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Dec '99 Update

The Closed Sicilian in Disguise

There is a long history of White trying to upset Black's plan of meeting an anti-Sicilian by using a tricky move-order. This is the reason why 2 g3 has scored so highly. The usual reaction is that Black is unsure how to respond because if he develops along normal Closed Sicilian lines then White produces a shock.








Moses-Farago is a good example where White simply doesn't play Nc3 but substitutes c3 in order to build-up a central pawn formation. The idea behind the opening is that White will fianchetto on the kingside while keeping open the option of transposing to a Closed Sicilian with Nc3 around move 5 when Black has revealed his piece formation. However, he might also try 5 c3 that might ruin Black's middlegame plan, which is why it can be awkward.

A natural response is 2…d5 which is examined in Nadyrhanov-Odeev. The obvious drawback is that after 3 exd5 Qxd5 4 Nc3 White can chase the black queen around the board. In this case White introduces a stunning gambit which will allow you to amaze your friends and terrify your opponents with 7 b4.

The strength of the gambit can also be gauged by the game Sepp-Malisauskas where a lead in development allows White to win a pawn straight out of the opening.

If Black is thinking of never playing the Sicilian again then help is at hand by following the game Veselovsky-Haba. Black finds the right way through a maze of obstacles to achieve equality.
2 g3 is a sound choice to take on the Sicilian.