A very basic begginer question? Why is the Sicilian so popular

Is the Sicilian popular because it trys very hard for an advantage or why? is it very ambitious? Which variation is the most ambitous najdorf or dragon? 

It is so popular because it creates an unbalanced position where black will often be able to gain the initiative more easily than in most other defenses. The dragon is probably the most ambitious albeit also the most risky variation.  

I'd say it is the opening's flexibility that makes it so popular. The Sicilian can result in closed positions or sharp tactical situations, depending on your preference, whereas most other moves by black do not have quite the same flexibility. This means that a wide cross-section of players may find what they're looking for in the Sicilian, and it also makes it difficult for white to achieve parity of opening knowledge with a Sicilian player.

The Sicilian is popular because it leads to unbalanced positions where the better usually prevails. The Dragon variation is more ambitious but also more risky this is why the Najdorf has become mare fashionable

I play it a lot because of the unbalances, it is in black´s interest to create chances on both sides instead of letting white keep the first/move advantage.
The goals of the opening are also quite straight forward. The a1/h8 diagonal has a strong influence by black, which can easily be supported by the knight on c6, the pawns etc. If white doesn't respond, it can be exploited, ideally resulting in a queenside attack (where the bishop becomes even more valuable). Another useful effect is that both bishops become "good" bishops, not restricted by your own pawns.
Long story short, I like the clear mission black has, and the active games it creates. White has to respond, so black has more influence on the game early on.

The Sicilian is popular among masters because it has a solid positional grounding (trading a pawn closer to the side of the board for a central pawn), prevalent and clear plans (like the minority attack in the Najdorf, attacking down the c-file in the Dragon, etc) and it gives Black chances to counterattack. However, it is extremely risky to play, as it allows White freer development of the pieces and plenty of early ways to win the game if Black makes even the slightest mistake.

Because of this, it is not an opening I would recommend to anyone under 2200. Even masters lose many games in the opening in the Sicilian.

Expertise87 wrote:

The Sicilian is popular among masters because it has a solid positional grounding (trading a pawn closer to the side of the board for a central pawn), prevalent and clear plans (like the minority attack in the Najdorf, attacking down the c-file in the Dragon, etc) and it gives Black chances to counterattack. However, it is extremely risky to play, as it allows White freer development of the pieces and plenty of early ways to win the game if Black makes even the slightest mistake.

Because of this, it is not an opening I would recommend to anyone under 2200. Even masters lose many games in the opening in the Sicilian.

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When Expertise87 points out that, "...it has a solid positional grounding (trading a pawn closer to the side of the board for a central pawn)", he is referring to 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 CxD4. As I am sure he knows, in addition to that favorable pawn exchange, Black now enjoys a 2 vs. 1 pawn advantage in the center. With the further moves 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 (Black has created the pawn formation d6,e6,f7). This pawn formation is what GM Aaron Nimzowitsch labels the "small but secure center". It is part of the concepts known as Hypermodern Chess Opening Theory. This "small but secure center" is actually used by Black as a back up castled position in certain variations of the Najdorf. In other words, Black enjoys 2 castled position options, one by playing ...0-0, the other by remaining in the center with the K behind the safety of the "small but secure center". The 2 vs. 1 pawn plus in the center (d6,e6 vs. e4) and the 2 castling fortresses are the core factors of the Sicilian's solid position.

I don't use diagrams because strong players only need one diagram, the one in their mind. The more you practice using only the diagram inside your head the better you become at analyzing positions.

There is a lot more about the Najdorf, if you lwould like t know more please let me know.

everyone is saying imbalances? what are some imbalances in grand prix, alapin, najdorf, dragon?

You guys are missing the bullet point answer he was probably looking for.  Black wins more in the Sicilian than just about (if not any) response to 1.e4.  The reasons why an individual variation wins are important, but suffice it to say for the purposes of his question, the best answer is it gives black winning chances against an aggressive opening by white.

Arloest, let me show you an example. This is from a game I played against a gentleman rated in the mid-2100s in a major chess tournament this year. He even outrated me by a hundred points.

openings dont win just because statistics say they do.
Theres a reason it scores very well for black, thats because of the reasons already mentioned.

As for the question itself, I wouldnt class it as a begginer question by a long shot. Many people stronger than both of us have no idea why its as popular as it is and simply play it because GMs do, and therefor 'it must be good' 

It is true that black has a solid positional grounding in the Sicilian, with many advantages he wouldn't get with other openings, such as not only an asymmetrical position, but also, he will often get a two to one central majority, a half open c file, and he often doesn't have to commit to a large positional drawback, such as a locked in bishop in the french.

In short, it's a positionally sound opening that also offers good counterplay. A lot of times with black, you can only have one of those two -- either have a defensive but safe position, or have a reasonably aggressive position, but at the cost of some serious positional concession or material. In the Sicilian you basically get both.

I would play it myself, but first of all there are a ton of different structures to figure out, and you often need a lot of precision to make sure white's attack doesn't get through. But most importantly, it's simply not my style of position. If the Sicilian isn't your kind of opening, don't feel like you have to play it -- there are plenty of other good choices, too.

The black side of an open sicilian would probably be pretty confusing, conceptually, if you played it as a beginner, so maybe it's not best to play it right away. However, right after you get out of the novice phase, let's say at about 1400 level, I don't think there's anything wrong with studying the sicilian. It is rich with very interesting positions, and you could learn a lot about chess just by playing them -- in particular, it teaches you how effective two pawns in the center can really be, even if the opponent's attack seems really scary. It probably makes you a better and more accurate calculator, too.

Although, as I said, there is a lot of theory, I'm guessing you wouldn't have to learn all of it at most amateur levels, since your opponent will probably be just as confused as you. If they are one of those dudes who studies 25 moves of theory, they probably have serious weaknesses in other parts of their game to take advantage of.