Sicilian Defence - e4c5

16/07/2015 SicilianDefenceWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicilian_Defence 1/21

SicilianDefence

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Moves 1.e4c5

ECO B20B99

Origin GiulioCesarePolerio,1594

Namedafter Sicily

Parent King'sPawnGame

Contents

SicilianDefenceFromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

TheSicilianDefenceisachessopeningthatbeginswiththemoves:

1.e4c5

TheSicilianisthemostpopularandbestscoringresponsetoWhite'sfirstmove1.e4.1.d4isastatisticallymoresuccessfulopeningforwhiteduetothehighsuccessrateoftheSiciliandefenceagainst1.e4.[1]NewInChessstatedinits2000Yearbookthatofthegamesinitsdatabase,Whitescored56.1%in296,200gamesbeginning1.d4,but54.1%in349,855gamesbeginning1.e4,mainlyduetotheSicilian,whichheldWhitetoa52.3%scorein145,996games.[2]

17%ofallgamesbetweengrandmasters,and25%ofthegamesintheChessInformantdatabase,beginwiththeSicilian.[3]AlmostonequarterofallgamesusetheSicilianDefence.[4]

GrandmasterJohnNunnattributestheSicilianDefence'spopularityto"itscombativenatureinmanylinesBlackisplayingnotjustforequality,butfortheadvantage.ThedrawbackisthatWhiteoftenobtainsanearlyinitiative,soBlackhastotakecarenottofallvictimtoaquickattack."[5]GrandmasterJonathanRowsonconsideredwhytheSicilianisthemostsuccessfulresponseto1.e4,eventhough1...c5developsnopieces,andthepawnonc5controlsonlyd4andb4.Rowsonwrites:

Tomymindthereisquiteastraightforwardexplanation.Inordertoprofitfromtheinitiativegrantedbythefirstmove,WhitehastomakeuseofhisopportunitytodosomethingbeforeBlackhasanequalnumberofopportunitiesofhisown.However,todothis,hehastomake'contact'withtheblackposition.Thefirstpointofcontactusuallycomesintheformofapawnexchange,whichleadstotheopeningoftheposition.Sothethoughtbehind1...c5isthis:OK,I'llletyouopentheposition,anddevelopyourpiecesaggressively,butatapriceyouhavetogivemeoneofyourcenterpawns.

JonathanRowson,ChessforZebras:ThinkingDifferentlyAboutBlackandWhite[6]

TheearliestrecordednotesontheSicilianDefencedatebacktothelate16thcenturybytheItalianchessplayersGiulioPolerioandGioachinoGreco.[7][8]



Contents

1Generalconcepts2History3OpenSicilian:2.Nf3and3.d4

3.12...d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc33.1.1NajdorfVariation:5...a63.1.2DragonVariation:5...g63.1.3ClassicalVariation:5...Nc63.1.4ScheveningenVariation:5...e6

3.22...Nc63.d4cxd44.Nxd43.2.1SveshnikovVariation:4...Nf65.Nc3e53.2.2AcceleratedDragon:4...g63.2.3KalashnikovVariation:4...e55.Nb5d6

3.32...e63.d4cxd44.Nxd43.3.1TaimanovVariation:4...Nc63.3.2Kan(Paulsen)Variation:4...a63.3.3FourKnightsVariation:4...Nf65.Nc3Nc6

42.Nf3without3.d4:White'sthirdmovealternatives4.12...d6without3.d4

4.1.1CanalSokolskyAttack:3.Bb5+4.1.2Others

4.22...Nc6without3.d44.2.1NimzovichRossolimoAttack:3.Bb54.2.2Others

4.32...e6without3.d44.43.Bd3

52.Nf3:Black'ssecondmovealternatives5.12...g6:HungarianVariation5.22...a6:O'KellyVariation5.32...Nf6:NimzovichRubinsteinVariation5.4Others

6ClosedSicilian7White'ssecondmovealternatives

7.1AlapinVariation:2.c37.2GrandPrixAttack:2.f47.3SmithMorraGambit:2.d47.4Others

8ECOcodes9Seealso10References11Furtherreading

Generalconcepts



Byadvancingthecpawntwosquares,Blackassertscontroloverthed4squareandbeginsthefightforthecentreoftheboard.Themoveresembles1e5,thenextmostcommonresponseto1.e4,inthatrespect.Unlike1...e5,however,1...c5breaksthesymmetryoftheposition,whichstronglyinfluencesbothplayers'futureactions.White,havingpushedakingsidepawn,tendstoholdtheinitiativeonthatsideoftheboard.Moreover,1...c5doeslittleforBlack'sdevelopment,unlikemovessuchas1...e5,1...g6,or1...Nc6,whicheitherdevelopaminorpieceorpreparetodoso.InmanyvariationsoftheSicilian,Blackmakesanumberoffurtherpawnmovesintheopening(forexample,...d6,...e6,...a6,and...b5).Consequently,Whiteoftenobtainsasubstantialleadindevelopmentanddangerousattackingchances.

Meanwhile,advancingaqueensidepawnhasgivenBlackaspatialadvantagethereandprovidesabasisforfutureoperationsonthatflank.Often,Black'sc5pawnistradedforWhite'sd4pawnintheearlystagesofthegame,grantingBlackacentralpawnmajority.ThepawntradealsoopensthecfileforBlack,whocanplacearookorqueenonthatfiletoaidtheirqueensidecounterplay.

History

TheSicilianDefencewasanalysedbyGiulioPolerioinhis1594manuscriptonchess,[9]thoughhedidnotusetheterm"SicilianDefence".[10]ItwaslaterthesubjectofanalysesbyleadingplayersofthedayAlessandroSalvio(1604),DonPietroCarrera(c.1617),andGioachinoGreco(1623),andlaterComteCarloFrancescoCozio(c.1740).ThegreatFrenchplayerandtheoreticianAndrDanicanPhilidoropinedoftheSicilianin1777,"Thiswayofopeningthegame...isabsolutelydefensive,andveryfarfrombeingthebest...butitisaverygoodonetotrythestrengthofanadversarywithwhoseskillyouareunacquainted."[11]

In1813,theEnglishmasterJacobHenrySarratteffectivelystandardisedhisEnglishtranslationofthenameofthisopeningas"theSicilianDefence",referringtoanoldItalianmanuscriptthatusedthephrase,"ilgiocosiciliano"("TheSicilianGame").[12]TheSicilianwasfairlypopularformuchofthenineteenthcenturyLouisCharlesMahdeLaBourdonnais,AdolfAnderssen,HowardStaunton,LouisPaulsen,andCarlJaenischallplayeditwithsomeconsistency.InthenintheditionofModernChessOpenings,WalterKornnotedthattheSicilian"receivedthreeofitsearliestpracticaltests,andabigboostinpopularity,inthe1834MacDonnell[sic]LaBourdonnaismatch,1843StauntonSt.Amantmatch,andthe1851LondonTournament."[13]StauntonwroteoftheSicilian,"IntheopinionofJaenischandtheGerman'Handbuch',withwhichIcoincide,thisisthebestpossiblereplyto1.PK4,[1.e4inalgebraicnotation]'asitrenderstheformationofacentreimpracticableforWhiteandpreventseveryattack.'"[14]

Theopeningfelloutoffavourinthelaterpartofthenineteenthcentury,whensomeoftheworld'sleadingplayersrejectedit.[A]PaulMorphy,theworld'sbestplayerinthelate1850s,decried"thatperniciousfondnessfortheSicilianDefense...extendingfromabout1843tosometimeafter1851".[15]WilhelmSteinitz,thefirstWorldChampion,alsodislikedtheSicilianandrejecteditinfavourof1...e5.[B][16]Thedeathoftheopening'stwogreatestproponents,StauntonandAnderssen,in1874and1879respectively,alsocontributedtoitsdecline.Ithasbeensaidthat"theselossesalmostdealtaknockoutblowtotheSicilianbecauseittookalongtimetofindsuchimportantfigurestocarrytheSicilian'sstandard."[17]GeorgeH.D.Gossip,inTheChessPlayer'sManual,firstpublishedin1874,wrote,"Oflateyears...discoverieshavebeenmadewhichhavetheeffectofconsiderablystrengtheningWhite'sattack,andthe'Sicilian'isnowconsideredbymostmodernauthoritiestobeacomparativelyweakmodeofplay."[18]



FreeboroughandRanken,intheirtreatiseChessOpenings:AncientandModern(1889,1896),wrotethattheSicilian"hadatonetimethereputationofbeingthebestreplyto1.PK4,butthishasnotbeenconfirmedbypopularpractice.Severaleminentplayershave,however,heldtotheopinionthatitisquitetrustworthy."[19][20]

