Which main sicilian variation should I play?

What I want from the Sicilian is a clear plan to follow, without having to memorize too much analysis. Is this possible for a Sicilian player? Are there any relatively easy variations compared to the Dragon?

The dragon is all about long forced variations leading up to very sharp play, one must have very up to dat opening knowledge to dive in the complications,
I recommend the Sveshnikov, an active way to play , and you can rely much more on general themes then on learning moves by heart

One that also comes to mind is: the sicilian for the lazy ( named after the excellent book by Broznik):
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Pxd4 Lc5!?
white players usually dont know this variation well and play either Nc3 or Nb3, in the first case black replies with 5...Qb6! which is a very unpleasant suprise for white players who havent faced it before,
After 5. Nb3 the plan for black usually is Bb6, Ne7, 0-0, and f5 attacking the"weak"square f2

Originally posted by sannevssr
One that also comes to mind is: the sicilian for the lazy ( named after the excellent book by Broznik):
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Pxd4 Lc5!?
white players usually dont know this variation well and play either Nc3 or Nb3, in the first case black replies with 5...Qb6! which is a very unpleasant suprise for white players who havent faced it before,
After 5. Nb3 the plan for black usually is Bb6, Ne7, 0-0, and f5 attacking the"weak"square f2

Originally posted by cmsMaster
This "L" must be some new piece. 😛

Originally posted by sannevssr
My bad, L= Loper which is bishop in dutch, so Bc5
thx for the heads up

For sicilian its almost impossible, because there are so many different lines and white have many choices to choose line even in second move - white are not obliget to play 2.Nf3 in second move. For example 2.f4; 2.c3 (very safe move, which can make black many troubles); 2.Nc3 or gambits like 2.b4 or 2.d4.

Why don't you just try to understand the basic principles of the Sicilian & play accordingly.
There are so many options for both players it's pointless saying "oh I'd play the Mingshvingvellian if I were you" because it'd be impossible to find players at our level who follow or know about most lines!

As it stands, I seem to be facing 2.Bc4 in many of my Sicilian games on RHP which means that many, many opening lines are ruled out from move 2!

Just defend your KS & look to counter & expand on the QS & unpick any weaknesses that may appear in the center. That's just about all the advice anyone can really offer on the Sicilian unless you play someone who always responds to 1...c5 the same way every single time.

2. c3 runs smack into d5.

I am currently playing the Levinfish Variation in one of my games. This is my first time toying with it, and it seems to suit me. It's rare actually, because I'm not a Sicilian player.

Originally posted by AlphaAlekhine
I am currently playing the Levinfish Variation in one of my games. This is my first time toying with it, and it seems to suit me. It's rare actually, because I'm not a Sicilian player.

The post that was quoted here has been removed

Originally posted by Korch
I have played 2.c3 in sicilian and I can say that this line isnt so unsound as some people thinks. 2...d5 and 2...Nf6 are 2 best replays, but in both these lines black needs to know theory very well, otherwise white will get advantage.

Originally posted by cmsMaster
2...Nf6 seems to offer black pretty solid results though.