O'Kelly Sicilian surprising and playable

Sicilian O'Kelly variation appears to be a very nice playable line for Black, which can be not only "a surprising weapon", but also something you can play on regular basis. There are 285 novelties/improvements in my file! In my opinion it fits a wide range of players starting from ambitious 1600 players and all the way to titled one's. For PGN please check ask-avrukh.com/Games.aspx

[@srisaibaswanth1276]

Hi Grandmaster Boris Avrukh I had one question before purchasing this database:- 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.d4 e6 here in this position what if white plays 6.Na3? Thank You.

[@ask-avrukh1922]

Not covered in the file since 6.Na3 is very rare. However, it's actually makes a6-move (preventing Nb5 jump) very useful . After let's say 6...Nf6 7.Nc4 Nbd7 we transpose to very theoretical line where Black is doing great.

[@PLMLGS]

Negi mentioned that 3.b4 would give White an improved version of the Wing Gambit, although he didn’t finally recommend it in his e4 vs Sicilian 3 book. Does your file give a line against the WG? Thanks

[@ask-avrukh1922]

What do you mean by 3.b4? , it's probably some typo :)

[@PLMLGS]

@@ask-avrukh1922i guess that’s a ‘no’ then!

[@ask-avrukh1922]

I just don't see where White can play 3.b4in my file @@PLMLGS

[@PLMLGS]

@@ask-avrukh1922 In the line 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3, a6 Negi mentions 3.b4!?. It’s not like him to suggest such a move as an option [in the end his preferred choice vs the O’Kelly was ultimately 3.c3] so i thought this was interesting. He reckoned 3.b4 could be a ‘better’ version of the standard 1.e4, c5 2.b4?! Wing gambit as the move …a6 is not often played vs the Wing Gambit.

[@ask-avrukh1922]

Ah, I felt it's not related to QGA :). Very interesting and indeed not covered in my O'Kelly file. Black shouldn't have problems with a little work.