Is the Sicilian Defense a good defense for a low-rated player?

By this logic do you consider 1.c5 an inaccuracy if played by say a 1200 rated player? 

Na I was actually talking about this:

Here's an argument for a low rated player to play the Sicilian Defense:

If you play 1.e4, you will eventually face 1...c5 yourself.

It's often helpful to play both sides of an opening to better understand the ideas/plans of both sides.

Does this mean you should focus on the Najdorf or Scheveningen (I might have spelled it wrong)? No, you probably won't even reach them due your opponent not knowing the opening moves or orders.

Perhaps better would be to focus on the closed Sicilian and structures, Grand Prix, Alapin, Botvinnik as you reach them in games. Later on, the Maroczy Bind and other structures may be helpful as you might see them in a reversed position of the English.

As a low rated player, you should be focused on learning more than just increasing your rating. Learning tactics, middle game plans, opening moves and endgames in a balanced manner will help you more than trying to master one area of the game at a time.

that's just a variation of the caro-kann exchange. Nothing new.

yes, because you can't do that.

that works. I tried the sicilian as well around 1200-1500, and tried to get the dragon position every time. didn't work out so well against sozin setups

yeah i think e4 -e5 is better for beginners when u learn more about stratagey siliican is great!

The best story i remember about a kid playing the Sicilian was maybe about 5-6 years ago in Reno, Nevada at a tournament.  GM Sergey Kudrin always pus on a clock simul, and the next day if you come back he will go over the game with you.  So this kid is going over his game with Mr. Kudrin.  They get to a position, and the kid says: "When i get to this position I dont know what to do?  I play the Sicilian dragon because Im an aggressive player."  

Sergey looks at the kid and says in his deadpan Russian accent: "Well...if you dont know what to do, then you shouldn't be playing it."  The room just started laughing, and the poor kid just sat there.  Sergey took the time to tell the kid to play an opening he likes to play, and understands.  Not play something just because its has a cool label attached to it.

Statistics go out the window when the players dont know how to play it.

@SNUDOO: "Nc3 stops the d5 plan in its tracks. Now, black would like to play ...Nf6 but that's answered by e5!"

I've replied as follows many times - seems to work OK at my level anyway:

Great quote!

I get off a good one every now and then :-)

Bb5+ Nfd7 makes black cramped

still playable, since the c5-d5 pawns are pretty menacing

I played the Sicilian back in high school, and I got great results against players who were generally in the 1000-1500 range.  I got atrocious results against players who were better than that - basically those who "booked up" on all the trap lines.  It's a good defense for learning the ropes, but you need a hypermodern foundation (which I lacked back then) to make good use of it against players of consequence.

Sicilian is a fun opening to play. For lower rated players, I advice to buy a book and practice by playing Daily games. Consulting books are allowed.

It's more than just "playable".

It's Advantage: Black.

ok, but what about exd6?

also disclaimer: I never checked any chess engine for that sicilian analysis above, please bear with my category I player self

I score better against the dragon Yugoslav(as black), than with white.