Sicilian Kan Prep

 a few lines to play with Black, Sicilian Kan prep

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 this is according to the theory the best move for White. 5 Nc3 b5!?

Here Black has tried 5..Nf6, 5..Qc7 ,5..Bc5 and 5..g6.   

But let's go with 5..Nc6, our first Tabiya below White to play

Most players will take on c6. but if they don't 6 Be3 Nf6 70-0 e5! or 6Nb3 Nf6 is fine for Black.

6Nxc6 dxc6 with the following White to play

White has two plans: Either Nd2-c4 combined with a2-a4 ( orange arrows). or c2-c4 to gain space and play Nc3 next ( red arrow). interesting 7 Bf4!? is an interesting try 7..Qf6 8 Be3 e5 is the way to go.

Variation A with 7c4

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7 c4 e5! 8.0–0 Bc5 9.Nc3 Nf6

This position is evaluated as -0.40 by Stockfish13. Black has a firm control on d4 and it is not easy to find ideas for White. Black wants to play Qe7,Be6,h6-g5 or h7-h5 to attack the white king and can leave his kings in the center or play 0-0-0 later on.

10 Kh1? Ng4! -+

10 h3 Be6 11Qe2 Qe7  or even 10..g5!? launching the attack, favored by Stockfish13.

10 Qf3 Be6 11h3 Rg8!? with idea g7-g5 starting the attack.

Most players will try to play Bg5 here

10.Bg5 h6 11 Bh4

 Here Miezis (a specialist of this variation) played 11...g5 12.Bg3 Qe7 13.Rc1 h5 14 h4 Ng4

I played 11.. Be6 12.Qe2 g5 13.Bg3 Bd4 14.Rad1 Bg4 [14...h5!? ] 15.Qc2 Bxd1 16.Rxd1 Qb6 

It is actually Black starting the attack in this variation.

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 Variation B with 7Nd2

7 Nd2 e5 8 Nc4 Nf6 90-0 Qc7 10 a4 Be6 11 Qe2 Bc5 12 a5 (12Be3 Nd7)

Here Black could try to go 12..Bxc4 13 Bc4 0-0-0 with a complex fight.

if you need a more quiet continuation, Stockfish recommends 12...0-0 13 Bg5 Nd7=