TheSiciliancontinuedtobeshunnedbymostleadingplayersatthestartofthetwentiethcentury,as1...e5heldcentrestage.Capablanca,WorldChampionfrom1921to1927,famouslydenounceditasanopeningwhere"Black'sgameisfullofholes".[21]Similarly,JamesMasonwrote,"Fairlytriedandfoundwanting,theSicilianhasnowscarcelyanystandingasafirstclassdefence....[It]istoodefensive.TherearetoomanyholescreatedinthePawnline.Commandofthefield,especiallyinthecentre,istooreadilygivenovertotheinvadingforce."[22]SiegbertTarraschwrotethat1...c5"iscertainlynotstrictlycorrect,foritdoesnothingtowarddevelopmentandmerelyattemptstorenderdifficultthebuildingupofacentrebythefirstplayer....[T]heSicilianDefenceisexcellentforastrongplayerwhoispreparedtotakeriskstoforceawinagainstaninferioropponent.Againstbestplay,however,itisboundtofail."[23]TheSicilianwasnotseenevenonceinthe75gamesplayedatthegreatSt.Petersburg1914tournament.[24]

Nonetheless,someleadingplayers,suchasEmanuelLasker(WorldChampionfrom1894to1921),FrankMarshall,SaviellyTartakower,andAronNimzowitsch,andlaterMaxEuwe(WorldChampionfrom1935to1937)playedtheSicilian.[25]EvenCapablanca[26][27]andTarrasch,[28]despitetheircriticalcomments,occasionallyplayedtheopening.Itwasplayedsixtimes(outof110games)atNewYork1924.[29]Thefollowingyear,theauthorsofModernChessOpenings(4thedition)wrote,"TheSicilianhasclaimstobeconsideredasthebestoftheirregulardefencesto1.PK4atBlack'sdisposal,andhasbeenpractisedwithsatisfactoryresultsbytheleadingplayersoftheday."[C]InthisperiodBlack'sapproachwasusuallyslowandpositional,andthealloutattacksbyWhitethatbecamecommonafterWorldWarIIhadnotyetbeendeveloped.[30]

ThefortunesoftheSicilianwerefurtherrevivedinthe1940sand1950sbyplayerssuchasIsaacBoleslavsky,AlexanderKotov,andMiguelNajdorf.ReubenFine,oneoftheworld'sleadingplayersduringthistimeperiod,wroteoftheSicilianin1948,"Blackgivesupcontrolofthecentre,neglectshisdevelopment,andoftensubmitstohorriblycrampedpositions.Howcanitbegood?Yet,thebrilliantwinsbyWhitearematchedbyequallybrilliantwinsbyBlacktimeandagaintheBlackstructurehasbeenabletotakeeverythingandcomebackformore."[D]Later,BentLarsen,LjubomirLjubojevi,LevPolugaevsky,LeonidStein,MarkTaimanov,andMikhailTalallmadeextensivecontributionstothetheoryandpracticeofthedefence.ThroughtheeffortsofworldchampionsBobbyFischerandGarryKasparov,theSicilianDefencebecamerecognisedasthedefencethatofferedBlackthemostwinningchancesagainst1.e4.Bothplayersfavouredsharp,aggressiveplayandemployedtheSicilianalmostexclusivelythroughouttheircareers,burnishingthedefence'spresentreputation.Today,mostleadinggrandmastersincludetheSicilianintheiropeningrepertoire.SomeofthecurrenttoplevelplayerswhoregularlyuseitincludePeterLeko,ViswanathanAnand,BorisGelfand,VassilyIvanchuk,AlexeiShirov,PeterSvidler,andVeselinTopalov.In1990,theauthorsofModernChessOpenings(13thedition)notedthat"inthetwentiethcenturytheSicilianhasbecomethemostplayedandmostanalysedopeningatboththeclubandmasterlevels."[31]In1965,inthetentheditionofthatbook,grandmasterLarryEvansobservedthat,"TheSicilianisBlack'smostdynamic,asymmetricalreplyto1.PK4.Itproducesthepsychologicalandtensionfactorswhichdenotethebestinmodernplayandgivesnoticeofafiercefightontheveryfirstmove."[32]



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Positionafter1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3

OpenSicilian:2.Nf3and3.d4

Over75%ofgamesbeginningwith1.e4c5continuewith2.Nf3,whentherearethreemainoptionsforBlack:2...d6,2...Nc6,and2...e6.LineswhereWhitethenplays3.d4arecollectivelyknownastheOpenSicilian,andresultinextremelycomplexpositions.Whitehasaleadindevelopmentandextrakingsidespace,whichWhitecanusetobeginakingsideattack.ThisiscounterbalancedbyBlack'scentralpawnmajority,createdbythetradeofWhite'sdpawnforBlack'scpawn,andtheopencfile,whichBlackusestogeneratequeensidecounterplay.

2...d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3

Black'smostcommonmoveafter2.Nf3is2...d6.Thisprepares...Nf6toattacktheepawnwithoutlettingWhitepushittoe5.Thegameusuallycontinues3.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3.Sometimesplayedis3...Nf64.Nc3cxd45.Nxd4givingthesameresult.Blackcanthenchoosebetweenfourmajorvariations:inorderofdecreasingpopularity,thesearetheNajdorf(5...a6),Dragon(5...g6),Classical(5...Nc6),andScheveningen(5...e6).TheVeniceAttack(5...e56.Bb5+)andKupreichikVariation(5...Bd7)arerarelyplayed.5...e5isoftenconsideredsomethingofanerroronBlack'spartand5...Bd7cantransposetooneofthemorecommonvariations,suchastheClassicalorDragon,buttherearealsoanumberofindependentlines.

Thereareafewwaysforeithersidetodeviatefromthemovesgivenabove.After3...cxd4,Whiteoccasionallyplays4.Qxd4,theChekhoverVariation,intendingtomeet4...Nc6with5.Bb5Bd76.Bxc6,whenWhitehopesthattheirleadindevelopmentcompensatesforBlack'sbishoppair.Blackcanavoidthislinebyplaying3...Nf6,when4.Nc3cxd45.Nxd4returnstomainlines.However,Whitehastheoptionof4.dxc5!?,whenBlackcanplayeither4...Nxe4or4...Qa5+.Anotherunusualsidelineis3...cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.f3!?,thePrinsVariation,whichtriestomaintaintheoptionofc4withaMarczyBindformation.

NajdorfVariation:5...a6

TheNajdorfVariationisBlack'smostpopularsystemintheSicilianDefence.Najdorf'sintentionwith5...a6wastoprepare...e5onthenextmovetogainspaceinthecentretheimmediate5...e5?!howeverismetby6.Bb5+!,whenBlackmusteitherplay6...Bd7or6...Nbd7.TheformerallowsWhitetoexchangeoffBlack'slightsquaredbishop,afterwhichthed5squarebecomesveryweakbutthelatterallows7.Nf5,whenBlackcanonlysavethedpawnbyplayingtheawkward7...a68.Bxd7+Qxd7.Inbothcases,White'sgameispreferable.

Thus,byplaying5...a6,BlackdeprivesWhiteofthecheckonb5,sothat...e5mightbepossiblenextmove.Ingeneral,5...a6alsopreventsWhite'sknightsfromusingtheb5square,andhelpsBlackcreatequeensideplaybypreparingthe...b5pawnpush.Thisplanof5...a6followedby...e5representsBlack'straditionalapproachintheNajdorfVariation.Later,GarryKasparovalsoadoptedthe5...a6moveorder,butwiththeideaofplaying...e6ratherthan...e5.Kasparov'spointisthattheimmediate5...e6(theScheveningenVariation,discussedbelow)allows6.g4,whichisWhite'smostdangerouslineagainsttheScheveningen.



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NajdorfVariation:1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3a6

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DragonVariation:1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3g6

Byplaying5...a6first,BlacktemporarilypreventsWhite'sg4thrustandwaitstoseewhatWhiteplaysinstead.Often,playwilleventuallytransposetotheScheveningenVariation.

Currently,White'smostpopularweaponagainsttheNajdorfis6.Be3.ThisiscalledtheEnglishAttack,becauseitwaspopularisedbyEnglishgrandmastersMurrayChandler,JohnNunnandNigelShortinthe1980s.White'sideaistoplayf3,Qd2,g4and000insomeorder.Blackcanrespondwith6...e6,6...e5or6...Ng4toprevent...Ng4,Whitesometimesstartswith6.f3instead,butthisallows6...Qb6!ArelatedattackingideaforWhiteis6.Be3e67.g4,knownastheHungarianAttackorPerenyiAttack.

