Key ideas
- In the Open Sicilian (2.Nf3 and 3.d4), Black trades the c-pawn for White's d-pawn. Black gets an extra central pawn and the half-open c-file; White gets a lead in development and attacking chances on the kingside.
- Black's main systems are the Najdorf (5...a6), the Dragon (with ...g6 and a fianchettoed bishop), the Sveshnikov (...e5 early), the Taimanov and the Scheveningen (...e6 and ...d6).
- White players who want to avoid the theory choose an anti-Sicilian: the Alapin (2.c3), the Rossolimo (2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5), the Closed Sicilian (2.Nc3) or the Smith-Morra Gambit (2.d4 cxd4 3.c3).
Plans for White
Develop fast and use your lead in development. Opposite-side castling with a kingside pawn storm is a common plan in the Open Sicilian.
Plans for Black
Play on the queenside and in the centre with ...b5, ...Rc8 and the c-file. The ...d5 break is the thematic freeing move in many lines.