jfa: you have a point here, it does allow for "free" development. but the freedom I think is mutual. The main point of the variation is that standard maneuvers for advantage by black just don't work. (i.e. e6-d5 is prevented, at least early, and the a6-b5 plan doesn't yield much, even against a queenside castle). It is also good since most Sicilian-ers are looking for the early d4 for white to avoid this line completely, I have never had any luck with d4 anyway. I'm certainly not saying that Nc3 is superior to Nf3 or that the d4 plan is bad, I'm just looking for the weak spots in Nc3 (as it is hard to find written materials on it, not like the ultra-popular Nf3).