The Sicilian Defence, move by move

The most popular reply to e4. Black fights for the centre from the side and plays for a win. You play Black. Opening code B90.

1. 1. e4 White takes the centre.
2. 1… c5 Black fights for d4 from the side and makes the game unbalanced from move one.
3. 2. Nf3 White develops and prepares d4.
4. 2… d6 Guards e5 and opens the c8 bishop.
5. 3. d4 White opens the centre.
6. 3… cxd4 Black trades a side pawn for a central one: that's the point of the Sicilian.
7. 4. Nxd4 White recaptures with the knight.
8. 4… Nf6 Develops and attacks e4.
9. 5. Nc3 Defends e4.
10. 5… a6 The Najdorf: a small move that keeps White's pieces off b5 and prepares b5 later.
11. 6. Be3 White aims for a fast attack with f3, Qd2 and castling queenside.
12. 6… e5 Black kicks the knight out of the centre and takes space.
13. 7. Nb3 The knight retreats.
14. 7… Be6 Develops and watches d5, the key square in this line.

The plan from here

Use the half-open c-file, expand on the queenside with b5, and hold d5 against White's attack.