Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. Nf3/2...e6/3. d4

White opens up the center, and in most variations Black trades pawns, although 3...d5 is possible as now 4. exd5 exd5 doesn't allow 5. Qxd8+. The trade is almost inevitable; after the trade 4...a6 reaches the Sicilian Kan, 4...Nc6 reaches the Taimanov, 4...Nf6 reaches the Normal Line, and 4...d6 could become a normal Open Sicilian variation.

Open Sicilian 2...e6 3.d4
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkbnr/pp1p1ppp/4p3/2p5/3PP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R b
Moves: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4

Open Sicilian 2...e6 3.d4

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4

	3	4	5
Sicilian Kan	... cxd4	Nxd4 a6	Nc3 Qc7	=
Sicilian Taimanov	... ...	... Nc6	Nc3 Qc7	=
Sicilian Scheveningen	... ...	... Nf6	Nc3 d6	=
Marshall Counterattack	... d5	exd5 exd5	Bb5+ Nc6	+=

References

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.