Answers.Body: <p>Probably for a few reasons: First, it is too slow in a sharp opening. Second, it does nothing to develop the k-side in an opening that is renowned for many games that the black king gets caught in the center. Third, it does little to control the center, and in particular, d4. Forth, it is too early to determine if the Bc8 will go to b7 or a6, which is somewhat unusual in that opening anyway.</p>
  
  <p>Overall, to me, it just feels like b6 is going to be putting at least one piece on a wrong square. </p>
  
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Answers.Text: Perhaps lack of early k-side development is the factor, as you suggest. On the other side, 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6 is seen sometimes, and it does not for k-side development, too.
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Answers.Text: 2...a6 is also not that popular, however, it is a common Sicilian move at least that black is more likely to need.
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Answers.Body: <ol>
  <li><p>Lack of kingside development.</p></li>
  <li><p>If you want a queenside fianchetto there are better lines. </p></li>
  <li><p>b6 creates a problem in how to develop the queenside knight. Normally after Nc6, black can recapture with the b pawn but in this line black can't. </p></li>
  </ol>
  
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Answers.Body: <p>One important point not yet mentioned: If you look at other Sicilian lines, black generally tries to play b5. </p>
  
  <p>B5 is useful for a variety of reasons: It might harass the Nc3, support a knight coming to c4 or be part of a pawn storm against the long castle. It fights the Maroczy-bind and the aggressive development Bc4.</p>
  
  <p>Because b5 is so ubiquitous in Sicilian lines, b6 is very likely to turn out a waste of tempo. </p>
  
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Answers.Body: <p>I’m surprised that nobody has mentioned the problem after ..b6 of developing Black’s Queen. One point of ..c5 is to give her effective development suares at c7, b6 and a5. 2..b6 takes away two of those options and severely limits Black’s possilities for counterattack.</p>
  
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Answers.Text: In the Sicilian Kan the Black Queen hardly goes to b6 or a5 in the opening, so I wonder why - with a similar structure - it should be a disadvantage. Also, please consider that in the popular "Hedgehog" structure, often arising from the Sicilian with an early c2-c4, there is always a Pawn on b6.
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Answers.Text: I did not say that those three Queen moves were essential, but it does not feel right to deny yourself useful options on move two.
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Answers.Body: <p>It's not that unpopular amongst off-beat lines that can emerge from the Sicilian defense, on top which it has a natural tendency to transpose to Owen defense type of positions.</p>
  
  <p>As to why it's not as popular as Sicilian mainlines, much similar to <code>1.b3</code> or <code>1...b6</code> openings, <code>1...c5 2...b6</code> is not a sound starting setup strategically, for the following summarised reasons:</p>
  
  <p><strong>From opening theory principles:</strong></p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p><code>2...b6</code> does not contribute to kingside development. King safety in Sicilian structures is of paramount importance as the opening easily leads to very open play where: white's 4 minor pieces are efficiently and centrally developed, central files become semi-open, etc.</p></li>
  <li><p><code>2...b6</code> is not an effective developing move either, that is to say, it does not pose any immediate threats to white. As opposed to e.g. a <a href="https://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/26359/uncovering-the-accelerated-dragon-opening/26360#26360">Dragon Sicilian</a> development (diagram below), where the coordination of knight on <code>c6</code> and bishop on <code>g7</code> come with tempo as white has a number of targets on that long diagonal and black's quickly finishing development and will be in time to either create space on the queenside or play the <code>d5</code> advance. So it being a passive non-effective developing move, it gives free vital play to white.</p></li>
  <li><p>It resolves the address of your king, as the early <code>b6-c5</code> setup makes it very unlikely for black to castle queenside, and that's useful information for white! And generally, the reason why kingside fianchettos tend to be stronger and more important early on than queenside ones, is because the structure provides a good fortress for the king!</p></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>(<em>Diagram for 2nd point</em>)</p>
  
  <pre><code> [title "Dragon Sicilian example"]
   [fen ""]
  
