Welcome to this 60-minute course with International Master Andrew Martin, dedicated to one of the most practical anti-Sicilian weapons around: 2.b3.
The appeal is simple. With one quiet move, you take your opponent straight out of mainline Sicilian theory and into a position where you understand the plans and they're left to fend for themselves. It's an ideal addition to any club player's repertoire and sharp enough that even titled players bring it out at the right moment.
What makes 2.b3 so attractive is that it's aggressive and positional at the same time. You fianchetto your bishop to b2 and aim it down the long diagonal, then look to open the position with a well-timed f4 and generate attacking chances on the kingside . And it's genuinely easy to understand: there's no maze of forcing lines to memorize, just a clear, repeatable development plan.
Lets take a look at the 10 presented games and get started with 2.b3.