What about the antiscilian 1 NC3 2Bb5?

I was looking for good and not very well known antisicilian.

Following the advice of John Emm´s Book "Attacking with e4 and other videos that I have seen, I was going to adopt the closed sicilian . (Nc6, 2g3..) at least when whites plays 2Nc6, or 2e6 because  according to what I have read or seen to some GM a good line, solid and difficult to fight against it, and easy to play at "Not high levels" for those who does not want spend so many time studing the open sicilian. 

And as a Siclian player I see that I do not usually find that white plays it, so that is a good thing, for not being so usual.

When I was almost sure of my decision I found this other anti sicilian 1Nc3 2Bb5, that seems to have no specific name, at least I have not found it. The stats that I have seen in the game explorer are shocking because it has almost as good stats as the open Sicilian, and seems interesting with variations similar to Rossolimo or GP attack in some cases and may be more direct. 

Whant do you think of it?, better to spend time on the Closed Sicilian or on this (no name) variation

Thanks and regards,

PS: if white plays 2d6 I have no doubt I like the Grand Prix Attack, but this do not usually happens, that why I was looking for an alternative for the other cases

i call it the Rossolimo Grand Prix since u mix both.

Tiviakov is the main advocate of this and this is very highly seen from a theorical point of view.

A chapter has been made on this in a book "experts on the anti-sicilian".

U can also purchase the excellent Starting out Grand Prix attack by Gawain Jones or even better, from the same author, The killer Grand Prix, a very nice DVD where he focused more on this opening and move order, connected with playing GP attack of course.

In general, playing GP attack and closed sicilian is very good because u can switch according first moves played by black and your preferences.

For instance, some prefer playing closed sicilian after 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 with 3.g3, instead of 3.f4 where u have to play some strange variations, like the weird Toilet variation ^^

Hello, bonjour, M Poucin,

It is a privilege of having the advice of a GM

I have just bought this book a few days ago  "Starting Out the GPA" it seems good, one think that shocked me that was it seemed that the best option for white is Bb5 in general rather than Bc4, that is what I used to play.

I bought this book because I like the GPA, however I see that is really good for white when 2d6.

As you mentioned I change the opening depending of what plays white, If 2e6 or 2Nf6 I started playing closed siclian (2g3).

But this Rossolimo GPrix opening seemed that could be even stronger, according to what I see in the stats,  if 2Nf6, G3 is the second most popular move, after Nf3, but with no a big difference, so necessarily it has to be a good option but the stats gives a poor 29,9% for white and 39,6 for black. However if Bb5 is 47,4% for white and 27,5% for black. If I just look at the stats,  it seemed a great option, but is curious that if it is such a great option it is in the fith place (1961 games  vs 7405 of d3) it is something that I do not understand, it does not seem coherent.

Antoher interesting thing in that I have seen in this variation is that you can easly transpose to a kind of GPA with a lot of chances, a thing that I personally like

The second alternative, I white plays 2e6, I play 2 3Nf3, and the next move that I mainly see at my level is 3Nc6, in this case is clearer and it seems more coherent the move Bb5, as it is the second more usual, after D4, and it also has better stats, 43,5% for white, vs 35,1% of G3.

I was decided for Closed Sicilian in this two cases, as a good  for amateur players, but after I see such an an atonishing stats  the doubt came to my mind

It is not easy to make a decision in this case, at least for me, this is my last decision to complete my repertoire

Thanks in advance for your help

Don't care about stats...

Popularity doesnt mean anything, specially when a variation is rather new, like this Rossolimo GP stuff which is not "natural" move order, so played by players knowing what they do, so at some level...

Just watch games played by strong players.

2.Nf3 or 3.Nf3 just aims to tranpose to open sicilian...

Because for instance, 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bb5 really lose its interest after 4...Nge7, avoiding Bxc6 doubling pawn so Bb5 becomes useless here.

Then after 3.Nf3 Nc6, u have to enter into open sicilian, u can also consider 4.b3 (which is quite interesting after 2...e6 3.b3).

The thing about the Rossolimo GP is that if black allows Bxc6 doubling pawns (thus the main variations begin with 3...Nd4), u will have a strong GP attack, because u can play f4, an advantage if u compare to the pure Rossolimo where Nf3 has been played.

PS : i am not GM, just IM but thanks

It's got a game, it's called the "Tiviakov Grand Prix", 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5.

You will never get it against me though as I answer 2.Nc3 with 2...a6!

While the Najdorf is my secondary weapon to the Taimanov, I love the 2...a6 line of the Closed Sicilian so much for Black that I have no objection to being forced into a Najdorf if White chooses to play an Open Sicilian with 3.Nf3 and 4.d4.

So you will need an answer for 2...a6.

pfren 

In my experience 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 a6 works well in blitz. 

Black usually play 3...b5 or 4...b5 and d5 in certain lines to open of the center immediately. 

What is the drawback to 2...a6?

Ok I will not pay attention at the stats

As I want to avoid the Open Sicilian.

if 2.d6. Grand Prix Attack

If 2.a6. 3.G3

So far is clear for me

What it is still not so clear is what to play if 2.Nf6 or if 2.e6, do you recomend to stick to closed sicilian 3.g3, or try any of this variation with Bb5? 

If I understand correctly it seems that this variations with Bb5 are not quite natural moves, and may be more advisable for experienced players.

Thanks

i told u that Bb5 is nonsense if black already played e6, and i told u why...

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nf6? 3.e5 is a bit embarassing...

Indeed, it would be better to learn only one opeing, closed sicilian, then going to GP attack and Bb5's Tiviakov.

Ok, understood, so I will stick to closed sicilian that was my initial plan.

Thanks