OK, Keano b5-b4 might be risky. Looking for close alternatives of the early a6&b5 move order I found that according to Fritz 8 openings book there is a rare move 6...g6 after cd4 and Bb7.
1.e4 c5
2.Nc3 a6
3.Nf3 b5
4.d4 cd4
5.N:d4 Bb7
6.Bd3 g6!?
But the number of games played is shown "0". I wonder is this line so bad that to be out of play. And is this question for the experienced Dragon players at the Open Sicilians forum.

1)Excuse me for not spelling correctly the name of Nimzowitsch. In my language this is a very weird spelling. I know my English is not irreproachable.

2)Regarding the topic, I'm a bit more optimistic about the variation, having read the article of IM A. Martin.

3)Uberdeker, what do you think of the line you mentioned:
1. e4 c5
2. Nc3 a6
3.Nf3 b5
4.d4 b4
5.Na4 cd4
It looks playable though it's rare. I found only the game Ivanovic-Andersson,1982.

The « Dresden Blockade » variation (1. e4 c5 ; 2. Ktf3 Ktc6 ; 3. Ktc3 e5) was favoured by Nimzo himself who described it as a « bold and courageous decision», but it’s not a very realistic winning attempt and with the move-order 2. Ktc3 Ktc6 White also has the option of 3. Ktge2 when 3. …e5 is even less enticing. So if Black absolutely doesn’t want an Open Sicilian (even when he has avoided the most critical lines), in answer to 2. Ktc3 he should consider 2. …e6 ; 3. Ktf3 ( 3. g3 Ktc6 or 3. …d5 / 3. Ktge2 a6 ; 4. d4 b5!? or 3. ...d5) 3. …Ktf6 which leads to Murey’s 1. e4 c5 ; 2. Ktf3 Ktf6 ; 3. Ktc3 e6 ; 4. d4 (4. e5 Ktd5 transposes to the line 3. e5 Ktd5 ; 4. Ktc3 e6 which tends to be preferred to 4. …Ktxc3 in any case) 4. …d5!? I started a thread on this move a while ago, but it didn't attract much interest.

I’d like to mention that in my opinion, there was no need to move this thread half-way across the forum. It was originally posted in the right spot. The Nimzo variation definitely arises from "1. e4 ..." and is neither an "Open" nor an "Anti-Sicilian".

Also, it's bad enough that Nimzowitsch's contributions to the development of chess theory are regularly denigrated here. Maybe we could manage to spell his name correctly from time to time ? ...

IMJohnCox wrote on 11/14/06 at 15:25:11:

Maybe a good idea to put it in the antis then. Unfortunately my moderator powers are limited to the 1e4 forum

I moved this to the open sicilian forum. Maybe Tony could say whether it belongs here or in the anti-sic forum.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Kf6 is Nimtzovich Variation in Sicilian Defence. I put this topic here, because it has more in common with Alekhine Defence than with Open Sicilian. This variation is seemingly out of favor and is rarely played in serious games. When I looked through the main theory I got the impression that in some lines black obtains playable positions. I suppose you'll say that the variation is very dubious. I'd like to know whether there are adherents to this system among you and if so what's your opinion about this system.