Hi gundamv--that question is difficult to answer because the anti-Sicilians have so many purposes. For example, 2. c3 aims for d4 with a possible French-like pawn chain from b2 to e5. Whereas a simple adjustment like 2. c4 makes for a very different plan--a Maroczy bind or a light-squared stonewall with heavy control of d5. You'll have to adapt your play based on white's goals in each variation. With that in mind, try to find common black pawn structures that appeal to you: a6/d6 from the Najdorf for example, a6/e6 from the Kan, d6/e6 from the Scheveningen, d6/g6 from the Dragon, and so forth. Pawn moves are what guide your play since everything else can be retreated or relocated as needed. Once you decide on a healthy, consistent pawn shell, you can figure out where everything else should go based on what your opponent is doing.
System against anti-Sicilians
I usually play 2...e6 whether White plays the Closed Sicilian, 2. c3, 2. f4, 2. Bc4 or 2. Nf3.
Yes, I agree with many of the above posters. Moves like ...e6 and ...a6 are kind of universal. In the Sicilian, ...a6 is especially systematic. So if you are combining ...e6 and ...a6 you are in the region of a Kan Variation. I play the Kan. And I respond to 1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 with 2...a6.
Personally, I only switch away from playing 2. ...e6 if my opponent goes with the c3/Alapin variation, as I don't want to end up playing a French by transposition (just because I've had very, very bad experiences in the past with the French).
If white goes 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3, you will have to know how to play the Alapin with e6. 3...Nf6 is reasonable for black to play, I prefer this over playing 3...d5.
I play the Najdorf, so that would be ...a6 and ...d6. But could you play that in a non-Open Sicilian position, like against an Alapin or Smith-Morra Gambit?
gundamv: ...a6 is not relevant versus an Alapin. But your idea absolutely exists versus the Morra: Look up the Taylor defense which some still call the Evans.
However, a major warning: Do not try to routinely play your usual open Sicilian versus the Morra. The Morra requires move orders specific to the situation. Of course.
i dont play the sicilian but im happy to meet it. Lately ive been winning against it. I think the real anti-sicilian player is the the one who eliminates black bishops from the game. I always noticed that when my opponent has both bishops the game is mostly won for him. Correct me if im wrong but based from my experience i usually lose when both black bishops are on the board.
- Black~Sicilian Defence
- White~anti-Sicilian
- Black~system against Anti-Sicilians!
Where is this all going to end..?
Where is this all going to end..?
Well, it's a lot of theory. Wonder how Sicilian players keep up of all the theory of the anti-Sicilians + all the theory of their chosen Open Sicliian.
There is also a real lack of resources on playing against anti-Sicilians as Black. There's a book by Rogozenko, but it's at least 10 years old and appears a bit dated. Plus it's more advance and lacks clear descriptions of the plans behind the anti-Sicilians. There's also a book from Everyman Chess, but it did not cover the Rossolimo/Moscow (which is very strong even at GM level). There's also one called "GMs vs. Anti-Sicilian" but it was written by several different GMs with different styles.
I only play Sicilian on occasion, so what I want is a simple system to play against anti-Sicilians that would at least give me drawing chances.
I play the Najdorf, so that would be ...a6 and ...d6. But could you play that in a non-Open Sicilian position, like against an Alapin or Smith-Morra Gambit?
Black I feel has to learn more variations and take a bit more care against anti-Sicilian opening systems if he/she plays 2...d6 in the Open Sicilian as compared to playing 2...e6.
If you're ok with the hyper-accelerated dragon you can play c5, g6 and Bg7 against most things. c3 gambits get met with a quick d5.
Review Alex Yermolinsky's games! He loves to play Sicilian!
I play the Najdorf, so that would be ...a6 and ...d6. But could you play that in a non-Open Sicilian position, like against an Alapin or Smith-Morra Gambit?
Black I feel has to learn more variations and take a bit more care against anti-Sicilian opening systems if he/she plays 2...d6 in the Open Sicilian as compared to playing 2...e6.
So, if I switch to the Scheveningen, would that make it easier for me to deal with anti-Sicilians? If so, how?
If you're ok with the hyper-accelerated dragon you can play c5, g6 and Bg7 against most things. c3 gambits get met with a quick d5.
Which anti-Sicilians would the Hyper-Accelerated Dragon not work against?
If you're ok with the hyper-accelerated dragon you can play c5, g6 and Bg7 against most things. c3 gambits get met with a quick d5.
Which anti-Sicilians would the Hyper-Accelerated Dragon not work against?
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cd 4.Qxd4 is tricky and Bc4 can be effective against it too. Everything else you can pretty much ignore except for 2.b3 I guess.
Hyper-Accelerated Dragon is what i used to play and what i will never play again in serious chess! it is super difficult to play against maroczy systems!
If you are a dragon/accelerated dragon/english opening player then the setup with c5, Nc6, g6 and Bg7 works against most things. If you allow the Maroczy Bind you do need to know the theory to do well against it. The only time where this type of development is not recommended is against the Alapin where you need to challenge white in the centre right away in order to equalize.
The following line is the way I usually play against the Maroczy bind with good results, if you're planning on giving white the option to play the bind you'll need to find something that works for you against it.
Black usually follows up with 11...Qa5 and gets some queenside counterplay. I've also won a couple of games with the simple tactic where white pushes the b-pawn and you can play Nxe4 due to the "discovered pin" at c3.
Is there a setup that Black could use against most (if not all) anti-Sicilians with some reasonable amount of success?