Help with Black defense vs e4?

Until recently, I played the sicilian in every match I played. 

However, recently, I've had problems with the Grand Prix Attack.

I need to be counterattacking, but I don't know where to turn to. Pirc is passive, and e5 involves too much theory.

I was thinking of the French, so could somebody give me the basic themes of the french?
Thanks a lot

Vyomo 

How common is the Grand Prix Attack? Is it really worth avoiding?

Wouldn't it make more sense to just look at where you've made mistakes?

All the players in my club have adopted it recently after I won the championship last year ahead of three 1800+ players

So I have no clue how to handle the Grand Prix Attack.

However, I have as a result being looking for transpositions into safer lines through the Pirc

I would suggest you stick with the Sicilian and look at a lot of GM games featuring your problem with the Grand Prix Attack, it will be easier than studying a new opening.

The Pirc gets attacked the same way in a few of Whites lines so you will be up against the same type of system anyway but in an unfamiliar opening.

Good luck.

The GPA is not that big of a deal. Just go to a database and see how strong GMs deal with that line.

Just one thing to keep in mind.  Be very careful of your move order!  First take a look at what variation you play against the Open Sicilian.  Many Anti-Sicilian books go thru this problem in depth.  For example, if you play the Najdorf Sicilian, then 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 is bad because White can change gears with 3.Nf3 and 4.d4, and you can no longer play the Najdorf.  Your knight belongs on d7 there, not c6.  If you play say, the Classical, or Taimanov, then 2...Nc6 is an easy solution instead of the 2...a6 that Najdorf players play, answering 3.g3 with 3...b5.

So first look at what line you play in the main line Open Sicilian, and then use that to figure out the move order for your response, keeping in mind you have to take the Grand Prix, Closed, and Transpositions to the Open into consideration, and like others have said, study master games with the line you end up going with.

Don't just cherry pick all the games with a 1-0 result.  Be sure you study some games where Black wins also!  Knowing what not to do is just as important as knowing what to do.

I play the Najdorf(Polugaevsky) so I'm hit by Anti-Sicilians the worst!