   1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7
  </code></pre>
  
  <p><strong>From a Sicilian opening theory point of view</strong></p>
  
  <ul>
  <li><p><code>2...b6</code> is inconsistent with what the Sicilian defense aims to achieve: The Sicilian, unlike the French defense, it is an active type of defense where black aims to claim their own share of central space control, not immediately challenging white's light square control (provided with <code>1.e4</code>) but instead, focusing their play more on the dark squares. With this in mind, it is clear that <code>b6-Bb7</code> are not assisting black's cause in dark square control.</p></li>
  <li><p><code>b6-c5</code> setup tends to be a decent structure when the <code>c5</code> pawn cannot easily be challenged, much like the white pawn setup in English or <code>1.b3</code> type openings with <code>b3-c4-e3</code> or <code>c4-d3-g3.</code> But as you yourself pointed out, <code>d4</code> advance is happening immediately for white and black's forced to capture at once as to not provide white with the complete control of the sweet centre.</p></li>
  <li><p><code>1...c5</code> is already a queenside, non-central-pawn commitment, but its aim is justified as it offers to trade a non-central <a href="https://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/25100/conceptually-what-makes-the-sicilian-opening-sensible-for-black/25101#25101"><code>c</code> pawn for white's important central <code>d2</code> pawn</a>. But <code>2...b6</code> has no such immediate justification, it's a move away from the centre, and by itself does not provide control over any important squares.</p></li>
  <li><p>The latter point is really important when dealing with Sicilian: as it stands, even in the mainlines, white always has the lead in both development and central control and black is always playing catch-up at best. So <code>b6</code> in that sense is really putting black even further behind in development. Again as explained earlier, the light square control that <code>Bb7</code> provides is really of minimal relevance for black at the beginning considering white's natural setup in the Sicilian. </p></li>
  <li><p>All the last couple of points translate into: the later your knights can be centrally developed, the later your castling is prepared, the more difficult you are going to find it to create any threats against white to balance the game. And playing a Sicilian defense, you have to be able to create threats, or at least have strong prospects in doing so. These are fundamentally different from an opening like the Caro or French. For inspiration, I highly encourage you to study the following game by Kasparov, which truly epitomises the kind of play the Sicilian opening aims to achieve. </p></li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>(<em>note the very early pawn sacrifice to resolve the Moraczy bind, and the active piece development that follows after <code>d5</code>, gradually taking more and more options from white, no tempo is wasted on a slow non-developing move</em>)</p>
  
  <pre><code> [title "Karpov - Kasparov 1985 match game 16"]
   [fen ""]
  
   1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4 Nf6 7.N1c3 a6 8.Na3 d5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.exd5 Nb4 11.Be2 Bc5 12.O-O O-O 13.Bf3 Bf5 14.Bg5 Re8 15.Qd2 b5 16.Rad1 Nd3 17.Nab1 h6 18.Bh4 b4 19.Na4 Bd6 20.Bg3 Rc8 21.b3 g5 22.Bxd6 Qxd6 23.g3 Nd7 24.Bg2 Qf6 25.a3 a5 26.axb4 axb4 27.Qa2 Bg6 28.d6 g4 29.Qd2 Kg7 30.f3 Qxd6 31.fxg4 Qd4+ 32.Kh1 Nf6 33.Rf4 Ne4 34.Qxd3 Nf2+ 35.Rxf2 Bxd3 36.Rfd2 Qe3 37.Rxd3 Rc1 38.Nb2 Qf2 39.Nd2 Rxd1+ 40.Nxd1 Re1+ 0-1
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Last but not least, here's one possible continuation for <code>c5-b6</code> which is cherry-picked to emphasise how quickly it can go wrong for black as they are behind in every aspect of development:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[title "Concrete example"]
  [fen ""]
  
  1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 b6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Bb7 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. e5 Nd5 7. Nxd5 Bxd5 8. Nb5 Bb7 9. Bg5 Qc8 (9...h6 10. Nd6+) (9...d6 10. Nxd6+) 10. Qe2 e6 11.O-O-O
  </code></pre>
  
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Answers.Text: Great answer, the only thing I can say is that 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6 is seen sometimes, and id does nothing for k-side development, too.
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Answers.Text: @A.N.Other Please take your time to read it carefully. Bear in mind that `a6` achieves two major goals that `b6` does not: it controls the important `b5` square (which black should naturally control in Sicilian structures anyhow), and prepares to gain space on the queenside with `b5`, not to say that it should be played on move `2...` anyhow...
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Answers.Text: It's also about information. Playing ...b6 early tells White that you don't plan to use the thematic b5-b4 push (or if you do, you have lost a clear-cut tempo), so they have to invest less time for precautions against that push, leading to a more comfortable game for them. ...a6 on the other hand tells much less, the move can eventually be played in more or less every major line of the Sicilian.
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Body: <p>Why is the Sicilian line with <code>1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 b6</code> almost never played at any level, nor considered in books and similar? It seems logical to me, and after the usual <code>3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bb7</code>, the Bishop is already well placed on <code>b7</code> to control key central squares. So are there any obvious faults in this line that I am missing?</p>
  
  <pre><code> [FEN ""]
   1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 b6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bb7
  </code></pre>
  
Tags: <opening><analysis><strategy><theory><sicilian-defense>
Title: Why is 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 b6 so unpopular?
ThreadText: # Why is 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 b6 so unpopular?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2019-10-12)
  
  Why is the Sicilian line with `1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 b6` almost never played at any level, nor considered in books and similar? It seems logical to me, and after the usual `3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bb7`, the Bishop is already well placed on `b7` to control key central squares. So are there any obvious faults in this line that I am missing?
  
