Hi everyone,

I am a Class D player (1222). Recently, I joined a local chess club and was surprised by how many people play the Sicilian Defense. Normally, I play the Closed Sicilian, but I am surprised by how Black could still mount some vicious attacks (especially on the kingside after 0-0). I am considering switching to another anti-Sicilian, and would like some ideas on which one I should play.

My playing style:

• Likes open positions
• Plays classically (the center is very important to me)
• Like flexibility (not too many "only" moves)
• Values space and initiative
• Does not like to be constantly harassed by opposing pieces

My repertoire (if it helps):
White: Ruy Lopez, Closed Sicilian (considering switching for another anti-Sicilian)

Black: Caro-Kann, Petroff (on occasion), Nimzo-Indian (basics)

Note: I will not play an Open Sicilian right now, as there is just way too much theory for me to memorize. I also would like to stay away from questionable gambits (no Wing Gambit for me).

Smith-Morra Gambit. It's MUCH sounder than the Wing Gambit, and it always makes white the aggressor and leaves black defending, if black accepts the gambit pawn. If not, then you've still got a decent position.

The thing that really stands out to me about the SMG, and makes me think that it's actually a great opening for beginners to face the Sicilian, is how it actually revolves around obeying strong opening principles. White gets an open center and a strong initiative by bringing out his center pawns, gambiting a pawn, but then bringing out his knights and king's bishop first, controlling the center, castling early, bringing out his queen (but not to a square where it can be attacked right away), getting his rooks to the open and semi-open files, bringing out the queen's bishop, and only then do the attacks begin... unless black blunders into one of the opening's many traps before that. If you ever wondered what the phrase "compensation for the pawn" meant, playing this gambit will teach you.

--Fromper

Fromper's suggestion is a good one. The other one I'd throw in is the Alapin: 2 c3. Not a ton of theory, and it's a pretty solid opening. I've seen players use it from the 800 level all the way up to 2600 (Enrico Sevillano).

Thanks for your suggestions. I have never tried the SMG, so I'll give it a try when I play against the Sicilian again.

As for the Alapin, I've tried it and I like it. However, the move c3 prevents Nc3. While I am kinda used to this given that I play the Caro-Kann, I prefer to have more initiative as White.

Is the Closed Sicilian a decent opening, if used correctly?

Bobby Fischer played the Closed Sicilian as white. It's a solid opening, by any standard. But that doesn't mean it's a good opening for you. If you're not comfortable with it, then try other options and decide what you like best.

As I said, I think you could learn a lot from the SMG, and you'd never have to worry about black getting a strong attack. When black wins in that gambit, it's almost always because white messes up his attack and gives black a material advantage going into the endgame, not because black got a strong attack.

Edited to add: About 2 seconds after I submitted that, I realized that there are exceptions to that statement, but those are easily avoided if white just learns a couple of tactical traps to avoid. Do a google search for "Siberian Trap" to make sure you don't lose your queen the first time you play the SMG. Actually, that's the only trap I can think of immediately that hurts white. Most of the opening pitfalls people can stumble into with the SMG kill black, not white.

--Fromper

i just found a hilarious quote from Bent Larson on Wikipedia. it's on the bottom line of the History section (and in my signature). Smith-Morra Gambit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Anyways, i've been trying the Closed Sicilian Grand Prix attack (2. Nc3 and 3. f4). It is still a work in progress - see my correspondence game against Pixi -but I'm making progress.

Out of all the Anti-Sicilians, I would recommend the Alapin Sicilian. It is true that c3 takes away d4 from the knight, but in several lines White plays d4 and Black takes on ...cd4, when after cd4 you can develop your queen's knight to c3.

The Alapin Sicilian is relatively flexible, in that if you forget the theory and your opponent knows it, you should still emerge from the opening with an equal position since White's starting moves are fairly obvious.

Additionally, you also have to be familiar with the basic ideas and plans in IQP positions as these usually arise in the 2...d5 3.ed5 Qd5 4.d4 variation.

Edit: The Open Sicilian with 6.Be2 in the majority of variations is another good idea, which will give you the open positions you are after without oceans of cutting-edge theory.

?

Would 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4 Bg7 Be2 be what you're talking about?
6. Be2 plain loses material to Bxd4. In that case, 6. Nxc6 would be best, while Be3 is also playable.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 e5?! 6. Nb3 b5 and White has better than Be2, namely 7. a4 and 7. Nd5.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Be2 would be OK for White, as 5. ...e5 6. Nb3 Nf6 7. Nc3 and the position is about equal as long as Black can keep the d5 protected.

I was referring to the 6.Be2 Najdorf, 6.Be2 Scheviningen, 6.Be2 Dragon, 5.Nc3 b5/Qc7 6.Be2 Kan, 6.Be2 Taimanov, and the 6.Be2 Classical.