Open Sicilian

The idea

After 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3, White has opened the center and has a knight in the middle of the board. Black has traded the c-pawn for White's d-pawn, so Black has two central pawns (d6 and e7) against White's one.

White's plan is to use the lead in development and the extra space on the kingside to attack. Black's plan is to use the central majority and the open c-file for counterplay on the queenside. Black's fifth move decides the character of the game: 5...a6 is the Najdorf, 5...g6 is the Dragon.

Plans for White

Develop quickly and choose a setup: Be3, f3, Qd2 and long castling for a direct attack, or Be2 and short castling for a calmer game. The knight on d4 is strong, but it can also become a target.

Plans for Black

Pick a system and know its plans. In all of them, Black's counterplay comes on the queenside with ...a6, ...b5 and the c-file, and in the center with ...e5 or a later ...d5 break.

Black's king usually stays in the center a little longer than White's, so be careful when the position opens.

Watch out for

For Black, the Magnus Smith Trap. After 5...Nc6 6.Bc4, the natural 6...g6? allows 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.e5!. Then 8...dxe5?? loses the queen to 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7 10.Qxd8. (Bobby Fischer gave 8...Ng4 as the correct reply.)

For White, the danger is a slow plan. If White castles and does nothing, Black's queenside play and central pawns take over the game.