Formerly,6.Bg5e67.f4wasthemainlineoftheNajdorf,whenWhitethreatenstoattackthepinnedknightwith8.e5.Blackcansimplybreakthepinwith7...Be7,whenWhiteusuallyplays8.Qf3and9.000.SomeofBlack'salternativesare7...Qb6,thePoisonedPawnVariationpopularizedbyFischer,and7...b5,thePolugaevskyVariation,whichhasthetacticalpoint8.e5dxe59.fxe5Qc7!10.exf6Qe5+winningthebishopinreturnfortheknight.

Whitehasotherchoicesonthesixthmove.6.Be2preparestocastlekingsideandisaquieteralternativecomparedto6.Be3and6.Bg5.EfimGellerwasanearlyproponentofthismove,afterwhichBlackcanstayin"pure"Najdorfterritorywith6...e5ortransposetotheScheveningenwith6...e6.OtherpossibilitiesforWhiteinclude6.f4,6.Bc4(theFischerSozinAttack),6.g3,and6.h3,(theAdamsAttack,namedafterWeaverAdams),whichwasusedseveraltimesbyBobbyFischer.

DragonVariation:5...g6

IntheDragonVariation,BlackfianchettoesaBishopontheh8a1diagonal.ItwasnamedbyFyodorDusChotimirskyin1901,whonoticedaresemblancebetweenBlack'skingsidepawnstructure(pawnsond6,e7,f7,g6andh7)andthestarsoftheDracoconstellation.[33]White'smostdangeroustryagainsttheDragonistheYugoslavAttack,characterisedby6.Be3Bg77.f3008.Qd2Nc6,whenboth9.000and9.Bc4maybeplayed.Thisvariationleadstoextremelysharpplayandisferociouslycomplicated,sincetheplayerscastleonoppositewingsandthegamebecomesaracebetweenWhite'skingsideattackandBlack'squeensidecounterattack.White'smainalternativestotheYugoslavAttackare6.Be2,theClassicalVariation,and6.f4,theLevenfishAttack.

ClassicalVariation:5...Nc6



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ClassicalVariation:1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3Nc6

Thisvariationcanarisefromtwodifferentmoveorders:1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3Nc6,or1.e4c52.Nf3Nc63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3d6.Blacksimplybringstheirknighttoitsmostnaturalsquare,anddefers,forthemoment,thedevelopmentoftheirking'sbishop.

White'smostcommonreplyis6.Bg5,theRichterRauzerAttack(ECOcodesB60etseq).Themove6.Bg5wasKurtRichter'sinvention,threateningtodoubleBlack'spawnsafterBxf6andforestallingtheDragonbyrendering6...g6unplayable.After6...e6,VsevolodRauzerintroducedthemodernplanofQd2and000inthe1930s.White'spressureonthed6pawnoftencompelsBlacktorespondtoBxf6with...gxf6,ratherthanrecapturingwithapiece(e.g.thequeenond8)thatalsohastodefendthedpawn.Thisweakenstheirkingsidepawnstructure,inreturnforwhichBlackgainsthetwobishops,plusacentralpawnmajority,thoughtheseassetsaredifficulttoexploit.

Anothervariationis6.Bc4,called"Sozin"(ECOcodeB57).Itbringsthebishoptoanaggressivesquare.Blackusuallyplays6...e6tolimittherangeofWhite'sbishop,butWhitecaneventuallyputpressureonthee6pawnbypushingtheirfpawntof5.Whitecaneithercastlekingsidewith7.Bb3a68.00(theFischerSozinAttack,namedafterBobbyFischerandRussianmasterVeniaminSozin,whooriginateditinthe1930s),orqueensidewith7.Be3Be7(or7...a6)8.Qe2and9.000(theVelimiroviAttack).Insteadof6...e6,BlackcanalsotryBenko'smove6...Qb6,whichforcesWhitetomakeadecisionoverthed4knight.Thistypicallyleadsintomorepositionallinesthantherazorsharp,highlytheoreticalSozinandVelimirovicvariations.

6.Be2isthe"classical"line(ECOcodeB58).Blackcanchooseamong6...e56...e6,transposingtotheScheveningenVariationand6...g6,transposingtotheClassicalVariationoftheDragon.Withmove...e5,7.Nf3usuallycontinues...h68.OOBe79.Re17.Nb3isthedynamicandnotverygoodBoleslavskyVariation(ECOcodeB59).Othermovesinclude6.Be3,6.f3,and6.g3.

ScheveningenVariation:5...e6

IntheScheveningenVariation,Blackiscontentwitha"smallcentre"(pawnsond6ande6,ratherthane5)andpreparestocastlekingside.Inviewofthis,PaulKeresintroduced6.g4,theKeresAttack,in1943.Whiteintendstodriveawaytheblackknightwithg5.IfBlackpreventsthiswith6...h6,whichisthemostcommonanswer,WhitehasgainedkingsidespaceanddiscouragedBlackfromcastlinginthatarea,andmaylaterplayBg2.Ifthecomplicationsafter6.g4arenottoWhite'staste,amajoralternativeis6.Be2,atypicallinebeing6...a6(thispositioncanbereachedfromtheNajdorfvia5...a66.Be2e6)7.00Be78.f400.6.Be3and6.f4arealsocommon.

WhiletheoryindicatesthatBlackcanholdthebalanceintheKeresAttack,playerstodayoftenprefertoavoiditbyplaying5...a6first,anideapopularizedbyKasparov.However,ifWhiteisdeterminedtoplaytheg4thrust,theycanprepareitbyrespondingto5...a6with6.h3(asFischersometimesplayed)or6.Rg1.



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ScheveningenVariation:1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3e6

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Positionafter1.e4c52.Nf3Nc63.d4cxd44.Nxd4

2...Nc63.d4cxd44.Nxd4

2...Nc6isanaturaldevelopingmove,andalsoprepares...Nf6(like2...d6,BlackstopsWhitefromreplyinge5).After3.d4cxd44.Nxd4,Black'smostcommonmoveis4...Nf6.Otherimportantmovesare4...e6(transposingtotheTaimanovVariation),4...g6(theAcceleratedDragon)and4...e5(theKalashnikovVariation).Lesscommonchoicesinclude4...Qc7,whichmaylatertransposetotheTaimanovVariation,4...Qb6,theGrivasVariation,and4...d6.

After4...Nf6,Whiteusuallyreplies5.Nc3.Blackcanplay5...d6,transposingtotheClassicalVariation5...e5,theSveshnikovVariationor5...e6,transposingtotheFourKnightsVariation.

SveshnikovVariation:4...Nf65.Nc3e5

TheSveshnikovVariationwaspioneeredbyEvgenySveshnikovandGennadiTimoshchenkointhe1970s.Beforetheirefforts,thevariationwascalledtheLaskerPelikanVariation.EmanuelLaskerplayeditonceinhisworldchampionshipmatchagainstCarlSchlechter,andJorgePelikanplayeditafewtimesinthe1950s,butSveshnikov'streatmentofthevariationwasthekeytoitsrevitalization.Themove5...e5seemsantipositionalasitleavesblackwithabackwardsdpawnandaweaknessond5.Also,blackwouldhavetoacceptthedoubledfpawnsinthemainlineoftheopening.TheopeningwaspopularisedwhenSveshnikovsawitsdynamicpotentialforBlackinthe1970sand80s.Today,itisextremelypopularamonggrandmastersandamateursalike.ThoughsomelinesstillgiveBlacktrouble,ithasbeenestablishedasafirstratedefence.Themainlineafter5...e5runsasfollows:

6.Ndb5

Thetheoreticallycriticalmove,threateningNd6+.AllothermovesareconsideredtoallowBlackeasyequality.6.Nxc6isusuallymetby6...bxc6,whenBlack'sextrapawninthecentregivesgood



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SveshnikovVariation:1.e4c52.Nf3Nc63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3e5

playalternatively,even6...dxc67.Qxd8+Kxd8issufficientforequality.[34]6.Nb3and6.Nf3canbewellmetby6...Bb4,threateningtowinWhite'spawnone4.[35]6.Nf5allows6...d5!7.exd5Bxf58.dxc6bxc69.Qf3Qd7.[36]6.Nde2canbemetbyeither6...Bc5or6...Bb4.[37]

6...d6

Blackdoesnotallow7.Nd6+Bxd68.Qxd6,whenWhite'spairofbishopsgivethemtheadvantage.

