Help. White sometimes plays 3.Nc3 as a waiting move, though it has little independent significance. The Sicilian Defence was analysed by Giulio Polerio in his 1594 manuscript on chess,[9] though he did not use the term 'Sicilian Defence'. Sicilian Defense. If Black prevents this with 6...h6, which is the most common answer, White has gained kingside space and discouraged Black from castling on that side, and may later play Bg2. Another fifth move alternative for Black is 5...Nf6, which can transpose into the Sveshnikov Variation after 6.N1c3 or 6.Bg5 d6 7.N1c3. Later, Bent Larsen, Ljubomir Ljubojević, Lev Polugaevsky, Leonid Stein, Mark Taimanov, and Mikhail Tal all made extensive contributions to the theory and practice of the defence. Rowson writes: .mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}, To my mind there is quite a straightforward explanation. Black can play 5...d6, transposing to the Classical Variation; 5...e5, the Sveshnikov Variation; or 5...e6, transposing to the Four Knights Variation. By advancing the c-pawn two squares, Black asserts control over the d4-square and begins the fight for the centre of the board. A typical line is 2...Nc6 3.g3 (ECO code B24). The drawback is that White often obtains an early initiative, so Black has to take care not to fall victim to a quick attack. Less common choices include 4...Qc7, which may later transpose to the Taimanov Variation, 4...Qb6, the Grivas Variation, and 4...d6. However, to do this, he has to make "contact" with the black position. After 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4, Black's most common move is 4...Nf6. [42] or (b) 4...e6 (the main line) 5.Nxd5 exd5 6.d4 Nc6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qxd5 Qb6 (8...d6 9.exd6 Qb6 is also played)[43] 9.Bc4! The World Team Variation of the Moscow Variation continues with 5.c4 Nc6 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.0-0 g6 8.d4 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Bg7 10.Nde2 Qe6, forking White's pawns on e4 and c4. White generally answers with 6.Bd3, supporting the e4-pawn. The former allows White to exchange off Black's light-squared bishop, after which the d5-square becomes very weak; but the latter allows 7.Nf5, when Black can only save the d-pawn by playing the awkward 7...a6 8.Bxd7+ Qxd7. Another possibility for White is 3.c3, intending to establish a pawn centre with d4 next move. In chess, the Sicilian Defence, Alapin Variation is a response to the Sicilian Defence characterised by the moves: . White's usual intention is to play Bxc6, giving Black doubled pawns. lichess.org Play lichess.org. Other important moves are 4...e6 (transposing to the Taimanov Variation), 4...g6 (the Accelerated Dragon) and 4...e5 (the Kalashnikov Variation). 5.Nc3 is more common nowadays than 5.Nb5, when 5...d6 normally transposes to the Scheveningen Variation and 5...Nf6 is the Four Knights Variation (see below). ... [It] is too defensive. For example, if White tries to play in the style of the Yugoslav Attack with 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2, 8...d5! Sign Up. "[22] Siegbert Tarrasch wrote that 1...c5 "is certainly not strictly correct, for it does nothing toward development and merely attempts to render difficult the building up of a centre by the first player. Staunton (three weeks before his death), ... pronounced it to be quite trustworthy, and on the same date Lowenthal expressed a similar opinion. Or, Black can delay bringing out the knight in favour of playing ...Be7–g5 or a quick ...f5. Then 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.Nxc3 d5 9.exd5 exd5 leads to a position where Black has given up the two bishops but has active pieces and the possibility of playing ...d5–d4. I’ll even throw in some games with some basic traps to watch out for. Codes B90 through B99 cover the Najdorf Variation. The move 6.Bg5 was Kurt Richter's invention, threatening to double Black's pawns after Bxf6 and forestalling the Dragon by rendering 6...g6 unplayable. British Chess Magazine. White can also keep options open with 3.Nge2. In the ninth edition of Modern Chess Openings, Walter Korn noted that the Sicilian "received three of its earliest practical tests, and a big boost in popularity, in the 1834 MacDonnell [sic]–La Bourdonnais match, 1843 Staunton–St. Baron Kolisch ... concurs in these views. The most important variations included here are the Rossolimo, Kalashnikov, Sveshnikov and Accelerated Dragon. Report Abuse. Black's most common move after 2.Nf3 is 2...d6. 