Wondering about the Sicilian Kan

Hey guys,

I recently looked up the Sicilian Kan and was wondering about the main line move 5. Bd3.
Why do grandmasters play this move? To my amateur eyes Nc3 and c4 look way more natural. The Bishop obstructs the queens view of the c-file. Wouldn't it be much better to place it on the e2 square?

I played it with both colors. It is playable. ;)

But why is it preferable to the other 2 mentioned moves? Rather: What's the plan?

Well, you can’t summarize some hundred years of theory in a short way. There are many lines which turn out to be „ok“ for either color. For example, a hedgehog position will take a life-long experience to master.

There are many deviations, even 5.Bd3 g6!? is tricky.

To answer your question: ever heard of „flexibility“?

@iHATEblitzANDbullet #1
Years ago I learned that - in Sicilian defense - black plays Ng8-f6 to "force" white to play Nb1-c3 (because f2f3 is bad to defend the e4 pawn), which blocks the c2 pawn, so that white cannot play a quick c2c4 anymore. Also, on c2 the pawn seems a better target over the semi open c file of black than when the pawn is on c4.
In the Sicilian Kan, black refrains from playing Ng8-f6, hence giving white the choice to not reply with Nb1-c3 but with Bd3.

Here is a classic example of good white play