cream wrote on 01/14/16 at 22:13:02:


Regarding Richter-Rauzerish stuff, I have the impression that 5...Bd7 (which, like ...a6, is an old book move without ...Nf6 and Nc3 in) should be preferable to 5...a6 (6. e5 Nc6 7. Qa4).  There is also 5...e5, when one possibility is to transpose to an old main line of the Moscow via 6. Bb5+ Nbd7 7. Qd3.

cream wrote on 01/12/16 at 18:52:31:


Of course the option you mention is a valid one and you also avoid the Hungarian (3...cxd4 4. Qxd4) and also discourage a delayed Smith-Morra gambit (e.g. 3...cxd4 4. c3), but I do not necessarily agree with your 2 points above for the following reasons:

(a) Not sure this is ok for Black as there are a few nice unbalancing or gambit lines for White that could work very well. Of course with perfect play both sides can claim sth, but it is not an easy game for either of them. You are usually heading outside Sicilian waters which may suit you or not (e.g. with the Hungarian or the Smith-Morra or the Prins your setup remains a 'Sicilian' one).

(b) When I have prepared the Prins line, I complemented it also with analysis of 3...Nf6 4.dxc5. I think a White player that wants to rely on the Prins for a while will do the same. On the other hand, if you think White is experimenting it is indeed a good idea to use 3...Nf6.

My 2c

I've been giving this a look as White—and I like what it offers White. The Maroczy Bind themes are familiar to me from years of playing 1.Nf3 with Reti, English, and Catalan positions. But can anyone recommend a comparable alternative after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6?

The best coverage on this line is probably 'Dangerous Weapons: The Sicilian'. 

I tried this line a few times, but lost interest in it because I couldn't prove any advantage whatsoever for White after 5...Nc6 6.c4 e6 7.Nc3 Be7 8.Be3 0-0 9.0-0 d5. 5...e5 is also playable for Black, as long as he avoids meeting 6.Nb3 with the popular but inferior 6...d5?!. One model game for White against this inferior line is Naiditsch-Petrosian, Aeroflot Open 2005.