Agianst O'Kelly Beatingt the sicilian 3 recommended 3 c4 ,Expers vs the sicilian recomends 3 c3 and Taming the siciliian recommends 3 Nc3

MNb wrote on 01/14/09 at 12:10:07:


That line is alright to me. I used to play French, so I believe 3.c3 e6 4.d4 d5 5.exd5 exd5 is pretty good for Black. As to O'Kelly, I think Kurajica is his hot preponderant. Whose games should I check in the first place, do you think?

Ok I'd forgotten about the c4 stuff (via Bd3) vs the Kan. However surely anyone who likes playing like this will just play 3 c4 vs the O'Kelly? 

So I'm still not sure what you've really gained playing like this. People who want a Nc3 based open sicilian can get one via 3 Nc3 while people who want a bind can get one via 3 c4.

Still you've not lost a lot either! However 3 c3 & c4 are no doubt slightly stronger vs 2 ..a6 when compared to 2..e6 so you're giving something up and I can't really see what you've gained in return

On a theoretical level that is! In practice you might well see a few benefits like white playing into set ups he doesn't like, 3 d4 etc.

MartinC wrote on 01/14/09 at 10:30:49:


In dangerous weapons (DW) book the idea in the  1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 a6 3 c3 d5 exd5 Qd5 line was to play for variations where black in normal 1 e4 c5 2 c3 d5 lines first plays Be7 and later on Bd6 and play Bd6 in one go and thus have a6 for "free". Basicly using a6 as an waiting move to get more info about the way white wants to play it. In short the author finds the O'Kelly especially viable when combined with the Kan sicilian. 

About 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 a6 3 Nc3: well the b5 stuff is a bit dodgy but when you play 3 ... e6 I think the best for white is to transpone into the Kan and then you have avoided 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 c4 and 4 Bd3 lines with a c4 thrown in later which is considered one of the more dangerous tries agains the Kan. Even Najdorf is possible if you play 3 ... d6 but as the most critical lines against Najdorf incorperate Nc3 not much would be gained with this transposition for black other then avoiding the Moscow anti-Sicilian which seems a lot of trouble for not a lot to be gained.    

A possible repertoire could be:

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 a6

a) 3 d4 cxd4 is what black wants 
I have seen 4 Nf6 Nc3 5 e5 and 4 e5 recommended with my preference being the first. Nb5 is not possible and black gets a lot of pressure. DW gives enough material to illustrate this.

b) 3 c3 d5 4 cxd5 Qxd5 (DW also gives 4 ... Nf6 but except for blitz I wouldn't trust this) with the lines out of DW.

c) 3 c4 e6 heading for the Kan with 4 c4 if white plays d4 which is Ok for black. Hellstens book "Play the Sicilian Kan" seems to be a possible source.

d) 3 Nc3 e6 again going for the Kan if white plays d4 dodging the critical 4 Bd3 with c4.   

Well now I typed all this stuff I might just give this repertoire a go myself. 

I looked at 3.d4 for White and I don't think it comes to anything if Black is well prepared. 

I think theory rates the position after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 as good for White. A very interesting question is 3...e6 and after 4.d4 d5 is 5.exd5 as good as before now that Black can take with the pawn? Even more so, what about 5.e5 tranposing into an Advance French with Black playing a6. Judit Polgar has played this way for Black.  It's a bit passive I think, but Black may get away with Bd7 and then playing Bb5 - giving a6 some meaning. I doubt many Open Sicilian players have studied this. There might not be any theory on it.