How do I counter the Sicilian Defence?
If your opponents are just putting the pawn there without coming up with a queen side push as black, you have nothing to worry about. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 (I don’t know which variation they would play??) 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 and then indeed, complete your setup with something like Nc3, Be2 and Be3 Qd2 and castle queen side and go all out on the kingside. Against an inexperienced player this will probably get you there. However, you don’t have to play the open Sicilian and you don’t have to castle queenside if you don’t want to. A valid alternative is: 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 Leading to a grand prix attack type position. You just castle king side and when the time is right, you use the e4 or f4 pawn for a sudden stab to open up his position. You can also play 2.f4 right away, but you don’t know if black intends 2…d5. Maybe you won’t mind that, it’s your call. Finally, you can also try to throw your opponent off with some gambit, however, I would not play b4…but 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.
