In reference to the subject question, I note that there have been several recent publications on the Classical Sicilian. That suggests that the Classical Sicilian is not "that bad." I suppose one could see it differently, as the last gasp of a bad line. Why not share analysis in a line that you do not intend to play? I'm inclined towards the more optimistic interpretation.

Recent publications on the Classical Sicilian:

Classical Sicilian - Expert Repertoire for Black  by GM Ivan Cheparinov , June 19, 2022
https://www.modern-chess.com/classical-sicilian-expert-repertoire-for-black-appr...

Understand the Classical Sicilian by Modern Chess Team,  October 13, 2021
https://www.modern-chess.com/understand-the-classical-sicilian-7-5-hours-running...

Lifetime Repertoires: Classical Sicilian by GM Sam Shankland
https://www.chessable.com/lifetime-repertoires-classical-sicilian/course/68589/

The Richter-Rauzer Reborn, The Kozul Variation by Zdenko Kozul and Alojzije Jankovic, Jan 21, 2020
https://forwardchess.com/product/the-richter--rauzer-reborn,-the-kozul-variation...

Play the Classical Sicilian - Complete Repertoire  by IM Ogulcan Kanmazalp, February 22, 2019
https://www.modern-chess.com/play-the-classical-sicilian-complete-repertoire

Complete Rauzer Repertoire for Black by IM Ogulcan Kanmazalp, February 1, 2019
https://www.modern-chess.com/complete-rauzer-repertoire-for-black

I enjoy playing the Classical Sicilian because the players often find themselves on their own, just playing chess, in sharp lines where Black has chances. In my opinion, the only existential threat to the Classical Sicilian comes from the Rauzer variation. I have the books by Kozul and Kanmazalp. They both feature 9...b5. Titles by Shankland and Cheparinov feature 9...Be7.

The 9...b5 line seems very linear. Black proceeds with an almost single-minded focus on attacking the white king. Some of the lines run deep. As far as I can tell, Black is hanging in there.

The 9...Be7 lines seems less committal. I have not bought either Shankland's or Cheparinov's book. I don't know how the Modern Chess Team addresses 6Bg5. As the team is composed of several authors, I suspect that multiple answers are provided.

Shankland also covers anti-Sicilian lines.

The two most recent titles from Modern-Chess contain video and are expensive. However Modern-Chess is running a 45% off sale on all their products at the present time.

FreeRepublic wrote on 04/14/18 at 14:45:46:


Is that with 8...Ne5 9. Be3 Qc7 10. f4 Nc6 11. g4?  I note that that was considered as leading to += back in NCO (Gallagher).

ChessPublishing gave a game that ended in a perpetual check after the moves:
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5!? a6!? 7. Qd2 Nxd4!? 8. Qxd4 Qa5 9. f4 e5! 10. Qd2 Be7 11. f5 b5 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. O-O-O O-O 14. h4 Bb7 15. Nd5 Qxa2 16. Nxf6+ gxf6 17. Qh6 Qa1+ 18. Kd2 Qa5+ 19. Kc1 Qa1+
and also 15Kb1 Rfc8!?

However after 15Kb1 Rfc8 16g4!? white threatens a pawn roller, and it is not clear that black can obtain satisfactory counterplay.

gewgaw wrote on 04/10/18 at 16:43:38:


I just downloaded the kindle version of the updated Dismantling the Sicilian by Illingworth and De La Villa. I recommend it highly.

Max recommends 6...Qb6 7Nb3 e6 7Bf4!?

RdC wrote on 04/10/18 at 17:26:51:


An old book possibility is 7...Ng4.  But 7. Qd2 is the main move, I would think.

"Another sideline was just played by Kozul in all three Black games in a match against Djukic:  1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Qb6.  Each time the continuation was 8. Nb3 Be7 9. O-O-O O-O, which transposes to an old major line (7...Be7 8. 0-0-0 0-0 9. Nb3 Qb6).

Yes, the Podebrad variation is very interesting and would be deserving of its own thread if the Classical were theoretically hot. I think black is fully O.K., if he plays precisely.

"the latest CBM recommends 8. Bxf6 gf 9. Nb3 ... sees an advantage for White in all lines." 

As you say. "Eh?"

We can get a maze of variations and games. I tried to follow along and came up with this game:

Montoliu Cervero, F-Bernal Moro, L TCh-ESP 2nd Div 2016 (Linares ESP) 1/2-1/2  Round 6 2016



Overall, I think white may be a bit better, but black has chances too.

Carlsen and Caruana used the classical Sicilian as a winning try in crucial games, but in both games White (Karjakin, Anand) had everything under control.

What about 6. ...Qb6?!!

IsaVulpes wrote on 03/23/18 at 00:48:44:


Certainly not a new line, but perhaps neglected. The best analysis may be from the pre-computer era. I've loaded the ChessPublishing files into BookUp, which has its pros and cons. Anyway here is a comment from CP:

"Thomas Hendrich enquired about this Najdorf/Richter-Rauzer line, which has been mentioned by John Emms.

Black is currently in good health in a number of critical lines of the 6Bg5 variation (6...Nbd7 and the Delayed Poisoned Pawn spring to mind), but if he is keen to get a lower-rated opponent on to less familiar territory and away from any forced drawing lines, the text isn't such a bad choice. It does help if Black has some understanding of the Rauzer to play this line, but if he does there are definite chances to gradually out manoeuvre White."

Of course I have been looking at this from the Classical move order. One advantage is that 6Be3 is less critical as a response in the Classical Sicilian. In general, I think more players are preparing for the Najdorf than for the Classical.