Opinions on the Sicillian: O'Kelly variation & Katalimov variation ??

I personally like both, but at the same time it gives me lots of challenges, which I will admit I like, but I'm wondering which one of these is better ??

I personally hate getting into common openings such as open and closed sicilian games, or even just using the sicilian to begin with. especially bc my hunch is to use irregular openings.  Kinda like Preston Ware, only I dont have a sh#t opening named after me.  

Ive seen a few games with Magnus and Cramling using the Katalimov, but I heard that the O'kelly is better.

You are about to feel Samuels wrath after what you just said XD

You hate the open sicilian... and using the sicilian?

It's hard to say. I think the O'Kelly is probably more tricky. It's actually an inaccuracy for white to go into an Open because of this line.

And it's like a Sveshnikov where Nb5 can't be played.

Normally 3. c4 or 3. c3 should be played against the O'Kelly. That's what you're signing up for.

Katalimov is the accelerated queen's fianchetto. This is an ok line but the issue with it and a lot of these accelerated queenside fianchettos is that it neglects the kingside development. In many Sicilians, black will play the queenside fianchetto anyway after other things are taken care of. This will normally be with a6-b5-Bb7 so black is gains more space, unless white prevents it with a4.

The katamylov is ok ....probably but there is something inherently ugly about it, and thats coming from an owen's player!
black plays for the "smaller" fianchetto which is technically faster but b5 exerts greater influence on the center by allowing b5-b4 and more breathing room for the queen. instead to cover all these dark square weaknesses on the queenside, must play moves like a6 and qc7 which is SLOW. agaisnt most of whites formations, black should honesty be ok although it is a little slower to equalize. But a lot of play is not quite intuitive. Sometimes you play early nc6 sometimes you dont. You sometimes throw bb4 to pin the knight other times you dont, same with b5 and sometimes even h5!. As a result its a lot of work to get right 
the lines that worry me though are early bg5 lines

this position may be on the rougher end of playable but man i do not like black here. his position feels one mishap away from disaster. Still i think if you study the katalymov well , (and maybe come with a solution for bg5) it can serve you well . I suggest you look up games with GM Christian Bauer who likes the katalymov. He even has a win vs Topalov with it!

I like both and they have their places depending on the circumstances, anti-Sicilian or transpositions. Generally, I’ll default to b6 if I cannot get b5 because white played a4 or c4.

I play the Wing Attack as my mainline, and reserve the O’Kelly or Katalimov as my sideline because I believe it’s important to learn a d6 or e6 Sicilian first as they hit all the Sicilians notes.

The O’Kelly can be a strategic waiting move for a transpositional opening as in the closed Sicilian or Smith Morra:

https://www.chess.com/game/live/70932836423

Here I went with the Katalimov and it transposes to the mainline:

https://www.chess.com/game/live/57465988437

You wouldn’t play an early a6 against the Alapin System or Kramnik Variation because that would be a waste of tempo and irrelevant to the plans.

Here I used the Katalimov set-up against the Alapin but didn’t enjoy the closed position:

https://www.chess.com/game/live/71546493929

I prefer the Katalimov set-up vs f4 lines because the bishop becomes a monster:

https://www.chess.com/game/live/72297108333

https://www.chess.com/game/live/73069135609

The Katalimov can lead to a double fianchetto set-up which is fun to play:

https://www.chess.com/game/live/73515630927

hi

Hello.

What do you think of an early a6 in the Smith Morra to deter Bb5?

https://www.chess.com/game/live/72225766545

Its definatley becoming more popular!!!!