7.Bg5

Whitegetsreadytoeliminatetheknightonf6,furtherweakeningBlack'scontroloverthed5square.Alesscommonalternativeis7.Nd5Nxd58.exd5Nb8(or8...Ne7),whenWhitewilltrytoexploittheirqueensidepawnmajority,whileBlackwillseekcounterplayonthekingside.

7...a6

BlackforcesWhite'sknightbacktoa3.

8.Na3

Theimmediate8.Bxf6forces8...gxf6,whenafter9.Na3,Blackcantransposeintothemainlinewith9...b5ordeviatewith9...f5!?

8...b5!

8...b5wasSveshnikov'sinnovation,controllingc4andthreatening...b4forkingWhite'sknights.Previously,Blackplayed8...Be6(theBirdVariation),whichallowedthea3knighttoreturntolifewith9.Nc4.Theentirevariationupto8...b5isreferredtoastheChelyabinskVariation.Itcanalsobereachedfromthealternatemoveorder1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3Nc66.Ndb5d67.Bf4e58.Bg5a69.Na3b5,whichisonemovelonger.(ThatalternativemoveordergivesWhiteotheralternatives,including6.Nxc6bxc67.e5Nd58.Ne4,intendingc4,andthegambit6.Be2Bb47.00!?,allowingBxc38.bxc3Nxe4.)Themovenumbersinthefollowingdiscussionarebasedonthemoveordergiveninbold.

TheSveshnikovVariationhasbecomeverypopularinmasterlevelchess.Black's...e5pushseemsantipositional:ithasmadethed6pawnbackwardandthed5squareweak.However,inreturn,BlackgetsafootholdinthecentreandgainstimeonWhite'sknight,whichhasbeendriventotheedgeoftheboardona3.TopplayerswhohaveusedthisvariationincludeVladimirKramnik,VeselinTopalov,TeimourRadjabov,BorisGelfand,MichaelAdamsandAlexanderKhalifman,amongmanyothers.

Inthediagrammedpositionafter8...b5,Whiteusuallyparriesthethreatof...b4byplaying9.Bxf6or9.Nd5.After9.Bxf6,9...Qxf6?!10.Nd5Qd8failsto11.c4b4(11...bxc412.Nxc4isgoodforWhite,whothreatens13.Qa4)12.Qa4Bd713.Nb5!axb514.Qxa8Qxa815.Nc7+Kd816.Nxa8andtheknightescapesviab6.Thus9...gxf6isforced,whenWhitecontinues10.Nd5.White'spowerfulknightond5andBlack'sshatteredkingsidepawnstructurearecompensatedbyBlack'sbishoppairandWhite'soffsideknightona3.Also,



a b c d e f g h8 8

7 7

6 6

5 5

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1a b c d e f g h

ChelyabinskVariation:6.Ndb5d67.Bg5a68.Na3b5

a b c d e f g h8 8

7 7

6 6

5 5

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1a b c d e f g h

AcceleratedDragon:1.e4c52.Nf3Nc63.d4cxd44.Nxd4g6

Blackhastheplanofplaying10...f5,followedby...fxe4and...f5withthesecondfpawn,whichwouldgivethemgoodcontrolofthecentre.Analternativeplanistoplay10...Bg7followedby...Ne7toimmediatelytradeoffWhite'spowerfulknightthislineisknownastheNovosibirskVariation.

Insteadof9.Bxf6,Whitecanalsoplay9.Nd5,whichusuallyleadstoquieterplay.WhitedecidesnottodoubleBlack'sfpawnsandthegameoftencontinues9...Be710.Bxf6Bxf611.c3.ThisallowsWhitetomaintaintheirknightond5bytradingoffBlack'sknightonf6,andpreparestobringtheknightona3backintoplaywiththemanoeuvreNa3c2e3.Anotherlineis10.Nxe7Nxe7!(fightingforcontrolofd5andnotfearingthedoubledpawns)11.Bxf6gxf6.However,arecentdevelopmentintheSveshnikovhasbeen11.c4(insteadofc3),whichoftenleadstopositionswherewhiteispressingforthewinatnorisk.Aquickdrawispossibleafter9.Nd5Qa5+!?10.Bd2(inordertoprevent10...Nxe4)10...Qd811.Bg5Qa5+etc.Inordertoavoidthis,Whitecanplay11.Nxf6+or11.c4.

AcceleratedDragon:4...g6

LikethestandardDragonVariation,Blackdevelopsthebishoptog7intheAcceleratedDragon.ThedifferenceisthatBlackavoidsplaying...d7d6,sothattheycanlaterplay...d7d5inonemoveifpossible.Forexample,ifWhitetriestoplayinthestyleoftheYugoslavAttackwith5.Nc3Bg76.Be3Nf67.f3008.Qd2,8...d5!equalisesimmediately.WhenWhitedoesplay5.Nc3,itisusuallywiththeideaofcontinuing5...Bg76.Be3Nf67.Bc4008.Bb3(forestallinganytricksinvolving...Nxe4and...d5),followedbykingsidecastling.

ThecriticaltestofBlack'smoveorderis5.c4,theMarczyBind.WhitehopestocrampBlack'spositionbyimpedingthe...d7d5and...b7b5pawnthrusts.Generally,thislineislesstacticalthanmanyoftheotherSicilianvariations,andplayinvolvesmuchstrategicmaneuveringonbothsides.After5.c4,themainlineruns5...Bg76.Be3Nf67.Nc3andnow7...00or7...Ng4ismostfrequentlyplayed.

KalashnikovVariation:4...e55.Nb5d6

TheKalashnikovVariation(ECOcodeB32)[38]isacloserelativeoftheSveshnikovVariation,andissometimesknownastheNeoSveshnikov.Themove4...e5hashadalonghistoryLouisCharlesMahdeLaBourdonnaisuseditinhismatchesagainstAlexanderMcDonnellin1834,anditwasalsopopularforashorttimeinthe1940s.TheseearliergamesfocusedontheLwenthalVariation(similartotheKalashnikovbutthereplyto5.Nb5is5...a6)with4...e55.Nb5a66.Nd6+Bxd67.Qxd6Qf6,whereBlackgivesupthetwobishopstoachievealeadindevelopment.However,themovefelloutofuseonceitwasdeterminedthatWhitekepttheadvantageintheselines.



a b c d e f g h8 8

7 7

6 6

5 5

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1a b c d e f g h

KalashnikovVariation:1.e4c52.Nf3Nc63.d4cxd44.Nxd4e55.Nb5d6

a b c d e f g h8 8

7 7

6 6

5 5

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1a b c d e f g h

TaimanovVariation:1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nc6

Onlyinthelate1980sdidBlackplayersrevive4...e5withtheintentionofmeeting5.Nb5with5...d6:thisistheKalashnikovVariation.TheideasinthislinearesimilartothoseintheSveshnikovBlackacceptsabackwardpawnond6andweakensthed5squarebutgainstimebychasingtheknight.ThedifferencebetweenthetwovariationsisthatBlackhasnotdevelopedtheirknighttof6andWhitehasnotbroughttheirknightouttoc3,sobothplayershaveextraoptions.Blackmayforego...Nf6infavourof...Ne7,e.g.after6.N1c3a67.Na3b58.Nd5Nge7,whichavoidsWhite'splanofBg5andBxf6toinflictdoubledfpawnsonBlack.Or,Blackcandelaybringingouttheknightinfavourofplaying...Be7g5oraquick...f5.Ontheotherhand,Whitehastheoptionof6.c4,whichsolidifiestheirgripond5andclampsdownon...b5,butleavesthed4squareslightlyweak.

2...e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4

Black'smove2...e6givesprioritytodevelopingthedarksquaredbishop.After3.d4cxd44.Nxd4,Blackhasthreemainmoves:4...Nc6(theTaimanovVariation),4...a6(theKanVariation)and4...Nf6.After4...Nf65.Nc3,BlackcantransposetotheScheveningenVariationwith5...d6,orplay5...Nc6,theFourKnightsVariation.Alsonotethatafter4...Nf6Whitecannotplay5.e5?becauseof5...Qa5+followedbyQxe5.

TaimanovVariation:4...Nc6

NamedafterMarkTaimanov,theTaimanovVariationcanbereachedthrough1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nc6or1.e4c52.Nf3Nc63.d4cxd44.Nxd4e6.Blackdevelopstheknighttoanaturalsquareandkeepshisoptionsopenregardingtheplacementofhisotherpieces.Oneoftheideasofthissystemistodeveloptheking'sbishoptob4orc5.Whitecanpreventthisby5.Nb5d6,when6.c4leadstoaversionoftheMarczyBindfavouredbyKarpov.Theresultingpositionafter6.c4Nf67.N1c3a68.Na3b6isatypeofHedgehog.

