Chess Openings - The Sicilian Defense
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1. e4 c5
In response to 1. e4, one move stands out amongst the rest in terms of popularity. The Sicilian Defense is characterized by the counterthrust 1... c5. The opening is enormously popular amongst players of all levels, especially masters. In fact, the two strongest world champions of all time, Fischer and Kasparov, were devotees of the defense.
The main reason for it's popularity is that the Sicilian is a fighting defense. Black plays not only for equality, but for the advantage. The position is highly unbalanced, and there are a large number of exciting and combative variations. Often, both sides pursue attacks on opposite wings: white on the Kingside and black on the Queenside.
The advance of the c pawn attacks the critical d4 square, but does not further the development of any minor pieces. Because of this, white is usually allowed a temporary lead in development. The unbalanced position allows plenty of equalizing and attacking chances for black.
There is an extensive body of theory behind the Sicilian, with many well documented variations (such as the stirringly named Dragon Variation). Because of this complexity, the opening can sometimes be challenging for Novices to learn. If you choose to adopt the Sicilian, just make sure not to spend too much time memorizing long opening lines. As discussed previously, this is always a recipe for disaster!
How Common is The Sicilian Defense?
Very Common at All Level
If you are an e4 player, expect to face the Sicilian about 40% of the time. As you can see, the Sicilian is even more popular than 1... e5 (which is played about 30% of the time).