  ```
   [FEN ""]
   1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 b6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bb7
  
  ```
  
  **Tags:** opening, analysis, strategy, theory, sicilian-defense
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 5 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2019-10-12. Score: 11 | Accepted answer
  
  It's not that unpopular amongst off-beat lines that can emerge from the Sicilian defense, on top which it has a natural tendency to transpose to Owen defense type of positions.
  
  As to why it's not as popular as Sicilian mainlines, much similar to `1.b3` or `1...b6` openings, `1...c5 2...b6` is not a sound starting setup strategically, for the following summarised reasons:
  
  **From opening theory principles:**
  
  * `2...b6` does not contribute to kingside development. King safety in Sicilian structures is of paramount importance as the opening easily leads to very open play where: white's 4 minor pieces are efficiently and centrally developed, central files become semi-open, etc.
  * `2...b6` is not an effective developing move either, that is to say, it does not pose any immediate threats to white. As opposed to e.g. a [Dragon Sicilian](https://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/26359/uncovering-the-accelerated-dragon-opening/26360#26360) development (diagram below), where the coordination of knight on `c6` and bishop on `g7` come with tempo as white has a number of targets on that long diagonal and black's quickly finishing development and will be in time to either create space on the queenside or play the `d5` advance. So it being a passive non-effective developing move, it gives free vital play to white.
  * It resolves the address of your king, as the early `b6-c5` setup makes it very unlikely for black to castle queenside, and that's useful information for white! And generally, the reason why kingside fianchettos tend to be stronger and more important early on than queenside ones, is because the structure provides a good fortress for the king!
  
  (*Diagram for 2nd point*)
  
  ```
   [title "Dragon Sicilian example"]
   [fen ""]
  
   1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7
  
  ```
  
  **From a Sicilian opening theory point of view**
  
  * `2...b6` is inconsistent with what the Sicilian defense aims to achieve: The Sicilian, unlike the French defense, it is an active type of defense where black aims to claim their own share of central space control, not immediately challenging white's light square control (provided with `1.e4`) but instead, focusing their play more on the dark squares. With this in mind, it is clear that `b6-Bb7` are not assisting black's cause in dark square control.
  * `b6-c5` setup tends to be a decent structure when the `c5` pawn cannot easily be challenged, much like the white pawn setup in English or `1.b3` type openings with `b3-c4-e3` or `c4-d3-g3.` But as you yourself pointed out, `d4` advance is happening immediately for white and black's forced to capture at once as to not provide white with the complete control of the sweet centre.
  * `1...c5` is already a queenside, non-central-pawn commitment, but its aim is justified as it offers to trade a non-central [`c` pawn for white's important central `d2` pawn](https://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/25100/conceptually-what-makes-the-sicilian-opening-sensible-for-black/25101#25101). But `2...b6` has no such immediate justification, it's a move away from the centre, and by itself does not provide control over any important squares.
  * The latter point is really important when dealing with Sicilian: as it stands, even in the mainlines, white always has the lead in both development and central control and black is always playing catch-up at best. So `b6` in that sense is really putting black even further behind in development. Again as explained earlier, the light square control that `Bb7` provides is really of minimal relevance for black at the beginning considering white's natural setup in the Sicilian.
  * All the last couple of points translate into: the later your knights can be centrally developed, the later your castling is prepared, the more difficult you are going to find it to create any threats against white to balance the game. And playing a Sicilian defense, you have to be able to create threats, or at least have strong prospects in doing so. These are fundamentally different from an opening like the Caro or French. For inspiration, I highly encourage you to study the following game by Kasparov, which truly epitomises the kind of play the Sicilian opening aims to achieve.
  
