Sicilian Defence
B20–B99Black1.e4 c5
B20–B99 · 1.e4 c5
The idea
The most popular and ambitious answer to 1.e4. Instead of mirroring with 1...e5, Black strikes at the centre from the side and refuses a symmetrical game. Black accepts an asymmetrical fight from the very first move and plays for the full point rather than easy equality.
Your plan (Black)
Take on d4 to trade a flank pawn for a central pawn, then develop flexibly and counterattack on the queenside with the half-open c-file, aiming for an unbalanced position with real winning chances.
Heading into the middlegame
In the Najdorf after ...e5, the d5-square is the whole battle: it's a hole in your camp, so fight for control of it with ...Be6, ...Nbd7 and ...Rc8, and trade off the pieces that want to occupy it. Your counterplay is the queenside — expand with ...b5–b4 to kick the c3-knight, pressure the half-open c-file, and aim for the freeing ...d5 break. Meanwhile White attacks on the kingside, so it's a race: don't drift, push your queenside play while keeping d5 under control.
Lines
0/9 masteredYou play the flexible ...a6 and ...e5, fighting for the d5-hole while expanding on the queenside as White attacks the kingside.
White sidesteps the Open Sicilian, building a big pawn centre with c3 and d4; you hit it early with ...Nf6 and ...d6 to keep things fluid.
White pins on g5 and storms with f4 and Qf3; you castle into a sharp race, defending e6/d6 while grabbing the c-file with ...Qc7.
White avoids the Open lines by pinning the c6-knight; you fianchetto to g7 and play ...e5, accepting the structure and aiming for a sound, harmonious game.
You fianchetto the bishop to g7 and castle; White throws the whole kingside at you with Be3, f3, Qd2 and 0-0-0. Opposite-side castling means a pawn-storm race.
You reach the Dragon setup a tempo early with ...Nc6 and ...g6; White clamps down with c4 (the Maroczy Bind). You accept a space disadvantage for a solid, hole-free structure.
You play the bold ...e5, hitting the d4-knight and accepting a backward d-pawn and a d5-hole in return for fierce piece activity and the bishop pair after chasing White's pieces around.
You develop classically with ...Nc6 and ...d6; White pins with Bg5 and castles queenside for a sharp Rauzer. You meet it with ...e6, ...a6 and ...Bd7, ready to castle either way.
You develop with ...e6 and ...Nc6 and get the queen to c7 early, keeping a super-flexible setup that can head for ...a6/...b5 expansion or ...Bb4 pressure without committing the kingside.