TheKasparovGambit8...d5wasplayedtwiceintheWorldChessChampionship1985,butvirtuallydisappearedfrommasterpraxisafterthegameKarpovvanderWiel,Brussels(SWIFT)1986.

5.Nc3ismorecommonnowadaysthan5.Nb5,when5...d6normallytransposestotheScheveningenVariationand5...Nf6istheFourKnightsVariation(seebelow).IndependentmovesforBlackare5...Qc7and5...a6,withtheformerbeingthemoreusualmoveorderseeninrecentyears,asafter5...a6,thecontinuation6.Nxc6bxc67.Bd3,despiteitsapparentsimplicity,hasgivenBlackdifficultiesinreachingequality.Taimanov'sideawastoplay5...a6(preventingNb5)followedby...Nge7and...Nxd4.

Kan(Paulsen)Variation:4...a6

NamedafterIlyaKan.Byplaying4...a6,BlackpreventsNb5andpreparesaneventual...b5advance.



a b c d e f g h8 8

7 7

6 6

5 5

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1a b c d e f g h

KanVariation:1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4a6

a b c d e f g h8 8

7 7

6 6

5 5

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1a b c d e f g h

FourKnightsVariation:1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3Nc6

White'ssecondmostpopularreplyis5.Nc3,whenBlack'sdevelopmentofthekingsideknightoftentakesfocus,sinceplaying...Nf6canbemetwithe5whichbothcreatesaBlackweaknessonthed6squareandcausestheBlackknightadisadvantageousmove.SoBlacknormallyplaysamovetocontrolthee5squareandpreventthepawnfromadvancing.ThemainKanmoveis5...Qc7,although5...Nc6transposingintoaTaimanovor5...d6transposingintoaScheveningencanoccur.Analternativeideaistheimmediate5...b5tocreatepressurefromthequeensidewiththeideaofplaying...b4attackingthec3knight,orBb7tobuildpressurealongthelongwhitesquareddiagonal.Whitegenerallyanswerswith6.Bd3,supportingthee4pawn.

ThemostpopularfifthmoveforWhiteis5.Bd3,whenafter5...Bc56.Nb3Blackcaneitherretreat6...Be7where7.Qg4makesBlack'skingsideproblematic,or6...Ba7.Alsopossibleis5.c4tocreateaMarczybindsetup.

FourKnightsVariation:4...Nf65.Nc3Nc6

TheFourKnightsVariationismainlyusedasawayofgettingintothemainlineSveshnikovVariation,reachedafter6.Ndb5d67.Bf4e58.Bg5a69.Na3b5.ThepointofthismoveorderistoavoidlinessuchastheRossolimoVariation(1.e4c52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5),or1.e4c52.Nf3Nc63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3e56.Ndb5d67.Nd5,whicharepossibleinthestandardSveshnikovmoveorder.Ontheotherhand,intheFourKnightsmoveorder,Whiteacquirestheextraoptionof6.Nxc6bxc67.e5Nd58.Ne4,soWhiteisnotobligedtoentertheSveshnikov.

IfBlackisnotaimingfortheSveshnikov,themainalternativeistoplay6...Bb4inreplyto6.Ndb5.Then7.a3Bxc3+8.Nxc3d59.exd5exd5leadstoapositionwhereBlackhasgivenupthetwobishopsbuthasactivepiecesandthepossibilityofplaying...d5d4.

2.Nf3without3.d4:White'sthirdmovealternatives

Whitecanplay2.Nf3withoutintendingtofollowupwith3.d4.ThesystemsgivenbelowareusuallyclassifiedalongwithWhite'ssecondmovealternativesasAntiSicilians.

2...d6without3.d4

CanalSokolskyAttack:3.Bb5+



a b c d e f g h8 8

7 7

6 6

5 5

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1a b c d e f g h

MoscowVariationortheCanalSokolskyAttack:1.e4c52.Nf3d63.Bb5+

a b c d e f g h8 8

7 7

6 6

5 5

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1a b c d e f g h

RossolimoVariation:1.e4c52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5

After1.e4c52.Nf3d6,White'smostimportantalternativeto3.d4is3.Bb5+,knownastheMoscowVariationortheCanalSokolskyAttack.Grandmasterssometimeschoosethisvariationwhentheywishtoavoidtheoryforinstance,itwasplayedbyGarryKasparovintheonlinegameKasparovTheWorld.ExpertsinthislineincludeGMsSergeiRublevskyandTomOral.Blackcanblockthecheckwith3...Bd7,3...Nc6or3...Nd7.Thepositionafter3...Nc6canalsobereachedviatheRossolimoVariationafter1.e4c52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5d6.Mostcommonis3...Bd7,whenafter4.Bxd7+Qxd7,Whitecaneitherplay5.00followedbyc3andd4,or5.c4inthestyleoftheMarczyBind.

TheWorldTeamVariationoftheCanalSokolskyAttackcontinueswith5.c4Nc66.Nc3Nf67.00g68.d4cxd49.Nxd4Bg710.Nde2Qe6,forkingWhite'spawnsone4andc4.ThismovewassuggestedbyIrinaKrush,andplayedintheKasparovTheWorld,1999onlinegame.Kasparovnoteditsnovelty.[39]

Others

AnotherpossibilityforWhiteis3.c3,intendingtoestablishapawncentrewithd4nextmove.Themostfrequentcontinuationis3...Nf64.Be2,when4...Nxe4??losesto5.Qa4+.Whitesometimesplays3.Nc3,whichusuallytransposestotheOpenSicilianafter3...Nf64.d4.

2...Nc6without3.d4

NimzovichRossolimoAttack:3.Bb5

TheRossolimoVariation,3.Bb5,isawellrespectedalternativeto3.d4.ItisnamedafterNicolasRossolimoandisrelatedtotheMoscowVariation.White'susualintentionistoplayBxc6,givingBlackdoubledpawns.Black'smajorresponsesare3...g6preparing...Bg7,3...d6preparing...Bd7(ahybridlinethatalsoarisesfromtheMoscowVariationafter2...d63.Bb5+Nc6),and3...e6preparing4...Nge7.SergeiRublevskyandTomOralbothplaythislineaswellastheMoscowVariation.

Others

3.Nc3isacommontranspositionaldeviceforWhite,whocanplay4.d4or4.Bb5nextmovedependingonBlack'sresponse.Blacksometimesplays3...e5toavoidbothmovesthen4.Bc4isconsideredWhite'sbestmove.3.c3transposestolinesoftheAlapinVariationafter3...Nf6or3...d5.

2...e6without3.d4



a b c d e f g h8 8

7 7

6 6

5 5

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1a b c d e f g h

1.e4c52.Nf3g63.d4Bg74.c4cxd4

Whitesometimesplays3.Nc3asawaitingmove,thoughithaslittleindependentsignificance.With3.d3,WhiteplanstodevelopinKing'sIndianAttackstylewithg3andBg2thislinewasusedbyFischertocrushOscarPannoinafamousgame(FischerPanno,BuenosAires1970).3.c3willtransposetolinesoftheAlapinVariationafter3...Nf6,ortheFrenchDefenceafter3...d54.e5Nc65.d4,though4...d4isstronger,asafter5.cxd4cxd46.Qa4+Nc67.Bb5Bd78.Bxc6Bxc69.Qxd4Bxf3isastrongpawnsacrifice,givingBlackexcellentcompensation.3.b3,intendingBb2,isarareindependenttry,occasionallyessayedbyHeikkiWesterineninthe1970s.

3.Bd3

InFoxyOpeningsVol.30,IMDannyKopecsuggeststhemove3.Bd3againstanyofBlack'scommonresponses,intendingtofollowupwithc3andBc2.Thislineisknownas"TheKopecSystem."[40]

2.Nf3:Black'ssecondmovealternatives

After1.e4c52.Nf3,Blackhassomelesscommonlyplayedoptionsapartfrom2...d6,2...Nc6and2...e6.

