
You have the right ending position;however, you are mixing up the move orders.
Which is why peeps are saying what they are saying on post # 37 and 38. lol
Try the below move order:
By using the above move order.
You can wait and see were the Light square bishop goes.
the move 5...e6 is used against Bc4
If they play 5.Bb5 instead you can play 5...Nd4.
Which is why I say its risky to play the GPA against certain moves. 
2...g6 is green which means it can be one of those risky lines.
If you play it right and well I showed you how to play it right with the above diagrams.
So yeah you should be good.
Dec 4, 2015
0
#39
Here's an article I wrote on playing against the Grand Prix. I follow these principles whenever a player attempts to use the Grand Prix against me. Best of luck in your games!
Sicilian Defense Against the Grand Prix Attack
Possibly helpful:
Experts on the Anti-Sicilian by Jacob Aagaard & John Shaw (ed.) (2011)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140626195254/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen147.pdf
Fighting the Anti-Sicilians by Richard Palliser (2007)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627130915/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen106.pdf
Anti-Sicilians: A Guide for Black by Dorian Rogozenko (2003)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627050549/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen50.pdf
Sveshnikov vs. the Anti-Sicilians by GM Evgeny Sveshnikov (2014)
Starting Out: Sicilian Grand Prix Attack by Gawain Jones (2008)
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627012235/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen111.pdf
Coming soon:
Grandmaster Repertoire: Beating the Anti-Sicilians by Vassilios Kotronias
True, Grand Prix is a very hard opening to counter. But with proper GM play, or a lot of time dedicated to study openings, you can nullify white's advantage to a sliver. Grand Prix, with best sides from both sides, always leaves white with at least +0.01, but the difference is so small that white usually ends in a draw.