Classical Variation

Sicilian Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7

White develops naturally with Be2, aiming for safety and a solid position.

Fun fact: Anatoly Karpov found ways to exploit the hole on d5 that 6...e5 creates, and Garry Kasparov often avoided it by playing 6...e6 instead. Source

Practice this line

The idea

White develops the bishop to e2 and plans to castle kingside, aiming for a positional game rather than a race. After 6...e5 7.Nb3 Be7, Black has a solid setup, and the fight is about the d5 square and the queenside.

Plans for White

Castle, then play moves like Be3, a4 (to stop ...b5), f4 or Qd3 and fight for d5. Exchanging the pieces that guard d5, such as with Bg5xf6, and then landing a knight there is White's dream.

Plans for Black

Castle, then play ...Be6, ...Nbd7 and ...Rc8, and prepare ...b5. If Black can play ...d5 safely, the main weakness disappears and Black has a comfortable game.

Watch out for

For Black, passivity. If Black only defends d5, White gradually improves and the d6 pawn and d5 square become long-term problems.

For White, the danger is drifting. The quiet setup gives Black time, and without a clear plan for d5 or the queenside, Black equalizes easily.