1.e4
c5
The Sicilian Defense
2.Nf3
"Knights before Bishops"... because we usually know exactly where the knights are going.
2...d6
Perhaps the most flexible continuation, though I prefer 2...e6
3.d4
The natural follow to Nf3
3...cxd4
exchanging a flank pawn for a central pawn
4.Nxd4
Qxd4 is playable, but the queen is exposed to attack in the center
4...Nf6
Attacking the e4-pawn
5.Nc3
Developing the N to its natural square, defending the e-pawn and eyeing the key d5-square.
5...a6
The Najdorf, played with often the idea of ...e5 because the Nd4 cannot now go to b5
6.Be3
Perhaps the most popular move today. Bg5 was all the rage (thanks to Fischer) in the 1960s and 1970s.
6...e6
7.g4
The Perenyi Attack. At the recent Wijk aan Zee tournament, f3 and Qd2 (the English Attack) was a familiar guest.
7...e5
White appears to be in trouble. The e5-pawn attacks the Nd4 and Black has two attacks (NF6 and Bc8) upon the white g4-pawn.
8.Nf5
Defending the g-pawn by blocking the attack of the Bc8, but of course, black has...
8...g6
and now, if the Nf5 moves, Black will win the white g-pawn. But Perenyi discovered that white gets much compensation by leaving the N on f5!
9.Bg2
[ 9.g5
also playable, and more often played 9...gxf5
10.exf5
And white has obvious compensation since Ng8 f6 leaves three Black pieces "in-the-box."]
9...gxf5
10.exf5
d5
11.Qe2
d4
12.0-0-0
Diagram Would your rather have white or black here? *