1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 is a very intersting line for white. In many cases black is not really well prepared and of course one gets a nice game in this case.
However, I always had problems to find something "nice" against 2...d6. A common opinion is that the GPA (with Nc3,f4,Nf3,Bc4) is stronger after 2...d6 than after 2...Nc6 which might be true, but still 2...d6 seems to be good enough in order to get a position where black seems to be perfectly OK to me.

Chevalier wrote on 05/24/08 at 22:12:15:

But it's not only the Taimanov - if Black plays ...d6 and ...Nf6 it's also the Scheveningen. And that's a lot of theory for such a sideline. Again I tend to wonder: why not the Open Siclian at once then?

Chevalier wrote on 05/24/08 at 22:12:15:


6...Nf6 looks quite dubious (and not because of 7. Be3).

Rogozenko, in "Anti-Sicilians: A Guide for Black" doesn't think so. He recommends transposing to the Open Sicilian.

I don't see any reason to avoid this particular version of the Open Sicilian (ie 5...a6 Taimanov) as Black, since 6...Nf6 7.Be3 is very dangerous for Black.

Against 2..a6 I recommended 3.f4 and after b5 4.g3 (which I think is more accurate than 4.Nf3). These lines seem comfortable for White. I appreciate that most players who play GPA don't want to fiancetto bishop but it's a necessity. Against the 2..e6 followed by a6 before d5 again I recommend fianchettoing the bishop while against 2..e6 3.f4 d5 I play 4.Nf3. If Black takes on e4 I think the double fianchetto is the most promising when I believe white has some advantage while if Nc6 I have Bb5, exd5 and Qe2.   

I transpose to the Open Sicilian around 1/3rd of the time after 2..e6 I think. Hope this helps!
Gawain

Gawain wrote on 05/23/08 at 15:05:33:

Congratulations on your good results with the GPA and 3.Bb5. I will have to buy the book eventually, since I play both lines and also recommend them to pupils!

A question: Did you cover/recommend any interesting GPA-style or Closed answers to 2.Nc3 e6 and 2...a6? Or is it (as I suspect) better to transpose to the Open against those two moves, to get interesting play?
Thanks in advance.

In my opinion, the Alapin Sicilian is a more effective Anti-Sicilian than the Grand Prix Attack; just look at Tiviakov's games for example.

Stigma wrote on 05/20/08 at 10:06:51:

In the past I have thought about combinations like this. Invariably, beginning with 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3/3.Nge2 and 4.d4, I ended with the conclusion that it is more convenient to begin with the Open Sicilian immediately. OK, the beginner should avoid the English Attack, the 6.Bg5 Najdorf, the Richter-Rauser and the Jugoslav Attack, but there is an abundance of choice at move 6.
If you decide to play classical setups (with Be2 and Be3) after 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3/3.Nge2 and 4.d4 it is only a small step to similar variations after 2...Nc6 and 2...d6.
To speak for myself, I regret not having taken this step more than 20 years ago. I am stuck in the Anti-Sicilian trap, hence I warn others.