4. Nc3 isn't a common move, as the knight tends to be misplaced there given the possibility of ...c6.  (You would generally see White's deployment involving c4 plus Nc3 or c3 plus Nbd2; the same applies to the somewhat similar structure in which Black has an e-pawn rather than a c-pawn, e.g. from the Exchange Caro-Kann.  Similarly with reversed-color situations; e.g. Black doesn't put his knight on c6 in the Exchange QGD.)

Against the French, also trying to keep myself away from to much theory, I play 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nc3, leaving open the possibility of Bb5+ after c5 and playing against an isolated queen pawn. So the KIA is not part of my repertoire.

By the way what do you think about the above mentioned line against the French?

fairchess wrote on 04/06/09 at 21:01:36:


3...d5?! is dubious because of 4.ed5 ed5 5.d4 and White is at least slightly better. Another option for White instead of 3.Nc3 is 3.c4, striving for a Maroczy Bind setup, although Black should be able to fully equalise.

Finally, 3.Nc3 a6 4.d4 cd4 5.Nd4 does not narrow Black's options down to the Kan - Black can transpose to a Taimanov with 5...Nc6 or a Najdorf/Scheviningen with 5...d6 followed by 6...Nf6.

I used to play 3. Nc3, hoping for 3 ...Nc6- which was played about half the time against me. (I would of course play 4. Bb5)

If they played 3 ...a6, I would go for the open sicilian- but at least you've narrowed it down to the Kan...

Larry Kaufman, in his repertoire book of a few years ago, thought that 2...e6 3. b3 goes well with the Moscow and Rossolimo.

Hello,
I am starting to study the 3.Bb5 move as White against the Sicilian. However the third move Bb5 makes sense only against 2...d6 and 2...Nc6 Sicilians.
Which variation for White would you recommend against 2...e6 Sicilian? I know there are plenty of possibilities, but which one would suit best for the repertoire of a Bb5 white player?