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Why is 6.Bc4 better than 3.Bc4 against the Sicilian Defense?

Why the Fischer-Sozin attack is well respected while 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 isnt?
First , neither 3.Bc4 is so bad or 6.Bc4 is so good.
3.Bc4 is a fine move but unfortunately, as most of the times, is the case fine moves can be unpopular if there are many more other much better moves.
3.Bc4 is one of the so called Anti-Sicilians.But if white doesn't want to play Open Sicilian he has many much better choices(Closed Sicilian, Grand Prix, Bb5 systems , Alapin, KIA).
The main problem is that the bishop on c4 will become a target almost always with either ...a6-b5 or ...e6-d5.So once white plays Bc4 he must follow with Bb3 or a3 .Eventually White has to lose 1-2 tempi to preserve that bishop and that offers a rather comgortable game to Black.That is the reason in the anti Sicilians , the bishop usually goes to b5 and is exchanged with a knight/bishop or in g2 or in some cases even on d3 and c2(Kopec system).
6.Bc4 is more played only because it is a subvariation of the Open Sicilian which is considered the more ambitious and the more challenging against Sicilian.The Bishop on c4 plus the knight on d4 create an immediate pressure on e6 creating many sacrificial posibilities mainly on e6 but also on f5 and d5.
A well known trap in Open Sicilian is the following:
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Bc4 Nbd7 7.O-O Be7 8.Bxe6 fxe6 9.Nxe6 and eventually Nxg7+ will follow.
This is a pattern seen in many games and as you see the knight on d4 is necessary.
So in open Sicilian the presence of the bishop on c4 is related with immediate pressure(because of the knight on d4) and Black has to adapt his game accordingly while in Anti-Sicilian the presence of the bishop on c4 is not related to any kind of pressure or threats.
but white can still transpose to a open sicilian after 3 Bc4, like 3..Nf6 4 Nc3 whatever 5 d4.
the real reason is... why tell your opponent that you are commiting to a Bc4 setup before you really have to?
If white wants to play Bc4 in open Sicilian then it doesn't really matter when he will play it or if he shows his intentions.But playing it early might allow him to get a good transposition.
@AntonioGlez04 #1

Where did you come accross statements that 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 is not "well respected" ?

Perhaps you meant to compare the Fischer/Sozin attack with the Bowlder attack, 1.e4 c5 2.Bc4 ?

In case of the Bowlder attack, black can gain a tempo by preparing the d5 push.

In case of your question regarding 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 black actually lost a tempo compared to the Bowlder attack reply idea with pushing d5!

I would figure that therefore the 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 is not so bad as the Bowlder attack.

However, speaking in general, I have seen rather strong players play the Bowlder attack, and black needs to be aware that winning 1 tempo does not mean a better game or winning the game.

Does that make sense to you ?

HTH

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