  (*note the very early pawn sacrifice to resolve the Moraczy bind, and the active piece development that follows after `d5`, gradually taking more and more options from white, no tempo is wasted on a slow non-developing move*)
  
  ```
   [title "Karpov - Kasparov 1985 match game 16"]
   [fen ""]
  
   1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4 Nf6 7.N1c3 a6 8.Na3 d5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.exd5 Nb4 11.Be2 Bc5 12.O-O O-O 13.Bf3 Bf5 14.Bg5 Re8 15.Qd2 b5 16.Rad1 Nd3 17.Nab1 h6 18.Bh4 b4 19.Na4 Bd6 20.Bg3 Rc8 21.b3 g5 22.Bxd6 Qxd6 23.g3 Nd7 24.Bg2 Qf6 25.a3 a5 26.axb4 axb4 27.Qa2 Bg6 28.d6 g4 29.Qd2 Kg7 30.f3 Qxd6 31.fxg4 Qd4+ 32.Kh1 Nf6 33.Rf4 Ne4 34.Qxd3 Nf2+ 35.Rxf2 Bxd3 36.Rfd2 Qe3 37.Rxd3 Rc1 38.Nb2 Qf2 39.Nd2 Rxd1+ 40.Nxd1 Re1+ 0-1
  
  ```
  
  Last but not least, here's one possible continuation for `c5-b6` which is cherry-picked to emphasise how quickly it can go wrong for black as they are behind in every aspect of development:
  
  ```
  [title "Concrete example"]
  [fen ""]
  
  1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 b6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Bb7 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. e5 Nd5 7. Nxd5 Bxd5 8. Nb5 Bb7 9. Bg5 Qc8 (9...h6 10. Nd6+) (9...d6 10. Nxd6+) 10. Qe2 e6 11.O-O-O
  
  ```
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Great answer, the only thing I can say is that 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6 is seen sometimes, and id does nothing for k-side development, too.  
  > **username_5**: @username_0 Please take your time to read it carefully. Bear in mind that `a6` achieves two major goals that `b6` does not: it controls the important `b5` square (which black should naturally control in Sicilian structures anyhow), and prepares to gain space on the queenside with `b5`, not to say that it should be played on move `2...` anyhow...  
  > **username_6**: It's also about information. Playing ...b6 early tells White that you don't plan to use the thematic b5-b4 push (or if you do, you have lost a clear-cut tempo), so they have to invest less time for precautions against that push, leading to a more comfortable game for them. ...a6 on the username_0 hand tells much less, the move can eventually be played in more or less every major line of the Sicilian.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2019-10-12. Score: 5
  
  Probably for a few reasons: First, it is too slow in a sharp opening. Second, it does nothing to develop the k-side in an opening that is renowned for many games that the black king gets caught in the center. Third, it does little to control the center, and in particular, d4. Forth, it is too early to determine if the Bc8 will go to b7 or a6, which is somewhat unusual in that opening anyway.
  
  Overall, to me, it just feels like b6 is going to be putting at least one piece on a wrong square.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Perhaps lack of early k-side development is the factor, as you suggest. On the username_0 side, 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6 is seen sometimes, and it does not for k-side development, too.  
  > **username_1**: 2...a6 is also not that popular, however, it is a common Sicilian move at least that black is more likely to need.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2019-10-16. Score: 2
  
  1. Lack of kingside development.
  2. If you want a queenside fianchetto there are better lines.
  3. b6 creates a problem in how to develop the queenside knight. Normally after Nc6, black can recapture with the b pawn but in this line black can't.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2020-02-14. Score: 2
  
  One important point not yet mentioned: If you look at username_0 Sicilian lines, black generally tries to play b5.
  
  B5 is useful for a variety of reasons: It might harass the Nc3, support a knight coming to c4 or be part of a pawn storm against the long castle. It fights the Maroczy-bind and the aggressive development Bc4.
  
  Because b5 is so ubiquitous in Sicilian lines, b6 is very likely to turn out a waste of tempo.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2019-11-27. Score: 2
  
  I’m surprised that nobody has mentioned the problem after ..b6 of developing Black’s Queen. One point of ..c5 is to give her effective development suares at c7, b6 and a5. 2..b6 takes away two of those options and severely limits Black’s possilities for counterattack.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: In the Sicilian Kan the Black Queen hardly goes to b6 or a5 in the opening, so I wonder why - with a similar structure - it should be a disadvantage. Also, please consider that in the popular "Hedgehog" structure, often arising from the Sicilian with an early c2-c4, there is always a Pawn on b6.  
  > **username_4**: I did not say that those three Queen moves were essential, but it does not feel right to deny yourself useful options on move two.  
  
  ---
  
  