Chess opening · ECO B23
Sicilian Defense: Grand Prix Attack
White adds 3.f4 to the Closed Sicilian in the Grand Prix Attack. White develops quickly with Nf3 and a bishop on c4 or b5, castles short, and then pushes for f5 or brings the queen over to the kingside. Black does not get the slow maneuvering of other Closed lines; the fight over e6, d5 and f5 starts within a few moves.
- Rank by weighted share
- #135 of 159
Key moves
1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4
- 2. Nc3Putting the knight on c3 before the f-pawn moves matters here. It covers d5 and e4, so Black has a harder time striking back with an early ...d5 before White's setup is in place.
- 3. f4The f-pawn claims space and adds control of e5 and g5. White follows with Nf3 and quick castling, then hopes to play f5 and open the f-file toward Black's king. The pawn has left f2, so White's own king has one fewer defender nearby.
Bc4 or Bb5 for the light-squared bishop
With Bc4, White aims the bishop at e6 and f7, the squares a later f5 push would loosen. White often adds d3, castles, and swings the queen to e1 and then h4 for a direct attack.
With Bb5, White plans to trade on c6 and leave Black with doubled c-pawns. The idea is slower, and it removes a knight that would otherwise contest d4.
How ...e6 and ...d5 meet the bishop on c4
A standard answer to Bc4 is to block the diagonal with ...e6, which also makes f5 harder to play, since the e6 pawn covers that square. A later ...d5 hits the bishop and challenges e4 at the same time.
The fianchetto with ...g6 and ...Bg7 is the other main plan. From g7 the bishop bears down on the c3 knight and the b2 pawn, and Black keeps the e-pawn uncommitted.
Knight jump to d4 against Bb5
3... g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bb5 Nd4 6. O-O
The knight on d4 hits both the bishop on b5 and the f3 knight. White castles and keeps the option of Nxd4, after which the recapture ...cxd4 puts a pawn on d4 that attacks the c3 knight.
Top replies by rating
d6 leads at 1400 to 1599 and e6 at 1600 to 1799. From 1800 up, g6 tops the table, and at 2000 and up its share dwarfs the other two.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1400–1599 | d6 33% | e6 31% | g6 21% |
| 1600–1799 | e6 37% | d6 28% | g6 21% |
| 1800–1999 | g6 37% | e6 29% | d6 23% |
| 2000 and up | g6 67% | d6 18% | e6 15% |
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.