legit openng or newbie trap

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Avatar of jbailey1025

I just started playing again after many years and I just got into 1. e5 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5 Bd7 as black. It doesn't ring as a legit line - did fall into a newbie trap?

Avatar of Biarien

This is just the Moscow variation of the 2... d6 Sicilian -- hardly a trap, and certainly a legitimate line (though less popular at high levels than the Open Sicilian).  See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicilian_Defence, section 3.1 for more information.

Avatar of jbailey1025

Thanks Biarien, that was helpful.

Avatar of Biarien

Sorry, the link doesn't seem to be working, so I'm removing it.  Just head to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicilian_Defence and click on the section in the table of contents that says "3.1 2...d6 without 3.d4."

The main idea for white after Bb5+ is to capture on d7 and castle quickly, and then contest the center with c3 and d4, or to set up a Maroczy Bind formation with a pawn on c4 before playing Nc3.