Which Sicilian variation is best and why?

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ghostofmaroczy
greenfreeze will be perfectly at home with the Kan:

is it ok if i just picked a sicilian variation and try it out. let's say i pick the kan or the accelerated dragon because it is the easiest or more solid.

is it okay i play the kan and win games at it and don't want to play the najdorf or another variation.

ghostofmaroczy
greenfreeze will be perfectly at home with the Kan:

also am i wasting my time trying to learn the kan

because if the najdorf is the best opening then shouldn't i spend time studying that instead of the kan.  because let's i study the kan for 3 years and find out that the best that black can get is a draw.  does that mean i wasted 3 years of playing and studying the kan.

ghostofmaroczy
greenfreeze will be perfectly at home with the Kan:

If all these sicilian variations are good then why doesn't people like Kramnik or Kasparov regularly play the Kan/Taimanov ?

but okay i will try playing the accelerated dragon or kan because they are easier.

JGambit

It is good to try it out any opening.

as to your other point the best black can get in any opening is a draw.

the plus to all sicilians is that they unbalance the game on move 1 making it more difficult to force a draw.

if you are under 2200 fide you do not need to worry about draws, the better player will win after any mainline opening

TheGreatOogieBoogie
ghostofmaroczy wrote:
greenfreeze will be perfectly at home with the Kan:

also am i wasting my time trying to learn the kan

because if the najdorf is the best opening then shouldn't i spend time studying that instead of the kan.  because let's i study the kan for 3 years and find out that the best that black can get is a draw.  does that mean i wasted 3 years of playing and studying the kan.

Black draws with best play in any sound opening.  The Paulsen is a good choice, though one does not simply study the Kan...while sitting on the can Cool

2...e6 even has a sound sideline that tends to throw white off:



ghostofmaroczy
TheGreatOogieBoogie posted the Kveinys Variation:
2...e6 even has a sound sideline that tends to throw white off:

Kveinys

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Qb6 5 Nb5 Bc5 6 Be3 advantage White

Basman/Lazy

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Bc5 5 Nb5 Qb6 6 Be3 advantage White

Two variations refuted by one concept.

Jai_CM

Kan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!               E4 C5 Nf3 E6 D4 CxD4 NxD4 A.....

Robert_New_Alekhine

I don't think that there is a specific variation that is best. Each one is atractive in it's own way. Maybe the Dragodorf?

greenfreeze

because i wanted to learn to play the sicilian

but i don't want my opponent to laugh at me and call me a chicken if i don't play the najdorf because everyone else does

MainlineNovelty

Carlsen : Haha Vishy you chicken everyone knows that real men play the Najdorf you brittle-boned Kan-playing coward!

Love-and-Squalor

I would also keep in mind that often Black does not get to choose which version of the Sicilian he/she plays.  White players tend to hate playing open Sicilians and you may find that very often you will be facing any number of anti-Sicilian variations (c3, closed, Smith-Morra) instead of the open variation you prefer.