Moshe Czerniak has played 2.b3 since 1943: so Czerniak Variation is more appropriate. http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... = (33 games)

Most contributions: Repertoire Explorer: Tamaz Gelashvili (white) (91 gasmes)

Robert Snyder is a US National Master andthe author of a pamphlet, <The Snyder Sicilian>, analyzing <1.e4 c5 2.b3>. Only game here: R Snyder vs J Peters, 1976

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I like it after <1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.b3> (Kaufman recommends this in his first repertoire book, "The Chess Advantage In Black and White") - against 2...d6 or Nc6 he goes for 3.Bb5.

I think the thing is, after e6 and b3, black might liked to have played e5 in one go with a c5/d6/e5 pawn structure, knights on c6 / e7 and kingside fianchetto. (A Botvinnik structure). Playing b3 early lets black go for this formation straight away. This may be a subjective judgement on my part, I do admit.

Bibliography on 2.b3 vs the Sicilian

An early b3 for White is gaining legitimacy, as witnessed by the recent high-level appearance of the Nimzo-Larsen Attack with 1.b3 (consider, for instance, the games of Baadur Jobava and Elisabeth Paehtz). So it should hardly surprise us that an early b3 is being used with greater frequency against the Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.b3), and analysis and experience show that it represents a fully legitimate system. Those seeking an unusual way of meeting these two most common Black defenses to 1.e4 would do well study 2.b3 against both lines due to the possible transpositions between them, as shown by the repertoire of IM/WGM Eva Repkova. Dr. Richard Lewis of the Kenilworth Chess Club has been using this repertoire for over 40 years, and theory is just catching up with him...

The Sicilian with 2.b3 (Snyder Sicilian, Czerniak Attack, b3 Sicilian)

Most 1.e4 players these days accept that the Sicilian is a tough nut to crack, so they are happy just to reach an interesting position where they might feel more comfortable than their opponents. The line 1.e4 c5 2.b3 (or 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.b3, sometimes called the Westerinen Variation) definitely serves that purpose and has been used occasionally by some very strong GMs, including Nigel Short, Boris Spassky, and Alexander Morozevich, and has been the main anti-Sicilian weapon of such strong players GM Tamaz Gelashvili , IM Moshe Czerniak, and IM/WGM Eva Repkova. It was first used in Cochrane - Staunton, London Match 2 1842 and tried out recently by current World Champion Magnus Carlsen. I suggest that the name Czerniak Attack should take the place of Snyder Sicilian, especially given the reputation problems of the latter.

Game collections can be found at 365chess, ChessTempo, Chess.com, <the Snyder variation at Chessgames, and B20 Sicilian Snyder White at Chessgames. >

What follows is a bibliography of sources I have in my possession or could find easily. As always, I welcome reader additions and corrections.

An Anti-Sicilian Line: b3 before d4 by Dennis Monokroussos, ChessLecture.com (June 5, 2014). A just-released 87-minute DVD available from ChessLecture.com directly, featuring games with 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.b3.

"An Anti-Sicilian Line: b3 before d4, Part 1" by Dennis Monokroussos, ChessLecture.com (June 5, 2013). A 32 minute video featuring Carlsen - Svidler, World Blitz Championship (Moscow) 2009. For subscribers only.

"An Anti-Sicilian Line: b3 before d4, Part 2" by Dennis Monokroussos, ChessLecture.com (June 12, 2013). A 25 minute video featuring Kavalek - Hracek, Ceska Trebova 1998. For subscribers only.

Experts on the Anti-Sicilian by Jacob Aagaard and John Shaw, Quality Chess (2011): 432-441. Download PDF contents. The last chapter features Peter Heine Nielsen's cheeky recommendation for Black of 2.b3 g6, with continuations like 3.Bb2 Nf6 4.Qf3 Bg7 5.e5 Ng8 6.e6 Nf6, or 4…Nc6 5.e5 Nh5, or 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.e5 Nh5.

"Sicilian: The Czerniak Attack" by Arthur Kogan, Secrets of Opening Surprises #9 (2008): 123-136. Makes an excellent case for calling the opening the "Czerniak Attack" after its most highly regarded early adopter. Sample games include Czerniak - Cebalo, Zagreb 1969; Mamedyarov - van Wely, Wijk aan Zee 2008; Gelashvili - Gagunashvili, Batumi 2001; Short - Prasad, Mumbai 2004; Gelashvili - Reddmann, Hamburg 1999; and Short - Thorfinnsson, Reykjavik 2000.

