Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. Nf3/2...a6

Sicilian - O'Kelly variation
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h Truth White's attack is way too
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkbnr/1p1ppppp/p7/2p5/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKB1R w
Moves: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6

Sicilian - O'Kelly variation

2...a6

This early a6 prevents White from occupying b5, so after 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 and then 6. Nb5 is prevented. The main problem with this variation is how to deal with 3. c3, which transposes to an Alapin Sicilian with the useless a6 move. Another problem is 3. c4 d6 d4 Bg4 dxc5 Bxf3 gxf3! dxc5 (An alternative is Qa5+ Nc3 Qxc5 (dxc5?! Qb3 (Ra7!?) Qc7? (Black would have done better to give up a pawn) Bf4! with a winning attack) Be3 Qc6 with a huge lead in development and two Bishops). Qxd8+ Kxd8. For the ruined structure, white has a crushing attack and 2 Bishops. d4 is also absolutely normal move

Sicilian - O'Kelly variation
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h Common moves: 1...e5 - Open Game 1...c5 - Sicilian Defence 1...e6 - French Defence 1...c6 - Caro-Kann Defence 1...d5 - Scandinavian Defence 1...g6 - Modern Defence 1...Nf6 - Alekhine Defence 1...Nc6 - Nimzowitsch Defence
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rn1k1bnr/1p2pppp/p7/2p5/4P3/5P2/PPP2P1P/RNB1KB1R w
Moves: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6

Theory table

For explanation of notation, see Chess Opening Theory Table.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6

	3	4	5
	c3 d5	exd5 Nf6	c4 e6	+=
	Nc3 e6	d4 cxd4	Nxd4	See Kan Sicilian
	d4 cxd4	Nxd4 e5	Ne2 Bc5	=
	... ...	Qxd4!? Nc6
	c4 e6	Nc3 Qc7	Be2 b6	=

References

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.