Another popular way of playing the Sicilian Defense is by avoiding an early ...d6.
Two ways to do this are by playing 2...Nc6 or 2...e6 instead of 2...d6 as in the previous variation.
The move 2...Nc6 is slightly more popular than 2...e6, and usually leads to
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 as shown in the diagram.
Now Black has at least four acceptable ways to continue.
- 4...Nf6
- 4...e6
- 4...g6
- 4...e5
For more about the diagrammed position, see
Sicilian Defense - Black avoids an early ...d6
in our Repertoire Recommendations.
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