What's New- December '00
1 e4 c5 2 c4Every now and then a moment of supreme satisfaction takes place when you amaze an opponent with your choice of opening. It is even better news when this takes place as early as move two! Lloyd Uhler from Texas wants to know if 1 e4 c5 and now 2 c4 is worth playing at club level, and the answer is yes! |
            
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I have to admit that is does look like some someone has meant to play the c3 Sicilian but forgot to let go of the c- pawn at the right square. In fact, the line has quite a good pedigree especially when one realises that it can arise from the English.
Blum - Weinhold saw 1 c4 c5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 e4 transposing to the Sicilian. In this case, White triumphs by steadily developing and maintaining the tension in the centre.
A more familiar opening sequence is seen in the game Hautot - Benkovic which started 1 e4 c5 2 c4 Nc6 3 Nc3 d6 4 g3. Basically White adopts a Closed Sicilian set-up where the pawn on c4 can be useful in slowing down Black's usual queenside pawn expansion.
An all American contest between Burnett and Fedorowicz is fascinating because after 1 e4 c5 2 c4 d6 3 g3 Black lashed out with the adventurous 3…h5.
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It left White rather confused and he could not cope with the doubled-edged set-up.
I like the approach by White in Rasim - Arsov who advances the f-pawn before developing the king's knight. It has the merit of later prompting various options revolving around e5 and d5.
I think 2 c4 is a great idea for a surprise weapon and it will particularly appeal to those who have knowledge of the Closed Sicilian but want something a little bit different.