The Open Sicilian: A Complete Attacking Repertoire for White by GM Sina Movahed
The Open Sicilian is usually described as the most theoretically heavy opening in chess. After 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 and 3.d4, White faces the Najdorf, the Sveshnikov, the Dragon, the Taimanov and a dozen smaller systems, each with its own decades of analysis.
GM Sina Movahed's answer is to return to the older, classical roads, the lines that were once main theory and have since been partly forgotten. In his new course, he recommends 6.Be2 against the Najdorf, 7.Bg5 rather than 7.Nd5 in the Sveshnikov, and 9.Bc4 in the Yugoslav Attack. Each choice keeps the initiative with White while steering the game into positions with clear plans.
What Makes This Repertoire Different
The course covers every serious Black reply after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3. The guiding principle throughout is practicality: positions where White's plans are clear, Black's usual preparation is less likely to apply, and studying the lines properly leads to a pleasant game.
Several recommendations stand out. Against the Kan, Movahed proposes 5.Bd3, a setup he considers the most serious problem for that system. Against the Taimanov with 5...Qc7, he builds the play around an early f2-f4. In the Rauzer/Classical, 6.Bb5 Bd7 7.Be3 produces a fresh position almost immediately.
The Author's Reasoning
Movahed built the course around a simple promise: cover every possible Black reply, and do it in the most practical way, so that the repertoire can be learned and prepared quickly. The goal is not to win the theoretical debate in every line, but to reach positions White understands well and where the pressure is real.
This shows even in the less glamorous corners of the repertoire. Rare tries such as 3...Nf6 and other sidelines on moves three to five are handled comfortably, without forcing White into unfamiliar territory. The once-popular Scheveningen is effectively neutralized, and the fashionable "Dubov Dragon" with 7...h5 gets a fresh, active answer.
The course concludes with the Najdorf, where White answers 5...a6 with 6.Be2, and both 6...e6 and 6...e5 are examined.
Map of Variations
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3
- 2...a6 (O'Kelly Sicilian) and other second moves → Chapter 1
- 2...e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4
- 4...a6 5.Bd3 (Kan) and fourth-move sidelines → Chapter 2
- 4...Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 (Scheveningen) → Chapter 6
- 4...Nc6 5.Nc3
- 5...a6 → Chapter 3
- 5...Qc7 (Taimanov) → Chapter 4
- 5...Nf6 (Four Knights Sicilian) → Chapter 5
- 2...Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4
- 4...e5 (Kalashnikov) and alternatives to the Sveshnikov → Chapter 7
- 4...Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Nd5 Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.c3
- Black's alternatives → Chapter 8
- 11...Rb8 → Chapter 9
- 2...d6 3.d4
- 3...Nf6 and rare lines on moves 3–5 → Chapter 10
- 3...cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3
- 5...g6 6.Be3 (Dragon)
- 6...Nc6 7.f3 h5 ("Dubov Dragon") and Dragon sidelines → Chapter 11
- 6...Bg7 7.f3 Nc6 8.Qd2 O-O 9.Bc4
- 9...Bd7 and other systems → Chapter 12
- 9...Qa5 → Chapter 13
- 5...Nc6 6.Bb5 Bd7 7.Be3 (Rauzer/Classical) → Chapter 14
- 5...a6 6.Be2 (Najdorf)
- 6...e6 → Chapter 15
- 6...e5 → Chapter 16
Premium Course Features
- 16 Chapters
- 30 test positions
- 5 training positions
- Memory Booster
- To Go Version of every chapter
- Video instruction
- Multilingual PGN availability (English, German, French, Spanish)
Also by GM Sina Movahed
Players who want a White repertoire against 1...e5 as well can look at Movahed's earlier work, The Ambitious Scotch Game – Top-Level Repertoire for White, built on the same practical philosophy.
Start Playing the Open Sicilian
With The Open Sicilian: A Complete Attacking Repertoire for White, you get a complete answer to 1...c5 built on clear plans and well-chosen classical setups. Explore the course and bring it to your next tournament.
INTRODUCTION BY THE AUTHOR
SAMPLE CHAPTER
SAMPLE VIDEO