Scheveningen Move Order to Avoid the Keres Attack?

I know that there is a move order that starts 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 that avoids the Keres attack in the Scheveningen.

But I don't know what that move order is.

I know I can avoid it by playing a Najdorf move order with 2...d6 but I don't like that because if White plays the 3. c3 delayed Alapin Black can no longer respond ...d5 without losing a tempo and getting killed.

I prefer to reserve 3...d5 for the 3. c3, i.e. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 d5 to transpose into the lines of the Alapin that normally start 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5.

So can anyone help me with the move order that avoids the Keres attack...

I'm not afraid of the Keres attack per se, but since I am dusting off the Scheveningen for my first serious use of it in a year and a half I want to limit what I'll need to study in order to be ready this weekend.

They can do the Keres because you block in your lsB. If you play e6 at move 2 how can you avoid the Keres?

Btw I don't think 3.c3 is a serious system, just play Nf6.

hmm...maybe that's why I couldn't figure out the move order, lol.

OK, time to work on the Keres just in case...

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 avoids the Keres and you can still reach Scheveningen lines. Of course, you allow other options for white with that move order.

I'll just go back to what I know which is to play ...e6 on my 6th move.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 and then 6...e6

Check out Lorin D'Costa's excellent book The Sicilian Scheveningen: Move by Move.He shows that Black doesn't need to fear the Keres Attack. He also recommends the move order 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6! 5.Nc3 d6.

I actually have that book and am reading it now.  I like that book quite a lot.

I know that these days the English Attack is more likely that anything else anyhow, but I like to cover my bases.

I know I will get smacked around a bit when I take up the Sicilian again, but as long as I am learning something from those experiences I feel OK since I feel that ultimately playing the Sicilian will help me achieve my long term goals more than other stuff I've played.

I like the "mix-it-up" aspects of the Sicilian...

That's exactly what I play, but that's a Najdorf. I, too, do the Scheveningen formation against anything white does at move 6.

In this way you avoid the Keres but they can do the Perenyi attack that it's closely related (6.Be3 e6 7.g4)

I was playing the Najdorf/Scheveningen hybrid for a while.  Stopped about a year and a half ago.

Although sometimes against 6. Be3 I may still play 6...e5.  Not always, but enough to keep people guessing.

Chris, you have D'Costa's book but still fear the Keres Attack?  What have you found against D'Costa's recommendations?

Per my comment above, it's not that I'm afraid of the Keres, it's that I have a limited amount of time to study before the weekend so I was trying to limit the amount of items to brush up on.

I have had the flu for a little over a week so study time has just been limited.

If you already have the book, it would take less work to look up those chapters than to learn entire new systems.

I think you're in for a lot of trouble playing the Sicilian in general but avoiding the Keres is probably a good choice. Pick your poison, as they say. I pick solid openings that fight for central space and development rather than letting my opponent have everything in exchange for some counterattacking chances if I play perfectly.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 and here White does not have to defend the e-pawn - I believe both 4.Be2 and 4.h3 have been played here with some frequency. 4.h3 usually plans Bd3-c2 and d2-d4 I believe.

Does the book by Costa have good coverage of Be2 lines against scheveningen? How many games there are in the line Be2?

It has excellent coverage of Be2. It's kinda hard to count the # of games because Be3 and Be3 can transpose very easily. It has chapters on Be2, Be3, and "Kasparov on the Scheveningen" which each have games featuring Be2.

Be3 and Be3 sound like a direct transposition.

They often are, Expertise, but White can also decide not to move the B on f1 and just play the English Attack with Be3, or choose a slightly different move order: 6.Be3 a6 7.Qf3!?, 0-0-0, Qh3, and g4 as in Meijers- Van Wely 1999.

As an aside I've done rather well since taking up the Sicilian again.  I believe my record is six wins and two losses in OTB games.  One of the losses was to an opponent who outrated me by 400 points.

Nope, he means what he said. Reaching the Schevy from a Najdorf move order keeps control of g4 for an extra move, and avoids the Keres.