Answers.Body: <p>After 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb3 Nc6, the position is probably fine for black.</p>
  
  <p>However, after 4....e5, white seems to have a stronger reply: 5.Bb5+. According to the <a href="http://chesstempo.com/game-database.html">Game Database of ChessTempo</a>, this is also the most popular move. Now, black has two options: 4....Bd7 or 4....Nd7. After both moves, white can put his knight on f5 and obtain a slightly better position.</p>
  
  <p>Therefore, I would say that 4....e5 is a small inaccuracy. However, the <em>ideas</em> behind the move (occupying the center, gaining a tempo) are perfectly fine.</p>
  
  <p>Maybe it is interesting to take a look at: </p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>the Sveshnikov variation: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5</li>
  <li>the Kalashnikov variation: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5</li>
  <li>the Classical variation: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6, and after 6.Be2, 6....e5</li>
  <li>the Najdorf variation: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6, and after 6.Be2, 6....e5</li>
  </ul>
  
  <pre>
  <code>
        [FEN ""]
        [StartPly "3"]
  
        1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 (2...Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 (4...e5) 5.Nc3 e5) 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 (4...Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 (5...Nc6 6.Be2 e5) 6.Be2 e5) 5.Bb5+ (5.Nb3 Nc6) 5...Nd7 (5...Bd7 6.Bxd7+ Qxd7 7.Nf5) 6.Nf5
  </code>
  </pre>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-09-09T17:18:27.907Z
Answers.Text: These variations seem very interesting. I particularly like the Najdorf variation of the idea.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Amr Ayman
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-09-09T20:47:39.737Z
Answers.Text: The Najdorf is a good opening and probably the most popular Sicilian. The e5-idea is not always good in this variation however. For instance, after 6.Bc4 or 6.Bg5, you should not play 6....e5, as it weakens the d5-square too much. Good luck!
Answers.UserDisplayName: Maxwell86
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-03-19T06:21:59.980Z
Answers.Text: I think the obvious reason not to play e5 here is that the d pawn is backwards and for White to attack the d pawn is a theme in the Sicilian.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Jeff
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-09-09T16:41:15.607Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-09-09T16:46:45.913Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2015-09-09T16:46:45.913Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Maxwell86
Body: <p>I like to play 4...e5 in the Open Sicilian in my games, usually facing something like this:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[StartPly "8"]
  
  [fen ""]
  1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb3 Nc6
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I do this to:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>Chase the knight so that it doesn't block advancing my pieces.</li>
  <li>Regain control of the center after 3...cxd4.</li>
  <li>Gain a tempo.</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>Is there any disadvantage in doing this ?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-09-09T18:25:56.640Z
Comments.Text: To me it seems it wouldn't be long until that d pawn became weak. It is going to be a while until it reaches d4 and is defended by the e pawn and since there is no black c pawn, it can't be defended by a pawn chain in the near future. It can also turn into an isolated pawn after f4.
Comments.UserDisplayName: 11684
Tags: <opening><sicilian-defense><1.e4>
Title: What's wrong with 4...e5 in the Open Sicilian?
ThreadText: # What's wrong with 4...e5 in the Open Sicilian?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2015-09-09)
  
  I like to play 4...e5 in the Open Sicilian in my games, usually facing something like this:
  [StartPly "8"]
  
  [fen ""]
  1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb3 Nc6
  
  I do this to:
  
  Chase the knight so that it doesn't block advancing my pieces.
  Regain control of the center after 3...cxd4.
  Gain a tempo.
  
  Is there any disadvantage in doing this ?
  
  **Tags:** opening, sicilian-defense, 1.e4
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: To me it seems it wouldn't be long until that d pawn became weak. It is going to be a while until it reaches d4 and is defended by the e pawn and since there is no black c pawn, it can't be defended by a pawn chain in the near future. It can also turn into an isolated pawn after f4.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2015-09-09. Score: 12 | Accepted answer
  
  After 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb3 Nc6, the position is probably fine for black.
  However, after 4....e5, white seems to have a stronger reply: 5.Bb5+. According to the Game Database of ChessTempo, this is also the most popular move. Now, black has two options: 4....Bd7 or 4....Nd7. After both moves, white can put his knight on f5 and obtain a slightly better position.
  Therefore, I would say that 4....e5 is a small inaccuracy. However, the ideas behind the move (occupying the center, gaining a tempo) are perfectly fine.
  Maybe it is interesting to take a look at: 
  
  the Sveshnikov variation: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5
  the Kalashnikov variation: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5
  the Classical variation: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6, and after 6.Be2, 6....e5
  the Najdorf variation: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6, and after 6.Be2, 6....e5
  
  
  
        [FEN ""]
        [StartPly "3"]
  
        1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 (2...Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 (4...e5) 5.Nc3 e5) 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 (4...Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 (5...Nc6 6.Be2 e5) 6.Be2 e5) 5.Bb5+ (5.Nb3 Nc6) 5...Nd7 (5...Bd7 6.Bxd7+ Qxd7 7.Nf5) 6.Nf5
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: These variations seem very interesting. I particularly like the Najdorf variation of the idea.  
  > **username_2**: The Najdorf is a good opening and probably the most popular Sicilian. The e5-idea is not always good in this variation however. For instance, after 6.Bc4 or 6.Bg5, you should not play 6....e5, as it weakens the d5-square too much. Good luck!  
  > **username_3**: I think the obvious reason not to play e5 here is that the d pawn is backwards and for White to attack the d pawn is a theme in the Sicilian.  
  
  ---
  
  