Sizilianisch

FCO: "Like 1...e5, 1...c5 prevents the formation of an ideal pawn-centre with 2 d4, but without giving White the typical targets of the 1 e4 e5 openings: the e5-pawn and the a2-g8 diagonal with the vulnerable spot at f7." FCO: "In fact, by playing 1...c5 Black chooses the same strategy that underlies 1 c4 and 1 Nf3: he does not immediately occupy any central squares, but intends to control them from the flank with such moves as ...Nc6, ...g6 and ...Bg7. He then has the option of striking back at a later stage, for instance with ...d5, but he is under no obligation to do so, for with a pawn on c5, Black also has a natural plan of attack on the queenside: ...a6 followed by ...b5." FCO: "In fact, by playing 1...c5 Black chooses the same strategy that underlies 1 c4 and 1 Nf3: he does not immediately occupy any central squares, but intends to control them from the flank with such moves as ...Nc6, ...g6 and ...Bg7. He then has the option of striking back at a later stage, for instance with ...d5, but he is under no obligation to do so, for with a pawn on c5, Black also has a natural plan of attack on the queenside: ...a6 followed by ...b5."