Expert: Len Molden - 5/4/2008

Question
Playing as Black i always lose when they do that. I know there is a simple response for black but I don't know what. Please help out here.

3. ...Nc6  4. Bc5 Bd7  5. d3 Nf6 I think white is better because of his space and better development.

3. ...Bd7  4. Bb5!? I like white.

3. ...Nf6 Bc4, followed by Bg5 I like white.

So i don't know what to do as black.

Answer
Hi Anon,

This deployment of the Knights is usually used as a transpositional device to avoid certain lines of the Sicilian Defense.  The main one it sidesteps is the Sveshnikov Variation (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 c:d4 4.N:d4 e5).  If play were to play 3...e5 then White could take advantage of the hole at d5 by 4.Bc4.  If instead 3...Nf6, then 4.Bb5.  

However, Black can now play an Accelerated Dragon without worrying about the Maroczy bind (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 c:d4 4.N:d4 g6 5.c4)

Therefore, my recommendation to you is to learn the Sicilian Accelerated Dragon Variation, since White won't get much without going into the mainline:

1. e4 c5  2. Nf3 d6  3. Nc3 g6

Now if White doesn't play d4 at some point soon, you'll just continue with Bg7, Nf6, 0-0 and have a solid position with play on the dark squares.  If you can get in d5 then you'll have an equal and in some cases, better position.

Regards,

Len Molden