2...g6:HungarianVariation

2...g6istheHyperAcceleratedDragon.Whitecommonlyplays3.d4.Othermovesare3.c3and3.c4.Mostcommonhereis3...cxd4but3...Bg7isalsoplayed.Incaseof3...cxd4Whitemayplay4.Nxd4.Then4...Nc6maybeplayedfora2...Nc6line.TheothermainmoveforBlackis4...Bg7.Thiswillhaveeither5.c4or5.Nc3.Foreither3.c3or3.c4,thenBlackmayplay3...Bg7.Then4.d4with3.c4transposestothe3.d4line.Or4.d4with3.c3transposestoanAlapin(orAcceleratedDragon)line.

2...a6:O'KellyVariation

2...a6istheO'KellyVariation.Theideaisthat3.d4runsinto3...cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3e5when6.Nb5isprevented,andBlackwillequalizebyplaying6...Bb4andpossibly...d5.However,after3.c3or3.c4itisunclearhow2...a6hasimprovedBlack'sposition.

2...Nf6:NimzovichRubinsteinVariation

2...Nf6istheNimzowitschVariation.ItbearssomesimilaritytoAlekhine'sDefence.[41]White'sstrongestreplyistochasetheknightby3.e5Nd54.Nc3andnow(a)4...Nxc35.dxc3,when5...b6?,asNimzowitschplayedandrecommended,losesto6.e6!f67.Ne5![42]or(b)4...e6(themainline)5.Nxd5exd56.d4Nc67.dxc5Bxc58.Qxd5Qb6(8...d69.exd6Qb6isalsoplayed)[43]9.Bc4!Bxf2+10.Ke20011.Rf1Bc512.Ng5Nd4+13.Kd1withsharpplayfavoringWhite.[44]

Others

Othermovesinclude:



a b c d e f g h8 8

7 7

6 6

5 5

4 4

3 3

2 2

1 1a b c d e f g h

ClosedSicilian(Mainline):1.e4c52.Nc3Nc63.g3g64.Bg2Bg75.d3d6

2...b6istheKatalymovVariation,aftertheKazakh/RussianmasterBorisKatalymov.ItisgenerallyconsideredbetterforWhite,thoughithasfrequentlybeenplayedbytheFrenchGMChristianBauer.OtherGMs,includingGataKamsky,haveoccasionallyuseditasasurpriseweapon.2...Qc7istheQuinterosVariation.ItwillfrequentlytransposeintoastandardlinesuchastheTaimanovVariationorPaulsenVariation,orelseWhitecanplay3.c3inthestyleoftheAlapinVariation,whereBlack'squeenmaynotbesowellplacedonc7.

ClosedSicilian

2.Nc3isWhite'ssecondmostcommonmoverespondingto1.e4c5.Black'soptionsaresimilartothosefor2.Nf3,themostcommonbeing...Nc6,alongwith...e6and...d6,andlesscommonly...a6and...g6.Inallcases,Whitecanthenplay3.Nf3,asifWhitehadplayed2.Nf3then3.Nc3(e.g.2.Nf3Nc63.Nc3,B30).

Forthemostpart,othermovesaretheClosedSicilian.Possiblemovesare3.g3and3.f4ingeneral,also3.Nge2,andlesscommonly3.d3and3.Bc4.SomelinesmaytransposetotheOpenSicilian,buttherearemanythatdonot.

Alsoofsomeinterestis3.Bb5to...Nc6.

Atypicallineis2...Nc63.g3(ECOcodeB24).Also2...Nc63.f4istheClosedSicilian,GrandPrixAttack(partofB23).

Whitecanalsokeeptheiroptionsopenwith3.Nge2.AndrewSoltishasdubbedthatthe"ChameleonSystem",sinceWhitemaintainstheoptionofplayingaClosedSicilianwith4.g3ortransposingtoastandardOpenSicilianwith4.d4cxd45.Nxd4.Twodrawbacksarethat(a)theClosedSicilianlineswithanearlyNge2arenotverychallengingforBlack,and(b)ifBlackplays2...Nc63.Nge2g6,4.d4reachesanAcceleratedDragonwhereWhitehaslosttheoptionofplayingc4,theMarczyBind,oftenconsideredWhite'sbestline.[45]InviewofpossibletranspositionstothemainSicilianvariations,Black'sreplyto2.Nc3willdependonwhattheyplayintheOpenSicilian.2...Nc6isthemostcommonchoice,but2...e6and2...d6areoftenplayed.TheMainlineoftheClosedSicilianis2.Nc3Nc63.g3g64.Bg2Bg75.d3d6(diagram),whenWhite'smainoptionsare6.Be3followedbyQd2andpossibly000,and6.f4followedbyNf3and00.

White'ssecondmovealternatives

Othermovesbesides2.Nf3and2.Nc3arepopular.

AlapinVariation:2.c3

2.c3istheAlapinVariationorc3Sicilian.OriginallychampionedbySemyonAlapinattheendofthe19thcentury,itwasrevivedinthelate1960sbyEvgenySveshnikovandEvgenyVasiukov.NowadaysitsstrongestpractitionersincludegrandmastersSergeiTiviakovandEduardasRozentalis.Whiteaimstosetupaclassicalpawncentrewith3.d4,soBlackshouldcounterimmediatelyinthecentreby2...Nf6or2...d5.Theline2...Nf63.e5Nd5resemblesAlekhine'sDefence,buttheinclusionofthemovesc3and...c5is



definitelyinBlack'sfavour.NowWhitecanplay4.d4cxd45.Nf3,whenBlackhasachoicebetween5...e6and5...Nc6.AnotherideaforWhiteis5.Bc4,whichismetby5...Qc7.2...d53.exd5Qxd54.d4Nf65.Nf3istheothermainline,whenBlack'smainoptionsare5...e6and5...Bg4.Inthisline,Whiteusuallyendsupwithanisolatedqueen'spawnafterpawnsareexchangedond4.ArareroptiononBlack'ssecondmoveis2...e6,withtheaimoftransposingtotheAdvanceVariationoftheFrenchDefenceafter3.d4d54.e5.

GrandPrixAttack:2.f4

2.f4istheGrandPrixAttackorMcDonnellAttack:thelatternamestemsfromthe14thmatchgameplayedinLondonin1834betweenAlexanderMcDonnellandCharlesLouisMahdeLaBourdonnais,wonbyBlack.AccordingtoJeremySilmanandothers,Black'sbestreplyis2...d53.exd5Nf6!,theTalGambit,whichhascausedtheimmediate2.f4todeclineinpopularity.[46]Whitemaydeclinethegambitwith3.Nc3,calledthe"ToiletVariation",sonamedafteritsreputedplaceofinvention.[47]Alesscommonoptionis2...e6,asLaBourdonnaisplayedagainstMcDonnell.PlayersusuallyentertheGrandPrixAttacknowadaysbyplaying2.Nc3firstbeforecontinuing3.f4.Themodernmainlineruns2.Nc3Nc63.f4g64.Nf3Bg7.Themove2.Nc3hasbeenplayedathighlevelgrandmasterchess(GelfandandShorthaveplayedit)butonlyrarely.HereWhitecanplaythepositional5.Bb5,threateningtodoubleBlack'spawnswithBxc6,orthemoreaggressive5.Bc4,aimingforakingsideattack.

SmithMorraGambit:2.d4

2.d4cxd43.c3istheSmithMorraGambit.Decliningitbyeither3...Nf6or3...d5,transposingtothec3line,ispossible,butacceptingitby3...dxc3iscritical.[48]After4.Nxc3,Whiteisconsiderednottohaveenoughcompensationforthepawn[49][50][51][52]however,itcanbedangerousforBlackifheisunprepared,astherearemanypitfallsfortheunwary.[53]

Others

Othermovesinclude:

2.Ne2istheKeresVariation,afavouriteofPaulKeres,andhassimilarideastotheChameleonSystemdiscussedunder2.Nc3Whitecanfollowupwith3.d4withanOpenSicilian,3.g3withaClosedSicilian,or3.Nbc3,continuingtodeferthechoicebetweenthetwo.2.d3signalsWhite'sintentiontodevelopalongKing'sIndianAttacklines,andusuallytransposestotheClosedSicilian.2.b3followedby3.Bb2istheSnyderVariation,namedforUSCFmasterRobertM.Snyder.[54]IthasbeenusedoccasionallybyNigelShortandisafavouriteofGeorgianGMTamazGelashvili.2.g3istheSteinitzVariation,whichwassometimesalsoplayedbyTaimanov,andcantransposetotheClosedSicilianbutoffersotheroptionssuchas2...d53.exd5Qxd5forBlack,andacentralbuildupwithc3andd4forWhite.2.c4occasionallyleadstopositionsthatresemblelinesintheEnglishOpening.2.b4istheWingGambit.White'sideais2.b4cxb43.a3,hopingtodeflectBlack'scpawn,thendominatethecenterwithanearlyd4.However,Blackcangainanadvantagewithaccurateplay.TheWingGambitisthusgenerallyconsideredtooreckless.GMJoeGallaghercallsit"aforgottenrelic,hardlyhavingsetfootinatournamenthallsincethedaysofFrankMarshallandRudolphSpielmann.Whitesacrificesapawnfor...well,notalot."[55]2.a3issimilartotheWingGambit,theideabeingtoplay3.b4nextmove.



