White opens up the center, and in most variations Black trades pawns, although 3...d5 is possible as now 4. exd5 exd5 doesn't allow 5. Qxd8+. The trade is almost inevitable; after the trade 4...a6 reaches the Sicilian Kan, 4...Nc6 reaches the Taimanov, 4...Nf6 reaches the Normal Line, and 4...d6 could become a normal Open Sicilian variation.

Wikipedia has related information at Sicilian Defence

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4

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• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.