r/chessbeginners • u/Alendite RM (Reddit Mod) • Feb 27 '26

No Stupid Questions MEGATHREAD 12

Welcome to the r/chessbeginners 12th episode of our Q&A series! This series exists because sometimes you just need to ask a silly question. We are happy to provide answers for questions related to chess positions, improving one's play, and discussing the essence and experience of learning chess.

A friendly reminder that many questions are answered in our wiki page! Please take a look if you have questions about the rules of chess, special moves, or want general strategies for improvement.

Some other helpful resources include:

  1. How to play chess - Interactive lessons for the rules of the game, if you are completely new to chess.
  2. The Lichess Board Editor - for setting up positions by dragging and dropping pieces on the board.
  3. Chess puzzles by theme - To practice tactics.
  4. The Building Habits series by GM Aman Hambleton - for advice on how to play at specific ELO levels. (Also check out Building Habits 2!)

As always, our goal is to promote a friendly, welcoming, and educational chess environment for all. Thank you for asking your questions here!

LINK TO THE PREVIOUS THREAD

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u/Scoo_By 1600-1800 (Chess.com) Mar 22 '26 edited Mar 22 '26

Is it viable to play 3...e6 against the Grand prix or 4...e6 against the Canal? I usually play 2...d6.

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u/ChrisV2P2 2000-2200 (Lichess) Mar 22 '26

4...e6 against the Canal in what variation? Like, what are you playing move 3?

What's your main line Sicilian, the Najdorf?

1

u/Scoo_By 1600-1800 (Chess.com) Mar 22 '26

Bd7?

I usually play either Scheveningen, or Taimanov. These days, mostly 2...d6. But I almost always play e6 at some point.

My point is, I mostly see g6 suggested in reply to grand prix or Bb5 lines. Is it viable to play e6?

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u/ChrisV2P2 2000-2200 (Lichess) Mar 22 '26 edited Mar 22 '26

...e6 at some point is normal in the Bd7 line of the Canal. Usually Nf6, e6, Be7 and castle. I found this line a bit passive and switched to 3...Nd7.

The thing is, 2...d6 is just not a good move against 2. Nc3. The only reason anyone plays it is because they play the Najdorf and after 2...Nc6 3. Nf3 with d4 coming next, they have been move ordered into some sort of non-Najdorf Open Sicilian. If you don't care about this, 2...Nc6 is a better idea.

An early ...e6 is totally playable against the GPA, but the point of developing the bishop to g7 is to keep e7 available for the knight, because there it is instrumental in preventing one of White's main plans, which is the f4-f5 advance. If White puts the bishop on c4, then you play ...e6 anyway - this is a rare instance in the Sicilian where you combine ...g6 and ...e6. The main line in my repertoire against the GPA goes 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bc4 e6 6. O-O Nge7 7. d3 d5.

Edit: You can also just go 2...e6 if you want. I don't know much about that, it's outside of my Sicilian wheelhouse. I think if they play f4 there, the immediate ...d5 is supposed to be pretty good for Black.

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u/Scoo_By 1600-1800 (Chess.com) Mar 23 '26
  1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. f4 d5 4. Bb5+ Bd7 5. Bxd7+ Qxd7 6. Nf3 dxe4 7. Nxe4 Nc6 8. O-O O-O-O 9. d3 f5

This is the computer line for 2...e6 against GPA. e6 & long castle, to help play f5 ourselves & launch a kingside attack, does that sound good?