Three years ago I switched from the 1.c4 of my youth to 1.e4 when starting to play chess again. Meeting 1...c5 is definitely a mayor task, but I am very happy that I decided to play the open sicilian.
- The most important anti-sicilian lines (Alapin, Morra, 3.Bb5, Grand Prix, closed spring to my mind) are by no means bad. But white has better chances to achieve an opening advantage in the open sicilian. That´s the bottom line of theory (even the honest anti-sicilian books) and that must be wy the top GM play the open.
- The advocates of anti-sicilians claim a surprise value. On my club level they are dead wrong. I play the sicilian with black, and in more than 50% of my games white avoids the open sicilian!
So it is essential for black players to know the anti-sicilian theory - and it´s no secret that this task is much simpler than learning the Najdorf, Classical or Svesh lines with black.
- TopNotch is right with the need for flexibility. If you someday don´t like your anti-sicilian line you are in deep trouble. In the open white is spoiled for choice (and work).
- Rome wasn´t built in a day, take your time. When I started to learn the open I had a quick glimpse at unusual lines leading out of theory against most open lines, but started to learn something serious against the Najdorf. Afterwords I had a look at the Dragon etc.. (if you play the Sicilian with black you should already know what to do at least in one system). It took time, and did cost rating points, but now I am confident that my understanding of chess is better, and the results show it.
- There are good repertoire books. I started with Beating the Sicilian 3, and still play some of the lines. Experts against the Sic. is a very good book as well. It helps, and so does my subscription to the open sicilian section
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Now if I change a variation of my repertoire, it´s only a minor shift e.g. concerning the 4 Knights, because I can keep my repertoire against all other variations.
As TopNotch said, the first steps won´t be easy, and you will stumble. But if you look at the years to come with the open, the prospects are brighter than traveling on on the one narrow road you´re on right now.