what should i play vs the sicilian (now a discussion of whites side of the sicilian)

The Grand Prix isn't just a bunch of sacrificed material and gambiting everything you have. It's a legitimate opening setup, which, if given the chance, can give you attacking possibilities. It's like saying the Ruy Lopez is just theory and no chess.

and besides, does the grand prix... prevent that!?

also, going back to the main!? point of this thread, finding me a sicilian to play as white, i dont want a closed opening

thats the advance french and caro

Of course it's not the Open Sicilian's fault. It's the lack of knowledge in the Open Sicilian that's the culprit here, and it's very difficult to gain all the needed knowledge in the Open Sicilian.

#109 oh you dont play gambits

aah i thought only setup players and gambiteers say stuff like this

not credible people

Alright, let's stop arguing and actually get back to the thread

If you don't want a closed opening, the obvious answer would be the Open Sicilian. You can also go for the Smith-Morra or the Wing Gambit, but obviously you aren't very fond of gambits. Maybe you could try the Alapin Sicilian? I'm not entirely sure.

English Attack setups don't work well against e6 Sicilians because of Bb4. Is that so hard to learn? This move a6 in that position allows the Maroczy Bind which gives white an advantage.

There are some things to learn but that's a good thing. Like yeah sometimes you have to pay attention in class instead of throwing pencils and dropping out.

Otherwise you can think you can get by playing the same moves every time in the GPA and eventually fall behind.

#111 if so fine i dont care much

i already went through a phase of playing offbeat stuff for some reason

also, is it thaat hard to learn some basic ideas (put this piece here and go for that) in like 10ish variations

all 1. e4 openers basically do that in 1... e5 i think

and besides, long term i think ill face sicilian a bit anyway

Oh geez PLEASE play anything other than the Open Sicilian. God forbid you would actually have to learn something and get better at the game.

been there done that with alapin

i dont rly want to go back

and the no gambits thing was coz ppl would come in with some three lines and a yt video

besides, why attack down a pawn when you can attack with equal material (not counting material sacced in the attack, the ones before ot)

id like security that i wont lose in an endgame

Fair enough, but you have to remember that you have to avoid any tricks in major sidelines too. Do I know whether to play the English Attack against the Nimzowitsch? Does my setup work here and there? It's a huge pain to deal with and learn. If you do manage to get past that responsibility, though, I won't stop you from playing the Open Sicilian or argue for the Grand Prix, because, according to theory, the Open Sicilian's a better opening.

#114 funnily enough i actually played a setup like vienna earlier and got crushed, had to switch

also that analogy is so funny

Well, I don't really know what to say, then. The Rossolimo and the Moscow/Canal Attack are interesting lines, I guess, but I can't really give any more recommendations.

nimzowitsch sicilian is 2... Nf6 right

for that just take it like an alekhine no need to complicate

I mean, thanks for the tip, but I looked in the analysis and there were like, 7 lines I've never even heard about, nor do I know how to counter them, which is the problem I'm trying to display.

#120 uh... the open isnt just one thing

thats like going to someone whose asking "what to play against 1...e5" and then by process of elimination they choose ruy lopez, then saying "i cant give recommendations"

the ruy isnt one thing!

also, in page one samuel gave a repertoire you could expand or suggest replacements on that

also id like to turn this thread into general discussions on whites side of sicilian

If you think it's a pain to learn and play chess then that's your problem. Open Sicilian is a fun opening. Just people like you have no appreciation for it because of something someone else told you when you actually have no idea what you're talking about.

This can apply to anything, "if opponent plays 1. ...Nf6 against me then I won't know what to do and that's a pain to learn" "If opponent plays 1. ... b6 against me then I'm going to be totally lost"

You act like someone playing the Nimzowitsch Sicilian is somehow different. This isn't even Open Sicilian, it's 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6, so how is that anything to do with the Open Sicilian. This is just a bunch of nonsense hysteria spread about the Sicilian by people who actually have no clue.

the thing is I legitimately can't remember another open line in the sicilian that's not a gambit

#122 it should be instinctual to take black playing nf6 before preventing e5, then try to push and think like an alekhine (if its not bad)

#125 because there isnt lol

prins and chekhover i guess... but no

process of elimination is a weird thing

If you play Rossolimo and Moscow then opponent can still play the Nimzowitsch Sicilian against you so none of what you're saying makes any sense.