This why sicillian is called a double edged opening!

I'm not sure Be6 is really odd at all. It controls d5 which is a common theme in this pawn structure.

Its "This Is". Sorry for the mistake in the topic name

7...Be6 isn't particularly "rare"- factly it has been played some 500 times in the past.

8.Bc4 is a serious tactical error (8.Nc4 was correct). Black should of course play the natural 8...b5! when neither 9.Bxe6 fe6, nor 9.Bd5 Rc8 look teribly appetizing. Quite the opposite, Black already has a serious initiative.

8...Bxc4? is a positional lemon of the first degree: white voluntarily brings the a3 knight back into play, and weakens his light squares (and d5 in particular.

9...b5? is another mistake: Black voluntarily sends the white knight to its ideal square.

11.Ncd5: Sorry, but I don't get it. This square won't fly away. Complete your development first (11.0-0) and then there's plenty of time to anchor your knight at d5.

12...Ng5 is a losing move, as well as your other suggestion (12...Nf6). But 12...Nc5 apparently holds - although white looks being better to me after something like 13.Nf6+ gf6 14.Qxc6+ Nd7 15.0-0 (maybe 15.a4!? - who knows, too lazy to calculate this).

I would prefer to play a maroczy formation playing 6.c4 instead of 6.N1c3

@ OP :

It cuts both ways

Sicilian's like a knife

That cuts both ways

It's driven deep into my heart each time

That I realize

How sharp it is

(I altered the lyrics of a Gloria Estefan song :D )

@ pfren :

thank you for your insightful and helpful posts :)

pfren, what's the idea of 8. Nc4? I mean, rerouting the knight to a better square, but why so urgently? Because of the threat of b5 and a fork?

In my humble opinion, the reason why Sicilian is called double-edged is because Sicilian often leads to the opposite-castled position where each side can attack opponent's king with a pawn storm: White attacks on the kingside, and black will do the same on the queenside.

Great game anyway!

First - control over the d5 square, and second - that knight is not terribly well placed on a3...

Yeah sorry, I edited my post. Why so urgently? Simply because after b5 the knight can no longer use the square? The knight moves a lot going to b5 rather than straight back to f3. What does 5. Nb5 achieve? It seems like black will have the hole on d5 anyway after e5 is played.

Looks like the ideal situation is what happened in game though.

I have the feeling ( i'm not so knowledgeable, you see :D ) that not all Sicilian variations are "double edged" though... I think I've heard this expression mostly for the Dragon...

The knight has to go to b5, to force the move d7-d6 (although there is also 5...a6, which is a different beast). Else, Black will play ...Nf6, pin the c3 knight by ...Bb4, and then break with ...d5 and a fine game.

Thanks. I suppose I didn't see why forcing d6 early was so desirable, ignoring that they may later be able to support a d5 push.

@pfren

    Thanks for the insights....i always find myself a newbie in opening knowledge. 

Let me start off by saying that I'm no great player but am steadily improving since joining this server....

I play the Sicilian 90% of the time because of its many variations and often my winning /drawing percentages are equal to my wins as white when played correctly...so you are accurate when you say "The Sicilian is a Double edged Sword"

I personally feel in this game....you neglected to castle sooner than later ...leaving your king exposed to long ....I know its a Captain Obvious type comment....but just some something that really stood out for me....

A suggestion would be to start a Sicilian based tournament (non-rated) to have players familiarize themselves with the opening...and its many variations it can lead into...wish you continued success!!!

-God speed (Sal)

thanks mate...