Reverse wrote on 09/07/11 at 21:04:50:



Hey,

1) Na5 is a cheeky idea, but does not fit to your desires. First, it aims at playing typical paulsen/taimanov ideas, with the main argument being that black can - somewhen, somehow - play the desired move Nc4. Black will not be eager to open up the position quickly, as then the temporary development deficit could be telling. Second, as said before, it aims at achieving Paulsen/Taimanov/Kan positions, which does not suit your repertoire.

2) Against Bb5, it always depends whether we are talking about 2..Nc6 3.Bb5 or 2..d6 3.Bb5+. The former is a rather demanding, the latter a rather harmless move. 

2a) Against 2...d6 3.Bb5+, Tiger Hillarp Persson characterized the first player's playing attitude quite well (to make it short: he is already afraid of losing). I therefore agree with him to recommend 3...Nd7, when White will not be able to get the typical "comfortable" game. 

2b) Against 2...Nc6 3.Bb5, there are several moves to consider. The main line starts with 3...g6, which is perfectly fine, but not everyone's cup of tea. Being a Grivas guy, you could maybe befriend 3...Qb6, but the Queen is generally misplaced on c6 (after retaking the bishop), e.g. white wins another tempo after the subsequent d4 cxd4 Nxd4. In these positions, black relies on the stable "kan-like" position, trying to defend smoothly and _later on_ showing the positional advantage he cashed in earlier - namely the bishop pair. Yet again, this is not the open, counterplaylike position you were asking for.

2b.i) In this light, I am going to recommend 3...Nf6!?, which is a rather provocative move, stinging directly into the rossolimo control freak's heart. As white can exploit this move only by pushing his e-pawn, the position gets unbalanced early on, and after for example 4.e5 Nd5 5.Bxc6 dxc6! (opening up files) 6.O-O (6.h3 Bf5!?) Bg4 7.h3 Bh5!, the game enjoys a lot of asymmetries with black getting counterplay in every variation. This variation is deeply covered in Kolev/Nedev - The easiest sicilian. 

2b.ii) An alternative is given by 3...e6, a move Radjabov has been enjoying a lot. White can force some defects in black's pawn structure by the immediate Bxc6, but the black pawn center seems quite healthy and can get quite menacing. To persuade you, Adams - Radjabov (Novi Sad) is a nice illustration. This move requires a bit more theoretical knowledge, yet positional understanding seems to be more important.


3) Speaking of the Alapin, an idea which has not much theoretical background yet secures the open counterplay you demanded is given by 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 e5!?, which typically resembles a scotch without the c-pawns.

Like Bibs wrote, you should consider purchasing Experts on the Anti-Sicilian (Quality Chess) and/or Dangerous Weapons: Anti-Sicilian (Everyman Chess). The latter indeed covers the line you mention with 7... dxe5 against 2.c3 (or 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3). You can look at their content on the publisher website to get you an idea about the variation covered and decide if you want to buy one or both books.

For someone acknowledging having limited time to study too much theory, you should probably decide which main line Sicilian you play. Because with both the Grivas (2...Nc6) and the Scheveningen (2... d6 or 2...e6), you have to study both main lines, but also two different answers to White's 3rd move deviation after 1.e4 c5 2. Nf3.

As Bibs, I can't recommand 3... Na5 against the Rossolimo. Maybe 3...d6, which is well covered in the aforementionned Quality Chess book. It has the added advantage that if you want to continue playing both the Grivas and the Scheveningen with the 2...d6 move order, you are ready to meet 3.Bb5(+) the same way.

TN wrote on 09/07/11 at 17:41:42:


I am rated 2078. I would like to reach open positions where black has lots of potential for counterplay. Studying theory can be quite enjoyable, but I don't have time for it. Too many other things going on, so I am using my time I do have for chess to improve calculation/tactics/ and endgame play.   

A friend of mine recomended a line against the c3 sicilian that he claims is pretty rare: 



1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. cxd4 d6 7. Bc4 dxe5 *

What about something like this?

Also, I seem to remember reading a article in new in chess 5 or 6 years ago that introduced the following line against the rossolimo:



1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Na5 

any thoughts. 

Hey Guys,

I am wanting to put together a repertoire against the anti-sicilians that features rare yet aggressive lines. 

I am currently playing the Grivas Sicilian and scheveningen Sicilian, so I would probably need something vs the rossolimo.