2.Na3isaneccentricmoverecentlybroughtintoprominencebyGMVadimZvjaginsevatthe2005RussianChessChampionshipSuperfinal.Heuseditthriceduringthetournament,drawingtwiceandbeatingAlexanderKhalifman.2.Bc4istheBowlderAttack,andthoughonceplayedatthehighestlevel,ispopulartodayonlyamongclubplayersorbeginnerswhoareunfamiliarwiththeSicilianandarelookingeithertoattacktheweakf7pawnortoprepareforaquickkingsidecastle.However,afteramovesuchas2...e6,Blackwillsoonplay...d5andopenupthecentrewhilegainingtimebyattackingthebishop.AnderssenWyvill,London1851continued2..e63.Nc3a64.a4Nc65.d3g66.Nge2Bg77.00Nge78.f4009.Bd2d510.Bb3Nd411.Nxd4,andnowSoltisrecommends11...cxd4!12.Ne2Bd7![56]2.e5,whichgainsspaceandpreventsBlackplayingNf6.Whiteoftensupportthee5pawnwith3.f4or3.Nf3.Thedrawbackof2.e5isthatnoadditionalpressureisbroughttothecenter,allowingBlackvariousoptions.WilhelmSteinitzplayed2.e5atleastthreetimesintournamentplay,defeatingSzymonWinawer,MaxWeiss,andCelsoGolmayoZpide.[57]2.Qh5,threateningthecpawnasintheWaywardQueenAttack,wasplayedtwicein2005byHikaruNakamura,butthemoveisconsidereddubious.Simply2...Nf6givesBlackacomfortablepositionafter3.Qxc5Nxe4,while3.Qh4displacesthequeenandlosestime.Nakamuralostin23movestoAndreiVolokitinin2005,andNeilMcDonaldcriticisedtheopeningexperimentas"ratherfoolish".[58]

ECOcodes

TheEncyclopaediaofChessOpeningsclassifiestheSicilianDefenceunderthecodesB20throughB99,givingitmorecodesthananyotheropening.Ingeneraltheseguidelinesapply:

CodesB20throughB29coverlinesafter1.e4c5whereWhitedoesnotplay2.Nf3,andlineswhereWhiteplays2.Nf3andBlackrespondswithamoveotherthan2...d6,2...Nc6or2...e6.CodesB30throughB39coverthelinesbeginning1.e4c52.Nf3Nc6thatdonottransposeintolinesthatcanalsobeginwith2...d6.ThemostimportantvariationsincludedherearetheRossolimo,Kalashnikov,SveshnikovandAcceleratedDragon.CodesB40throughB49coverthelinesbeginning1.e4c52.Nf3e6,mostimportantlytheTaimanovandKanvariations.CodesB50throughB59coverthelinesafter1.e4c52.Nf3d6notcoveredincodesB60B99.ThisincludestheMoscowVariation(3.Bb5+),3.d4cxd44.Qxd4,andlinesintheClassicalVariationexceptfortheRichterRauzerAttack,includingtheSozinAttackandtheBoleslavskyVariation.CodesB60throughB69covertheRichterRauzerAttackoftheClassicalVariation.CodesB70throughB79coverthenormal(unaccelerated)DragonVariation.CodesB80throughB89covertheScheveningenVariation.CodesB90throughB99covertheNajdorfVariation.

Seealso

ListofchessopeningsListofchessopeningsnamedafterplaces

References

Notes



A. HenryBird,writingin1883,summarizedthefluctuationsintheSicilian'sreputationthus:

TheSicilian...hasprobablyundergonemorevicissitudesinregardtoitsestimationandappreciationthananyotherformofdefence.In1851,whentheGreatExhibitionLondonTournamentwascommenced,itwasentirelyoutoffavor,butitssuccessfuladoptiononsomanyoccasionsbyAnderssen,thefirstprizewinner,entirelyrestoredittoconfidence.ItsrejectionbyMorphyin18578,andbySteinitzin1862,causeditagaintolapseinconsiderationasnotbeingaperfectlyvalidandreliabledefence.Itsfortuneshaveeversincecontinuedinanunsettledstate.Staunton(threeweeksbeforehisdeath),...pronouncedittobequitetrustworthy,andonthesamedateLowenthalexpressedasimilaropinion.BaronKolisch...concursintheseviews.

J.I.Minchin(editor)(1973).GamesPlayedintheLondonInternationalChessTournament1883(reprinted.).BritishChessMagazine.pp.28687.SBN900846089.

B. "Steinitz,throughouthislife,hadacertaindislikeoftheSicilian.Heneverceasedtowritethathepreferred1...e5andthemajorityofplayersfollowedhisexample."Polugaevsky,LevJeroenPiketChristopheGuneau(1995).SicilianLove:LevPolugaevskyChessTournament,BuenoAires1994.NewinChess.p.65.ISBN9071689999.

C. Griffith,R.C.J.H.White(1925).ModernChessOpenings.Leeds:Whitehead&Miller.p.191.Twelveyearsearlier,inthesecondedition,theauthorshadwritten,"Formanyyears,theSicilianhasenjoyedafair,thoughfluctuatingamountoffavourformatchplay.WhileitisnotanalyticallysosoundastheFrench,itaffordsgreateropportunityforcounterattackandlesschanceofanearlydraw."Griffith,R.C.J.H.White(1913).ModernChessOpenings.London:Longmans,GreenandCo.p.164.

D. Fine,Reuben(1965).GreatMomentsinModernChess.NewYork:DoverPublications.ISBN0486214494.(describedas"anunabrigedandunalteredrepublication"ofMcKay,David(1948).TheWorld'saChessboard.p.212..

Citations

1. Rowson,Jonathan(2005).ChessforZebras:ThinkingDifferentlyAboutBlackandWhite.GambitPublications.p.243.ISBN1901983854.

2. Sosonko,GennadyPaulvanderSterren(2000).NewInChessYearbook55.InterchessBV.p.227.ISBN9056910698.

3. Watson,John(October2006).MasteringtheChessOpenings:UnlockingtheMysteriesoftheModernChessOpenings,Volume1.GambitPublications.p.175.ISBN1904600603.

4. JohnEmms,StartingOut:TheSicilian,2nded.,p.55. Nunn,John(February2001).UnderstandingChessMovebyMove.GambitPublications.p.57.ISBN1901983

412.6. Rowson,Jonathan(2005).ChessforZebras:ThinkingDifferentlyAboutBlackandWhite.GambitPublications.

p.243.ISBN1901983854.7. DeFirmian,Nick(2008).ModernChessOpenings:MCO15.RandomHousePuzzles&Games.p.244.

ISBN0812930843.8. Ristoja,ThomasAulikkiRistoja(1995).Perusteet.Shakki(inFinnish).WSOY.p.63.ISBN9510205052.9. "ChessandChessPlayersoftheRenaissance"(http://batgirl.atspace.com/Renplayers.html).Retrieved

20080119.10. Polugaevsky,LevJeroenPiketChristopheGuneau(1995).SicilianLove:LevPolugaevskyChessTournament,

BuenoAires1994.NewinChess.p.50.ISBN9071689999.11. Philidor,FranoisAndrDanican(2005).AnalysisoftheGameofChess(1777).HardingeSimpoleLtd.

pp.20001.ISBN1843821613.12. Polugaevsky,LevJeroenPiketChristopheGuneau(1995).SicilianLove:LevPolugaevskyChessTournament,

BuenoAires1994.NewinChess.p.53.ISBN9071689999.13. Korn,WalterJohnW.Collins(1957).ModernChessOpenings(9thed.).Pitman.p.113.ASINB0007E54DW

(https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007E54DW).ISBN0713486562.



(https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007E54DW).ISBN0713486562.14. Staunton,Howard(1848).TheChessPlayer'sHandbook(2nded.).HenryG.Bohn.p.371.ISBN184382088

9.ModernplayerswouldconsiderthenotionthattheSicilian"preventseveryattack"naive.15. Shibut,Macon(2004).PaulMorphyandtheEvolutionofChessTheory.Dover.p.42.ISBN0486435741.16. J.I.Minchin(editor)(1973).GamesPlayedintheLondonInternationalChessTournament1883(reprinted.).

