Nc3 is not the most usual continuation, but its not that strange. White can play nc3 to throw black off, then take play towards a normal sicilian with nf3 and d4. Also, he can intend to play a bb5 (+). Most typical, white plays nc3 intending to take play towards a Closed Sicilian formation - usually by playing the follow moves/plan - e4, nc3, g3, bg2, and something like nge2, h3, f4 and g4.
Black usually replies to the Closed Sicilian by playing actively on the center and the kingside, along the lines of nc6, e6, and d5 and maybe with rb8, b5 - b4. I recommend checking out some old games by Kasparov and Fischer to get a more thorough understanding of blacks plans.
The Closed Sicilian for white is rarely employed at top level, however is fairly common among club players. It is not the most aggressive opening choice for white, however is definitely very solid and black often has a problem with coping with the change of pace from a normal open sicilian.
Will Stewart - NM - onlinechesslessons.net
So, I was playing a game against a strongish player and when I played my all-time favorite line, the sicilain - planning to enter the dragon - when on the second move, after 1.e4,c5 2. Nc3!?? After that I was stumped, I don't use the database so I thought about it for a while and decided that 2. ... d6 would be a reasonable move, planning to transpose into a classic sicilian. After deliberation afterwards, I think that the stronger move would have been 2. ... Nc6.
I would like to hear your opinions on this, the opening that followed was interesting and one that I don't class as very well played on my part as I missed a crucial move (I have already posted the full game).The opening left me in a strongish positon, I include lines that I class as slightly stronger moves for both sides in the opening as I feel that - although no major mistakes were made - there were opportunities to improve positions slighly for black and to equalise for white: