I think there is not known theory for this (d3, Be2) because it's very passive and doesn't fight for any advantage.
It isn't immediately losing though. You can expand with either e6 or e5 or play a fianchetto setup with g6. It's up to you.
This is a game I played against a friend as an example. I probably didn't play so perfectly at times but it shows that you just have to adapt.
As a Sicilian player, if people could just play random passive bs against you and get away with it then there would be no point in playing the Open Sicilian. You have to have the mindset to punish passivity, I think.
Recently, I have been learning the Sicilian Defense. I got to know a lot of variations, like Open Sicilian, Closed Sicilian, Alapin, etc. However, one line I've never studied, and isn't available anywhere, is the following:
I get faced by this a lot, and White literally never plays d4. They go for d3, Be2 and 0-0. I know this is not an optimal way to counter the Sicilian, but I just end up getting blank about this weird setup. What is the correct way to punish it?
This sounds to me like a bad version of closed Sicilian where White cedes control of d4 but instead of retaining attacking chances on the kingside with a setup reminiscent of KIA, White instead adopts a reverse old Indian setup, which is arguably more passive I wouldn't try to refute it straight away, White will be slower to built an initiative on the Kingside but no cardinal sin has been committed, Black probably can continue play inspired by setups vs the closed Sicilian
The best point to look is your own games, analyse them and look for improvements, different plans you could had gone for, tactical motifs you may have missed etc. After you analyse 2-3 games you will be very well equipped to face it again.
Recently, I have been learning the Sicilian Defense. I got to know a lot of variations, like Open Sicilian, Closed Sicilian, Alapin, etc. However, one line I've never studied, and isn't available anywhere, is the following:
I get faced by this a lot, and White literally never plays d4. They go for d3, Be2 and 0-0. I know this is not an optimal way to counter the Sicilian, but I just end up getting blank about this weird setup. What is the correct way to punish it?
This sounds to me like a bad version of closed Sicilian
It sounds to me as exactly the Closed Sicilian.
Isn’t this just closed Sicilian?
im not sure
Isn’t this just closed Sicilian?
With Be2?
Isn’t this just closed Sicilian?
Not really. In the Closed Sicilian, White fianchettos the King's Bishop, not plop it on e2.
And the concern by the OP is PRECISELY why I say that learning openings is about UNDERSTAND, NOT MEMORIZING. Memorizing reams of lines is useless. Why? Because of cases like this! If you are a Sicilian player, books will cover the CRITICAL anti-Sicilians, like the Closed, Alapin, Rossolimo, Moscow, Deferred Alapin after 2...d6 - Deferred lines will just transpose after 2...Nc6 or 2...e6 to the normal Alapin, etc.
There won't be published "theory" on inferior lines. If all you do is memorize and don't actually understand why you are doing what you are doing, you will lose.
For example, take the French Defense, Advance Variation. The following is typically covered in any French Advance book unless it is a narrow repertoire book for one side or the other:
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 and now:
A - 5...Nh6
B - 5...Nge7
C - 5...Bd7
D - 5...Qb6 and now
D1 - 6.Bd3?!
D2 - 6.Be2
D3 - 6.a3
What you don't see is lines like 5.f4. If all you do is memorize, you will have no idea what to do here and you will be lost.
I had someone a few years ago, and I wrote an article on it when I posted to a club board back in 2018-2020 when I wrote a 39-article series called "The French Connection" - I think this was #10, where I covered 5.Ne2 here along with 2.f4, both of which are garbage, but you must understand why. You won't find this written as theory anywhere. When White played 5.Ne2, I shifted the attention to e5 instead of the "usual" d4, and had a winning position by move 18 and won in about 30 moves total. Any advancement of f4 to cover e5 leads to pins on the g1-a7 diagonal is White ever castles, and so king safety is a major issue after f4 in the Advance Variation.
This is the type of stuff you have to do when studying opening, not just memorize and expect publications on every legal move you opponent can play. Books and articles will cover the critical stuff.
Recently, I have been learning the Sicilian Defense. I got to know a lot of variations, like Open Sicilian, Closed Sicilian, Alapin, etc. However, one line I've never studied, and isn't available anywhere, is the following:
I get faced by this a lot, and White literally never plays d4. They go for d3, Be2 and 0-0. I know this is not an optimal way to counter the Sicilian, but I just end up getting blank about this weird setup. What is the correct way to punish it?
This sounds to me like a bad version of closed Sicilian
It sounds to me as exactly the Closed Sicilian.
in the closed sicilian the bishop goes to g2, it's similar to KIA.
Recently, I have been learning the Sicilian Defense. I got to know a lot of variations, like Open Sicilian, Closed Sicilian, Alapin, etc. However, one line I've never studied, and isn't available anywhere, is the following:
I get faced by this a lot, and White literally never plays d4. They go for d3, Be2 and 0-0. I know this is not an optimal way to counter the Sicilian, but I just end up getting blank about this weird setup. What is the correct way to punish it?