Names get changed over the years. The Scandinavian used to be known as the Centre Counter Gambit. But because GM Bent Larson played it a lot they now call it the Scandinavian. I have seen this variation called the French Variation in more than one computer opening database over a 20 year period. This thread is the first time I have seen Flexible Sicilian, so can only assume that was a way of distinguishing a book. Either way black wants to play d5 and transpose to a favourable french structure to undermine white's d4 push. Black would prefer a French transposition or some form of Alapin or Delayed Alapin. Presumeably black does not favour 1.e6 but prefers the delay, or had not decided which Sicilian to go for. Pawns on d6 and e6 are also possible so it is very flexible hence the book name. It does not encourage Najdorf like d6 or give up an early bishop for knight Rossolimo variation like Nc6. It is a good continuation. At low levels Bc4 is played very often, so e6 blunts the Bishop on that diagonal as well. Kasparov's famous Octopus Knight against Karpov was from an opening he played 2.e6. It has been played a long time.
Sicilian Variation e4 c5 Nf3 e6
It's called the French variation and that is the sum total of my knowledge about it. At least with a name though you can look it up...
I don't think it's actually called the "French Variation" as for it to be called that would require for at least one grandmaster to have referred to it by that name. It can lead to the Taimanov or the Kan Sicilians which have established names.
This is some new transposition I tend to face nowadays it goes from a Horwitz Defence to a Franco-Sicilian Defence to Sicilian Defence : French Variation to now Torre Attack : Wagner Gambit.
Don't think I have had that come up in my games before now, I will have to check as I play Sicilian French variation a lot as black. But it is something nice to know when I face it as white. Torre Attack: Wagner Gambit what strange transpositions we get to.
This is some new transposition I tend to face nowadays it goes from a Horwitz Defence to a Franco-Sicilian Defence to Sicilian Defence : French Variation to now Torre Attack : Wagner Gambit.
It reminds of the old joke who makes the most TN's Kasparov or a beginner? It is of course beginner because they don't know any existing theory. Instead of 3...Nf6?! which allows white a very good game after 4e5, black should play 3...pxp with a sicilian, and after 4Bg5?! black is ok again after 4...pxp
I've seen some books that called this the Franco-Sicilian but in all fairness, it resembles a French Defense only by the e6 pawn move. If White plays 3. d4 then yes, you could play d5 to transpose into the French but then most Sicilian players will just play ed ed and still go for attacking lines.
No, the Franco-Sicilian is 1.e4 e6 2.d4 c5 3.d5 (No Nf3).
Hi ,
I have come across e4 c5 Nf3 "e6" a lot in blitz games nowadays and was wondering whether this variation of Sicilian has a name ?? Can anyone let me know the name and any good links to the theory of the variation ??
I dont care about names. In terms of what comes next after 1.e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 it depends a lot on what black follows with. if 4. ... a6 two approaches that are reliable that I've tried are 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 then aiming to follow the ideas in the famous Fischer-Petrosian game and
5. Nc3 then Bd3 Qe2 and then it depends on what black does. One idea is .... stuff then a4 , black plays b4, Na2 and c3. But there are a lot of choices for black and for white in the ''stuff''.
Bryan Smith has a video titled ''Sicilicide'' where the second idea is presented. Bryan is reliably good at explaining chess.
Bill
waht