BritishChessMagazine.pp.28687.SBN900846089.RemarksofHenryBird,quotedabove.17. Polugaevsky,LevJeroenPiketChristopheGueneau(1995).SicilianLove:LevPolugaevskyChessTournament,

BuenoAires1994.NewinChess.p.64.ISBN9071689999.18. Gossip,G.H.D.Lipschtz,S.(1902).TheChessPlayer'sManual.DavidMcKay.p.799.19. Freeborough,E.Rev.C.E.Ranken(1889).ChessOpenings:AncientandModern(1sted.).TrbnerandCo.,

Ltd.p.239.ISBN088254179X.20. Freeborough,E.Rev.C.E.Ranken(1896).ChessOpenings:AncientandModern(3rded.).KeganPaul,

Trench,TrbnerandCo.,Ltd.p.248.ISBN088254179X.21. "CapablancaontheSicilianDefence"

(http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/winter15.html#3961._Capablanca_on_the_Sicilian_Defence).Retrieved20080119.

22. Mason,James(originally1894,republished1958onwards).TheArtofChess.DavidMcKay.pp.46162.Checkdatevaluesin:|date=(help)

23. Tarrasch,Siegbert(1976).TheGameofChess.DavidMcKay.p.322.ISBN0679140425.24. TheGrandInternationalMasters'TournamentatSt.Petersburg1914,DavidMcKay,c.1915,p.75.25. Polugaevsky,LevJeroenPiketChristopheGueneau(1995).SicilianLove:LevPolugaevskyChessTournament,

BuenoAires1994.NewinChess.pp.6769.ISBN9071689999.26. Keene,R.(March22,1997)."Mafiaconnections"

(http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3724/is_199703/ai_n8772960).TheSpectator.Retrieved20080713.27. "CapablancaplaystheSicilian"(http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?

yearcomp=exactly&year=&playercomp=black&pid=47544&player=&pid2=&player2=&movescomp=exactly&moves=&opening=B20B99&eco=&result=).

28. "TarraschplaystheSicilian"(http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?yearcomp=exactly&year=&playercomp=black&pid=10510&player=&pid2=&player2=&movescomp=exactly&moves=&opening=B20B99&eco=&result=).

29. Alekhine,Alexander(1961).TheBookoftheNewYorkInternationalChessTournament1924.NewYork:DoverPublications.p.253.ISBN0486207528.

30. Harding,T."TheOpeningsatNewYork1924"(http://web.archive.org/web/20080531132119/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/kibitz34.txt).Archivedfromtheoriginal(http://www.chesscafe.com/text/kibitz34.txt)on20080531.Retrieved20080713.

31. Korn,WalterNickDeFirmian(1990).ModernChessOpenings.DavidMcKay.p.243.ISBN0812917855.32. Evans,LarryWalterKorn(1965).ModernChessOpenings.Pitman.p.182.ASINB000HX7GR0

(https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HX7GR0).33. Gufeld,Eduard(June1998).SecretsoftheSicilianDragon.CardozaPublishing.ISBN0940685922.34. AtanasKolevandTrajkoNedev,TheEasiestSicilian,ChessStars(Bulgaria),2008,pp.20305.ISBN978954

8782661.35. Kolev&Nedev,pp.20509.36. Kolev&Nedev,pp.21113.37. Kolev&Nedev,pp.20910.38. "KalashnikovVariation"(http://maskeret.com/cgibin/diapos.cgi?num=540).39. "Kasparovvs.restofworld:BarnetChessClubperspective"

(http://www.gtryfon.demon.co.uk/bcc/drama/kaspvsrestofworld/kaspvsrest.htm).RetrievedMarch23,2014.40. "FOXYOPENINGSVOLUME30KopecAntiSicilianSystem"(http://www.houseofstaunton.com/foxy

openingsvolume30kopecantiscilliansystem.html).41. AronNimzowitsch,MySystem(21stCenturyEdition),HaysPublishing,1991,p.250,ISBN1880673851

AronNimzovich,MySystem,DavidMcKay,1947,p.358,ISBN0679140255.42. JohnNunnandJoeGallagher,BeatingtheSicilian3,HenryHoltandCompany,1995,pp.20001.ISBN08050

4227X.43. JohnNunnandJoeGallagher,BeatingtheSicilian3,HenryHoltandCompany,1995,pp.20102.ISBN08050

4227X.



TheWikibookChessOpeningTheoryhasapageonthetopicof:SicilianDefence

FurtherreadingLevy,DavidO'Connell,Kevin(1987).HowtoPlaytheSicilianDefense.MacmillanPublishers.ISBN0020291914.Bangiev,Alexander(1988).DevelopmentsintheSicilian2.f4198088.QuadrantMarketing.Plaskett,James(1997).TheSicilianTaimanov.EverymanChess.ISBN9781901259018.Plaskett,James(2000).SicilianGrandPrixAttack.EverymanChess.ISBN9781857442915.Golubev,Mikhail(2000).TheSicilianSozin.GambitPublications.ISBN9781901983388.Rogozenko,Dorian(2003).AntiSiciliansAGuideforBlack.GambitPublications.ISBN1901983846.Rogozenko,Dorian(2005).SveshnikovReloaded.QualityChess.ISBN9197524352.Raetsky,AlexanderChetverik,Maxim(2007).ClassicalSicilian.EverymanChess.ISBN1857445376.Hellsten,Johan(2008).PlaytheSicilianKan.EverymanChess.ISBN9781857445817.delaVilla,Jesus(2009).DismantlingtheSicilian.NewinChess.ISBN9789056912949.Yakovich,Yuri(2010).SicilianAttacks.NewInChess.ISBN9789056913328.Taylor,Timothy(2012).SlaytheSicilian!.EverymanChess.ISBN9781857446845.UnderstandingTheSicilianDefenseB21B99(http://www.eznet.com/~mephisto/Understanding%20Sicilian%20Dragon.html)

Retrievedfrom"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sicilian_Defence&oldid=669075919"

Categories: Chessopenings 16thcenturyinchess Italianinventions

4227X.44. JohnNunnandJoeGallagher,BeatingtheSicilian3,HenryHoltandCompany,1995,pp.20305.ISBN08050

4227X.45. JohnCox,StartingOut:SicilianSveshnikov,GloucesterPublishers,2007,pp.24950.ISBN9781857444315.46. TalGambitDeclined(http://www.jeremysilman.com/chess_opng_anlys/030403_tal_gambit_e5.html)

jeremysilman.com47. NigelDavies(1998).TheChessPlayer'sBattleManual(http://books.google.com/books?

id=NwEYAQAAMAAJ&q=%22toilet+variation%22&dq=%22toilet+variation%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ToWiUsjdJ8m8kQWtsIDQBg&ved=0CEgQ6AEwAg)(book).London:BatsfordBooks.p.104.ISBN9780713470437.Retrieved7December2013.

48. AlexanderRaetsky,Meeting1.e4,EverymanChess,2002,p.134.ISBN1857442199.49. JohnWatson,MasteringtheChessOpenings,Volume1,GambitPublications,2006,p.175.ISBN9781

904600602.50. JoeGallagher,BeatingtheAntiSicilians,Batsford/HenryHolt,1994,p.78.ISBN0805035753.51. RichardPalliser,FightingtheAntiSicilians,GloucesterPublishers,2007,pp.20102.ISBN9781857445206.52. JeremySilman,WinningwiththeSicilianDefence:ACompleteRepertoireAgainst1.e4(2nded.1998),Chess

Digest,p.289.ISBN0875681980.53. JoeGallagher,BeatingtheAntiSicilians,Batsford/HenryHolt,1994,pp.7879.ISBN0805035753.54. Snyder,Robert(1977).SnyderSicilian:ACompleteOpeningSystem2.PQN3....vs.Sicilian.Ron'sPostal

ChessClub.55. Gallagher,Joe(1994).BeatingtheAntiSicilians.HenryHoltandCompany.p.81.ISBN0805035753.56. AndySoltis,TheGreatChessTournamentsandTheirStories,ChiltonBookCompany,1975,pp.1718.ISBN

0801961386.57. http://chesstempo.com/gamedatabase.html58. WashingtonPost(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2005/09/25/AR2005092500990.html)

ChesscolumnbyLubomirKavalek,September26,2005.NakamuraVolokitinisalsoannotatedbyNeilMcDonald



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Sicilian Defence - e4c5