Sicilian Defense - How to narrow down the possible variations

Hello all,

I recently changed from playing d4 to e4 as white - overall I find it a lot more enjoyable, but I am struggling to learn all the possible variations of the sicilian defense (I am writing this having been demolished by the kan variation, which I had never heard of). I am considering learning the Alapin, because it looks like it would narrow black's options. Is this the case? Any advice would be appreciated!

The Alapin has far fewer lines (and generally speaking, calmer lines) than the Open.

The Closed 2. Nc3 is another good way to limit Black's options.

Thank you for the advice! Is the Closed 2. Nc3 also a generally calmer option?

Yes.

You can find some sample lines here:

B23: Sicilian, closed - 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 - Chess Opening explorer (365chess.com)

The Closed Sicilian is full of possibilities.

You can play positional or aggressive.

Here is a game I played with it.

Play the Closed Sicilian, Spassky's favorite.

(not the Grand Prix, that's pure refined garbage, trust me - I used to crush people left and right when they played this. But if it's Closed Sicilian... I get stuck, and suddenly things aren't all that simple).

It also fits you since you just moved from d4 to e4.

And above all - it takes the game into a forest that isn't Sicilian-like at all.

the 4 main options for black are the

1. paulsen kan setup
2. scheveningen/classical setup
3. najdorf setup
4. dragon setup

they all have similar ideas, so it shouldn't be hard to understand them. its different are there subtle differences and goals based on how they setup. The kan tries to control and stop e5, the scheveningen goes for a very solid setup where black adopts a small center and gets normal Sicilian play, the najdorf is where black puts a pawn on e5 and gets simpler development at the cost of a very weak d5 square and backwards d pawn, while the dragon tries to control the dark squares and potentially fuel an attack via the g7 bishop. it pretty much is the normal sicilian plans + the few differences in placement and structure the variation has that changes it around a bit.

yeah you could also avoid everything with an Alapin or closed variation, but if you are trying to have a sharper, fun game where your chances of winning could be much stronger and stylish, id recommend the open. The alapin is often slow and boring for each side, and the closed variations are either dubious or more positional and slow and more familiar to the Sicilian player, at the cost of you also understanding it too.

I say this because of the sheer popularity of the closed Sicilians online. out of the hundreds of Sicilian games I've had, only around 1/5 are open, while the rest are whites attempt at a positonal game or quick win. so black will often be forced to know what your sideline is because of how much he's seen it and the experiance he has with it. The real kicker Is that the open Sicilian is becoming a sideline on online chess (in my experiance) people see surprised when I play it compared to a closed sicilian or alapin.

"I recently changed from playing d4 to e4 as white"

Congratulations! Welcome to Gambit-World!

"I am struggling to learn all the possible variations of the Sicilian defense"

We all do.

"I am writing this having been demolished by the Kan variation"

Yes, the Kan is highly underrated, and if you even choose the Sicilian, I recommend you'll play the Kan!

"I am considering learning the Alapin because it looks like it would narrow black's options."

Good choice!

Yes it would, just like Any sideline.

===

Sicilians:

2...d6
1. Najdorf
2. Dragon
3. Classical
4. Scheveningen

2...Nc6
5. Sveshnikov
6. Four Knights
7. Accelerated Dragon
8. Kalashnikov

2...e6
9. Taimanov
10. Kan
11. Pin

2...g6 - Hyper-acc. Dragon
2...a6 - O'Kelly
2...Nf6 - Nimzowitsch–Rubinstein Variation
2...b6 - Katalymov Variation
2...Qc7 - Quinteros Variation

11 + 5 = 16

16 Variations in the Sicilian Defense.

The last two and 'Kalashnikov' being complete garbage, but they still add to the confusion.

Some of these variations can be addressed with a setup called Maroczy Bind, this way you can kill more than one bird, with one stone.

@8

"'Kalashnikov' being complete garbage"
++ Sveshnikov himself considered the Kalashnikov superior to the Sveshnikov and he played more games with the Kalashnikov than with the Sveshnikov. Example:
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1251214

Yes!

Play Closed Sicilian move order

Than mix in the Grand Prix Attack to ruin unprepared Black side players

Play very aggressive to challenge your opponents tactical awareness + emotional comfort level. Some people will crack because they have bad danger awareness or can’t handle being attacked.

Play very Positional to challenge your opponent Positional awareness + Board Reading abilities. Some people will freeze up because they don’t know how to read board and formulate a plan.

The Closed Sicilian offers both Tactical + Positional games.

1 Game you can be like Tal with Deadly Tactical Attack.

2 Game you can be like Tigran Petrosian with the Positional Squeeze of Dead.

Spassky played the Closed in some of his World Championship games against Petrosian, didn't he?

FAKE EDIT: Yes, two games, both draws. He beat Tal in the '65 Candidates with the Closed.

@11

Spassky with the Closed Sicilian beat Geller 3 times in 1968, Larsen 2 times in 1968 , and Portisch 1 time in 1977 in Candidates' matches.
Both Spassky and Fischer played the Closed Sicilian in their 1992 rematch.
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044393

I think the grand prix would be more popular if white had a way to equalize. Too bad he doesn't!

@13

The Grand Prix Attack gained polularity in British weekend tournaments with several games per day at reduced time control. At first black players could not handle the caveman attack with 5 Bc4, 8 Qe1, 9 Qh4. Indeed 9...d5 is imperative.

Then British Grandmasters took it up, but they played the more positional 5 Bb5, to turn it into some sort of Nimzovich Indian Defense reversed.

yeah those bb5 lines... the only reason why its playable and not just better for black.

I would stick to the Open. Sure, you will have to deal with different positions, but that's how to widen your chess understanding.

Personally, I'd be FAR more worried about facing a Kalashnikov than a Pin, Nimzowitsch, O'Kelly, or even perhaps Scheveningen and the Dragons, but yes, there is definitely a gap between the widely accepted "good" Sicilians and the others:

Best in class:
Najdorf (2... d6 family), Taimanov (2... e6 family), Sveshnikov (2... Nc6 family).
Viable runners-up:
Dragon(s), Classical, Kan, Four Knights, Scheveningen, Pelikan family.
Not recommended:
Pretty much anything else.

the Kupreichik is also quite good and is pretty much a waiting move to see how white will develop so black can adjust accordingly

Thank you for all the thoughtful replies! Not only did this help me figure out my e4 openings - it also inspired me to try a more offbeat version of the Sicilian as black! I always played najdorf into a scheveningen sort of structure, but why not try something more obscure and fun. Just have to pick which one!