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(A) 4...Nf6 5 Nc3

(A1) 5...e5 (Sveshnikov)
(A2) 5...d6 (Classical)
(A3) 5...e6 (Taimanov)

(B) 4...e5 (Kalashnikov)

(C) 4...e6 (aiming for Scheveningen)

I vote for (C), it is closest to Najdorf, we don't wreck our pawn structure and in most lines we don't create a weakness in d5, so here is a little more opening analysis:

(C1) <5 Nb5 d6>, see Karpov vs Kasparov, 1985. I know Black's gambit was busted later with 12 Be3 Be3 13 Qa4 but Black is not forced to sac the pawn with 8...d5?, instead 8...b6! promises us great play.

(C2) <5 Nc3 d6> now White's sharpest try (and the only move that avoids the Scheveningen set up) is <6 g4> but after <6...Nge7> Black is doing really well, see: Shirov vs Judit Polgar, 1994.

The initial ATSS is ready for downloading from the following RapidShare link. This download link is also posted in the Sticky. It is my plan and my hope to update and post the ATSS following each move by White and Black.

http://rapidshare.com/files/3713078...

This version of the ATSS contains all the posted analyses through Apr-30-13, 5:00 PM PDT, just after White's 3rd move (3.d4) was posted. It contains 3 applicable analyses for Black’s next move, 1 with an evaluation. The still applicable analyses are listed in move tab 'B03' and the no longer applicable analyses involving 3.Bb5 are listed in move tab 'W03'. As a move is made by each side the still applicable analyses will be moved to the move tab corresponding to the next move, and those analyses that are no longer applicable will be "left behind". For now, while the ATSS is small, I'll keep these tabs. But as the game goes on the ATSS will become quite large, so I’ll start deleting these no-longer-applicable move tabs.

A reminder that, in order for the analyses recorded in the ATSS to be really useful, you should include your assessment of the position at the end of the analysis. It may be obvious to you but it may not be obvious to someone else, or they may have a different opinion and assume that their opinion matches yours. Both will likely result in desirable discussions not happening.

Of course, Black's next move will likely be 3...cxd4 and this is the only response we have considered. Since there is only one posted analysis with an evaluation, the statistics are not meaningful. Some of you may say that the statistics are not meaningful anyway, but that's a different issue. :-)

The initial SGSS is also ready for downloading from the following RapidShare link. This download link is also posted in the Sticky. It is my plan and my hope to update and post the SGSS following each move by White and Black, assuming that new games have been posted.

http://rapidshare.com/files/1289393...

This version of the SGSS contains all the posted games through Apr-30-13, 5:00 PM PDT, just after White's 3rd move (3.d4) was posted. It contains just 1 applicable game for Black’s next move, all other posted games (5) involved 2...d6, 2...e6, or 3.Bb5. These have been moved to the 'Other Games' tab. As additional games are posted, those that will no longer be applicable because they deviate from the current game will also be moved to the 'Other Games' tab.

I also compressed the ATSS in *.zip format since RapidShare recently decided (within the last few days) to slow downloads if you have a free account, in an attempt to get you to upgrade to an account where you pay a monthly fee. So it was taking a long time to download the ATSS, even though it is still small. By compressing the file, it is more than 10X smaller and it downloads much faster.

4...g6 and the Accelerated Dragon variation
4...e5 and the Kalashnikov variation
4...e6 and the Taimanov variation
4...Nf6 and the Four Knights variation
4...d6 and a transposition into the Scheveningen variation

Some of these will lead to transpositions into other variations such as 4...Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 and the Sveshnikov variation. The Sicilian is a much played and much analyzed opening and transpositions are likely. And there are many very subtle move orderings that allow either side to get an advantage. So research and being prepared is important!

One suggestion is for different people to see if they find some recent pertinent games, preferably master level correspondence games, and post them so that I can include them in the SGSS. Similarly, analyses of these variations, typically the main lines from opening books would be helpful.

As far as assignments we have two basic ways to go:

(1) Various people volunteer to analyze and/or find applicable games for specific variations, and provide their forums for this purpose (the so-called "Forum System"). This could lead to a duplication of effort so if we see that one of the more likely variations to be played is missing some coverage, then some of us should volunteer to fill the gaps. I'll start by volunteering to post some analysis on the Accelerated Dragon from de la Villa's book, "Dismantling the Sicilian". I find it interesting that he considers the Accelerated Dragon sounder than the Classical Dragon, and thinks that it offers "excellent prospects to play for a win as Black".

(2) Various people volunteer to analyze and/or find applicable games and also make their forums available but wait until they are asked to do so by a coordinator. This, of course, requires one person willing to volunteer to act as a coordinator by identifying the most likely variations to be played and then making assignments. This is probably more efficient from the perspective of reducing duplication of effort but the effort required of the coordinator is not trivial.

I am OK with either method but I don't think that I can volunteer as a coordinator and still have time to maintain the ATSS and SGSS. And I hesitate to also volunteer my forum and commit to providing a certain amount of analysis or finding some games until I see how much time the ATSS and SGSS maintenance require.

4...g6 and the Accelerated Dragon variation
4...e5 and the Kalashnikov variation
4...e6 and the Taimanov variation
4...Nf6 and the Four Knights variation
4...d6 and a transposition into the Scheveningen variation>

I think we can expect 4...Nf6 and then after 5. Nc3 we get about the same group of possible responses. Given a limited knowledge of some team members and some sense of the dynamics of opening move voting, I'd predict, in order of probability:

5...d6 at which point we can consider trying to rehabilitate the Sozin, which has not been scoring all that well or fling down the gauntlet with some version of a Richter-Rauzer.

5...e6 this would probably transpose into some version of the game after 5...d6.

5...g6 I'm sure they have some Dragon fans, but I'm not so sure they will be able to convince the rest of the team to go that route.