This position is typically reached following 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6. The early …Qb6 move has become quite popular in several different Sicilian systems in recent years. Black’s main goal is to disrupt White’s development by eyeing the b2-pawn and to force White to do something about the attacked d4-knight. While Black’s [...]

Sometimes White tries to confuse his opponent with obscure systems against the Sicilian Defense. There are different reasons for this. White may think his opponent is a much stronger player, is better prepared in main line openings and/or may slip in a little known variation that White has prepared in advance. The 2.b4 Sicilian certainly [...]

Our starting position is usually reached after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Be2 Nbd7 5.d3 b6 6.0-0 Bb7 7.Nbd2 g6 8.d4!? We have looked at the opening phase of the 3.c3 line against the 2…d6 Sicilian in another challenge and now want to examine in greater detail the possible consequences of the pawn sacrifice [...]