Fighting the Anti-Sicilians by Richard Palliser, Everyman Chess (2007): 189-200. Explores 2...d6 and 2...Nc6, though I think 2...e6 would have fit better with his overall repertoire. Sample games in the notes include Buchnicek - Plachetka, Czech League 2005; Jiangchuan - Xu Jun, Shenzhen 1992; Rogers - Ostermeyer, Biel 1984; Dos Santos - Pedersen, Matinhos 1994; and Minasian - Aronian, Omsk 1996.

Estudio Casero Defensa Siciliana con 1.e4 c5 2.b3!? by Job Sepúlveda, Proletario (2007).

Anti-Sicilians by Jonathan Rowson, ChessPublishing (May 2006). By subscription.

Gold Medals, Opening Lanes #71 by Gary Lane, ChessCafe (2004). Lane analyzes the game Short - Prasad, Mumbai 2004, which a reader sent suggesting the b3 Sicilian be renamed "the Short variation." But I think there are enough Short Variations already.

"The Sicilian, Snyder Variation, Part One" and "Part Two" by Andrew Martin at Chessville (March 2004) -- via the Internet Archive. Part One's "Nosher on the Ocher" discusses Short - Prasad, Mumbai 2004, while Part Two discusses Pessi - Miron, Romania 2003. From the web archive.

"The Verdict, Part One" and Part Two by Andrew Martin at Jeremy Silman's website (March 2004) -- via the Internet Archive. A Little different from the article Martin published at Chessville, but Part One features Arp - Zomer, NED 2004 and Part Two features Short - Prasad, Mumbai 2004. From the web archive.

The Chess Advantage in Black and White by Larry Kaufman, Random House (2004): 115-117, 128-133. Demonstrates a surprising interest in b3 lines, via a Rossolimo move order or via 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.b3. Games include Akopian - Fominyh, Ubeda 2001; C. Horvath - Fogarasi, Budapest 2002; Anand - Leko, Bastia 2001; and Berzins - Meijers, Latvia 2002.

Schachtraining: Geheimwaffen in der Eroffnung by Stefan Kindermann (circa 2002-2003) Features some excellent PGN downloads with analysis covering all major lines following 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.b3!? which is practically a cross-over variation. From the internet archive.

Anti-Sicilians, A Guide for Black by Dorian Rogozenko, Gambit (2003). Recommends 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.b3 b6!? and 2.b3 b6!?

Black Repertoire, Sicilian, 2.b3 and Games by Eric Tangborn, Geocities (circa 1998) Black's perspective from IM Tangborn.

Foxy Chess Openings, 149 (Vol. 2): White Repertoire Against the Sicilian, Center Counter & Pirc by Andrew Martin (no date). "Volume Two continues Martin’s new 'Winning Repertoire Series for White – 1.e4', which outlines a complete repertoire system for the first player, built around the King’s Pawn opening. Here IM Martin covers how to answer the Sicilian, the Center Counter and the Pirc. After 1.e4 c5 White will continue 2.b3! and enter prepared territory; if 1.e4 d5 we follow with 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.Rb1!, and the Pirc meets with 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be2 Bg7 5.g4! and attack as shown."

Sicilian Unusual B20 Survey, by Tamas Horvath, ChesssBase Encyclopedia (1993). Covers 2...d6 (e.g.: Spassky - Huebner, Bueonos Aires 1978; Tschichowani-Lapenis, Belzy 1979) and 2...e6 (e.g.; Spassky-Hernandez, Buenos Aires 1978; Kanzler-Ionov, Daugavpils 1979).

Sicilian 2.b3, Snyder Sicilian: A Complete Opening System against the Sicilian with 2.b3 by Robert M. Snyder, Players Press (1984). A 125 page pamphlet by the notorious chess teacher and child molester, featured on "America's Most Wanted." I have not seen this item.

De schaakopening. Siciliaans-flanksystemen: het 2. f2-f4 complex, het vleugelgambiet 2. b2-b4, de 2. b2-b3 variant by Paul Boersma, Andriessen (1983). Thanks MNb.

Source: http://kenilworthian.blogspot.de/20...

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Game Collection: B20 Sicilian: Snyder (White)

Game Collection: the Snyder Variation