TN wrote on 03/19/10 at 20:47:16:
Also, after 1.f4 g6 2.Nf3 Bg7 3.e4 c5, the Big Clamp setup doesn't give White any advantage (according to Bird connoisseur Vigus in DW) but is still a playable line that players such as McShane have successfully used. Personally I would either transpose to a Grand Prix with 4.Nc3 or a Closed Sicilian with 4.d3 Nc6 5.g3 d6 6.Bg2.
I have always thought that 1.e4 c5 2.d3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.f4 and 6.Nf3 was called the Big Clamp and 5.Nc3 (or later) the Closed Sicilian?! So now what do you recommend, if Black refuses to play ...d5, the Big Clamp (no Nc3) or the Closed Sicilian (White does play Nc3)?
My recommendation would be to postpone the choice as long as possible. 1.f4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.g3 (no need to invite early ...d5 stuff with 3.e4) g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0, 6.d3, 7.e4 (assuming that there is no ...d5 yet) and only depending on Black's setup eventually 8.Nc3. That looks most ambitious to me.
Concerning that early fianchetto move order, 1.f4 g6 2.Nf3 Bg7 3.g3 d6 4.Bg2 Nf6 5.0-0 0-0 6.d3 e5 7.e4 and 8.Nc3 is a line of the Vienna Fianchetto (1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3) that has scored rather well for White.
As you may have concluded, I don't believe in BirdBrain's theory of flexibility. 1.f4 followed by a kingside fianchetto (except vs. early ...e5 stuff in the broadest sense of the word) looks most promising to me.
You are right, by Closed Sicilian I meant 7.0-0 and only then 8.Nc3. The Closed Sicilian should lead to equality as well, but I think White has more chances of gaining a tiny edge with the Closed than the Clamp in the critical lines.
Against the Fianchetto lines, I like to play 1.f4 d5 2.Nf3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 c6, when 5.Nc3 d4 6.Ne4 Nf6 is equal, but 5.d3 is probably the most testing answer.