Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. Nf3/2...a6/3. c3

Venice system B28 O'Kelly Sicilian 3. c3 · Venice system 3. c3 prepares to play d4 and dominate the centre. This is a sort of improved Alapin Sicilian: White argues that Black has wasted time with ...a6 compared to the conventional Alapin, and so allowed White to develop their knight for "free". 3...d5, the regular Alapin move, is most common. After 4. exd5 Qxd5 White does not have the option of Nc3 to kick away the queen, and Black has avoided White achieving a two-pawn centre. 3...e6 preparing 4...d5 is possible, leading to an advance French defence structure. 4. d4 d5 5. e5 3...d6 is the Steiner line, conceding the centre to White. 4. d4 Qc7 removes the queen from the file to unpin the d-pawn and allow dxc5 to be met with ...Qxc5. Black plays a kingside fianchetto set-up, but White has all the space an fun. 3...b5, the Ljubojevic line, achieves some success for Black. Black plays ...Bb7 and ...e6 and the line transposes into the St. George line of the French defence. Theory table 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6 3.c3 3 4 5 ...d5 exd5Qxd5 d4e6 += ...d5 exd5Nf6 c4e6 += ...e6 d4d5 e5Bd7 = References See also Sicilian Defence