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Why I enjoy 2...Kc6 better than 2...d6 when playing the Sicilian as Black

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SerotoninAgonist

I personally enjoy 2...Kc6 as opposed to 2...d6 when playing the Sicilian defense with the black pieces. Saving the tempo on the d pawn allows you to play d5 in one move if white chooses to play the closed Sicilian, that combined with the central control that the knight gives you helps you take the center from white much easier. If you are playing the Sicilian defense, then chances are that you want an aggressive game, otherwise you would have played the French or the Caro Kann with the black pieces against 1.e4. You can have an aggressive game whether you play 2....Kc6 or 2....d6 if white chooses to play the open Sicilian, but white can choose to play a delayed closed Sicilian after 2Nf3 (like the delayed Alapin for example). I remember freaking out when I used to play 2...d6 after my opponent goes into a closed Sicilian, because I remember hating going into a closed, boring, timid, and slow game, but after playing 2...Kc6 I always find anti Sicilians to be a joke (except for the Rossolimo) because I know that taking the center from white is not that difficult unless they are +2000. What do you guys think?

Strayaningen

You're using "Closed Sicilian" a bit loosely here, the Closed Sicilian is 2. Nc3, the Alapin and Delayed Alapin are not the Closed or Open, they are their own thing.

As a Classical player, I do play 2...Nc6 after 2. Nc3. I have that freedom because I intend to play Nc6 in the Open anyway, so I don't care if White plays Nf3 and d4 and transposes back into the Open. That's the nice thing about the Classical.

I don't see why you would rather have played Nc6 if White plays the Delayed Alapin. You just have to play Nf6 or d5 and either way you end up back in the boring Alapin main lines. In fact, in Plichta's Anti-Anti-Sicilians course on Chessable, which I own, he states that this line has no independent value because it always transposes into the Alapin, and simply refers the reader to the section on the Alapin. Against the Delayed Alapin after 2...d6, I get to play 3...Nf6 with useful pressure against e4 and White does not have 4. e5 available anymore, so the positions don't transpose into the Alapin, they retain the character of a Sicilian. I'm happy to see this from White because I don't think it's very good and I feel like I get good play.

Strayaningen

Also while I haven't looked into this all that deeply, I think if I were to play the Najdorf I would play 2...a6 against 2. Nc3 (which is a legit line, played in about 10% of master games and scoring well in both amateur and master play) and only after 3. Nf3 (ruling out both f4 and Nge2) would I play 3...d6. Then White has nothing better than 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6, transposing into the Najdorf.

najdorf96

indeed. Interesting conversation. Personally, I don't fault anyone's preference as that's their philosophy (when playing the Sicilian). I too, aim to play the Najdorf (heh, believe me~it's a funny coincidence with my profile name) when I play 2. ... d6. Of course, not many people will allow me to but that's besides the point. I just feel ( within my philosophy) Nc6 & e6, either move can be used as a follow up or as part of an integral game plan fits in well after 2. ... d6. And that versatility is definitely foundational when I created my Opening Repertoire.

tygxc

@1

"2...Kc6 as opposed to 2...d6" ++ Both are good.

"Saving the tempo on the d pawn allows you to play d5 in one move" ++ Yes.

"If you are playing the Sicilian defense, then chances are that you want an aggressive game, otherwise you would have played the French or the Caro Kann"
++ Sicilian is more sound than French or Caro-Kann.

"after playing 2...Kc6 I always find anti Sicilians to be a joke (except for the Rossolimo)"
++ Anti-Sicilians 2 Nc3, 2 c3, 2 f4 occur before your choice 2...Nc6/2...d6.
If Rossolimo 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 is better or worse than 1 e4 c5 2 Nf6 d6 3 Bb5+ is open.

Ethan_Brollier

I much prefer 2... Nc6 as well. Speaking only to the Open: the Najdorf is... tricky at best and unplayable at worst depending on how many years you're willing to put into it, the Dragon is... borderline unsound at best and completely unsound at worst, and the Scheveningen and Classical don't seem worth their while.

2... Nc6 doesn't only work against 2. Nf3 3. d4, however.

2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bb5 and I'm completely comfortable in the Tiviakov.
2. Nc3/Nf3 Nc6 3. Nf3/Nc3 e5 and I've never been more comfortable than in an Anti-Sveshnikov.
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Nbd5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 and we are in a Sveshnikov, which I'm perfectly comfortable in.