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

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Open Sicilian
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 8
7 a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7 7
6 a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6 6
5 a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 5
4 a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4 4
3 a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 3
2 a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2 2
1 a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1 1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3
ECO code: B27-B99
Parent: Sicilian Defence

Open Sicilian[edit | edit source]

2. Nf3[edit | edit source]

White's move 2. Nf3 increased their control of the d4 square, enabling them to play d4 next move. Black cannot hope to resist White's plan any further, and should go about their own development.

2...d6 is the most popular move, controlling e5 for a potential advance of the e-pawn and letting the queen's bishop out, while also holding down the c-pawn should White go down a different path.

2...e6 is an older, though still popular move freeing the king's bishop, although d6 will often follow soon.

2...Nc6 is the most traditional move, and still played often today. It reserves options in the centre and keeps an eye on d4, as does 2...g6 (the Hyper-Accelerated Dragon) with ...Bg7 to follow, and 2...a6 (the O'Kelly Variation) which can restrain some of White's longer-term plans and provide the springboard for a b5 advance, though it neglects the centre.

There are many slightly different Sicilians with similar plans for Black, in which various combinations of these moves may turn up in almost any order.

The one significant departure from the main lines is 2...Nf6, evoking Alekhine's Defence by attacking the e-pawn to tempt it forward.

Theory table[edit | edit source]

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3

2 3 4 5
Open Sicilian with 2...d6 ...
d6
d4
cxd4
Nxd4
Nf6
Nc3
e6
+/=
Open Sicilian with 2...e6 ...
e6
d4
cxd4
Nxd4
a6
Bd3
Nf6
+/=
Open Sicilian with 2...Nc6 ...
Nc6
d4
cxd4
Nxd4
Nf6
Nc3
e5
=
O'Kelly Variation ...
a6
c3
d5
exd5
Qxd5
d4
e6
+/=
Hyper-Accelerated Dragon ...
g6
d4
cxd4
Qxd4
Nf6
Bb5
Nc6
=
Nimzowitsch Variation ...
Nf6
e5
Nd5
Nc3
e6
Nxd5
exd5
+/-
Katalimov Variation ...
b6
d4
cxd4
Nxd4
Bb7
Nc3
d6
+/-

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References[edit | edit source]

  • Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999. John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.