What do you think is the best Sicilian variation for black?

There are many Sicilian variations, but which is your favorite and/or the one you think is the best for black, and why?

The best sicilian variation for me is the variation i understand the most: accelerated sicilian dragon. I tried other variations but it doesn't just fit my taste so i kept coming back to the accelerated dragon. The resulting pawn structure is somewhat comfortable with me even the maroczy bind. Again, its a matter of taste

Najdorf

like #2, the best variation for me is the variation i understand the most: Najdorf. I've played the Dragon and Sveshnikov a lot before switching and got good positions out of the opening a lot. Even if you forget a couple of theoretical moves, once you understand the idea of the piece layout in the Najdorf,how you should attack and make use of the open c-file, it'll be easy.

I play the lowenthal, not because is the best variation of the sicilian, but because it can be tricky if my opponent doesn't know it well enough to make good moves against it.  You have to also know the anti-sicilians

I personally like the accelerated dragon and that's gotten me to high 1700's uscf. Some don't like it because of the moroczy bind but as long as you study it well and know the variations it's not so bad.

gon

Najdorf. Although you need to know how to play defense.

https://www.chess.com/forum/view/game-showcase/a-heroic-defense-in-the-sicilian-najdorf-kids-dont-try-this-at-home

I like the O'Kelly. Very effective if White continues with 3.d4, but quite OK against the recommended 3.c3, at least below 2000-level.

I've not found it much of a problem.

Ahhh you cheeser, I play that too for the same reason! The number of times White has made it all the way h4 for the advantage, in otb and online...exactly once. They always get lost in the lines. Do you ever play an early d5 instead of qf6? Both are pretty nasty.

Not playing them at all

5...Qc7 Taimanov no doubt.

Just one example of a nice line for bla

ck

 I assume he is threatening Nd6 and you dont have Qf6 like in a e5 sicilian. But after black plays d6 what does he play? He doesnt have c4 available anymore to clamp down on d5 or help with a queenside majority and after something like 6...d6 7 Be3 a6 8 Na3 b5 black is looking pretty healthy?

6...d6 7Bf4 e5 8Bg5 transposes to a sveshnikov sicilian. The only drawback to that move-order is white can play 6NxN pxN 7e5 but thats probably ok for black too.

I like sicilian four knigths for black

Or for fun Sicilian Katalymov

White's idea is to transpose into the sveshnikov sicilian with 7. Bf4 threatening the pawn on d6 which basically forces black to play e5 and after Bg5 we transposed into the sveshnikov with an additional move played. The positions are very complex and you definitely have to know your stuff here but I never encountered it in my games so far.

I think the reason is that only strong players would prepare specific lines against the sicilian. The rest of the players stick to normal moves which is good for me

.

I see the transposition now, thank you both. I normally play 4...e5 and after 5 Nb5 play either 5...a6 or 5...d6 depending on how I feel so dont see the bishop move (even though a6 has a more dubious reputation, I think that is based on the Neil McDonald book 'Winning with the Kalishnakov' and may be out of date, if my rather sketchy memory serves me correctly there have been some relatively recent games by strong GMs playing it).