Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. Nc3/2...Nc6

Closed Sicilian
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) r1bqkbnr/pp1ppppp/2n5/2p5/4P3/2N5/PPPP1PPP/R1BQKBNR w
Moves: 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6

Closed Sicilian

2...Nc6
Most of the time in the Sicilian, White puts their Knight on c3. White may yet play d4, but for the moment the question is yet to be answered. White's second move of 2. Nc3 suggests the possibility of NOT playing d4 (avoiding the exchange), and playing a closed position instead of the slashing, attacking types of position, that are more common to the Sicilian Defence. Leads to 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6

Statistics

Estimated next move popularity: Nf3 30%, g3 29%, f4 16%, Nge2 12%, Bb5 12%, d3 1%, Bc4 1%, other moves less than 0.3%.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6

	3	4	5	6
	Nf3 d6	d4 cxd4	Nxd4 Nf6		= to 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3
	g3 g6	Bg2 Bg7	d3 d6	Be3 e6	=
Grand Prix Attack	f4 g6	Nf3 Bg7	Bc4 e6	f5 Nge7	=

References

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.