It's time again for "What's My Favorite Sicilian?"

As in, what Sicilian variation do you finally prefer to play above all the others as Black.

A sideline could be which ones do you like to play against as White...

I'll start. I like the Taimanov as Black and I'll play the Grand Prix as White...even though I've occasionally been punished for that :)

I occasionally play the Taimanov myself as Black (along with the Scheveningen in some cases - prefer to avoid the Queen sac line), but far more often I'm on the White side, where I like Van Duijn's Variation.

The pure Scheveningen.

I haven't found a defense yet that is a purer test of one's defensive mettle, while at the same time being 100% sound and offering such varied play.  It's just fun, even when you lose.

Dragon as Black any open as white

^^^

pin variation. It gives a nice easy target for black to play against. But its hardly the most topical variation

Too hard for me to pick a favorite, I play all of the main Sicilians. :)  

I play the Classical because I like having my knights developed, and because it's not popular right now. I used to play the Accelerated Dragon and I might start playing it again with some fresh ideas, and when Rotella's book comes out in a few months I intend to start playing the Kalashnikov.

The Grand Prix Attack so I can play the Tal Gambit.  Then the 2.c3 Sicilian as I like the Alekhine/Sicilian feel after 2...Nf6.  Third down would be Paulsens as natural moves are still possible and doesn't have as much theory as the Najdorf. 

Rossolimo

With black Sveshnikov...

Never play 1.e4... but maybe KIA?

imma be a stereotypical chess-playing teenager and say Dragon 

Kramnik plays it.

I like the dragon but I use the hyper-accelerated move order to avoid anti-sicilians.

No, Kramnik (and most of the world top) played it in the 90s. Not nowadays.

French > All Sicilians (except the Najdorf).

Uhm - The French stinks!  I played it for 10 years...trust me, I know.  White has two options that lead to a huge advantage.  3.Nc3 or 3.e5.  3.exd5 and 3.Nd2 (because of 3...c5) are garbage.

Here's a thumping of mine from 5 weeks ago (over the board) with 3.Nc3:

http://www.chess.com/forum/view/game-showcase/a-french-thumpin

And I don't have the scoresheet on me right now, but two weeks ago today, I pulled off another mauling with the Advance Variation (3.e5).

The French is a tough opening to play well. Even though the Sicilian has rivers of theory, there are enough variations (like the Pin) to pretty much get right out of book and start flailing away.  

I just watched Seirawan's video on the Pin and it looks fun...I'm going to give it a try!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvipCjxqGiM

Uhm...no.