6.Be3 and 6.f4 are also common. Connect. Ask a Question. This plan of 5...a6 followed by ...e5 represents Black's traditional approach in the Najdorf Variation. So Black normally plays a move to control the e5-square and prevent the pawn from advancing. The opening was popularised when Sveshnikov saw its dynamic potential for Black in the 1970s and 80s. Now White can play 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nf3, when Black has a choice between 5...e6 and 5...Nc6. Another way to prevent getting this page in the future is to use Privacy Pass. ?, when Black can play either 4...Nxe4 or 4...Qa5+. However, 1...c5 does little for Black's development, unlike moves such as 1...e5, 1...g6, or 1...Nc6, which either develop a minor piece or prepare to do so. Yet, the brilliant wins by White are matched by equally brilliant wins by Black; time and again the Black structure has been able to take everything and come back for more. An alternative plan is to play 10...Bg7 followed by ...Ne7 to immediately trade off White's powerful knight; this line is known as the Novosibirsk Variation. Modern Chess Openings calls it the " Cadillac " or " Rolls Royce " of chess openings. 2...a6 is the O'Kelly Variation. Codes B30 through B39 cover the lines beginning 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 that do not transpose into lines that can also begin with 2...d6. It bears some similarity to Alekhine's Defence. White decides not to double Black's f-pawns and the game often continues 9...Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.c3. Performance & security by Cloudflare, Please complete the security check to access. 1...c5 has the benefit of introducing an element of asymmetry into the position – White would not be advised to play 2.c4(the English-like Staunton–Cochrane variation) imitating Black's move, since White could no longer control the d4 square with a pawn and thus will have trouble playing d4 later. [4], Grandmaster John Nunn attributes the Sicilian Defence's popularity to its combative nature; in many lines Black is playing not just for equality, but for the advantage. In Foxy Openings Vol. The pawn trade also opens the c-file for Black, who can place a rook or queen on that file to support the queenside counterplay. White has a lead in development and extra kingside space, which White can use to begin a kingside attack. The other main line is 2...d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3, when Black's main options are 5...e6 and 5...Bg4. 2...Nc6 is a natural developing move, and also prepares ...Nf6 (like 2...d6, Black stops White from replying e5). f6 7.Ne5! The idea behind the English Opening is: White is trying to get Black out of his normal 1.d4 defense (Whether it's Kings Indian, Nimzo, or Queen's Gambit Declined) and transition into lines he is uncomfortable with. ", List of chess openings named after places, "Chess and Chess Players of the Renaissance", "Kasparov vs. rest of world: Barnet Chess Club perspective", "FOXY OPENINGS - VOLUME 30 - Kopec Anti-Sicilian System", "Lubomir Kavalek - CHESS Lubomir Kavalek", "Williams, Simon K - Radovanovic, Jovica 2014 , 2nd Kings Place Open 2014 , London ENG", Understanding The Sicilian Defense B21-B99, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sicilian_Defence&oldid=993912122, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing Italian-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, 6...Ne4?! If you are at an office or shared network, you can ask the network administrator to run a scan across the network looking for misconfigured or infected devices. Bxf2+ 10.Ke2 0-0 11.Rf1 Bc5 12.Ng5 Nd4+ 13.Kd1 with sharp play favouring White.[44]. Today. However, if determined to play the g4 thrust, White can prepare it by responding to 5...a6 with 6.h3 or 6.Rg1. Against best play, however, it is bound to fail. Today, most leading grandmasters include the Sicilian in their opening repertoire. f5? The modern main line runs 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7. Another idea for White is 5.Bc4, which is met by 5...Qc7. Codes B50 through B59 cover the lines after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 not covered in codes B60–B99. Ask a Question. Opening 1.d4 is a statistically more successful opening for White because of the high success rate of the Sicilian defence against 1.e4. Make a Suggestion. White's pressure on the d6-pawn often compels Black to respond to Bxf6 with ...gxf6, rather than recapturing with a piece (e.g. Black responds by moving the c-pawn, also controlling the important central d4-square and creating an asymmetrical position. [29] The following year, the authors of Modern Chess Openings (4th edition) wrote, "The Sicilian has claims to be considered as the best of the irregular defences to 1.P-K4 at Black's disposal, and has been practised with satisfactory results by the leading players of the day. Thus 9...gxf6 is forced, and White continues 10.Nd5. The Accelerated Dragon (or Accelerated Fianchetto) is a chess opening variation of the Sicilian Defence that begins with the moves: . If the complications after 6.g4 are not to White's taste, a major alternative is 6.Be2, a typical line being 6...a6 (this position can be reached from the Najdorf via 5...a6 6.Be2 e6) 7.0-0 Be7 8.f4 0-0. "[13] Staunton wrote of the Sicilian, "In the opinion of Jaenisch and the German Handbuch, with which I coincide, this is the best possible reply to 1.P-K4, [1.e4 in algebraic notation] 'as it renders the formation of a centre impracticable for White and prevents every attack.' Cloudflare Ray ID: 607e29835f24fed6 [33] White's most dangerous try against the Dragon is the Yugoslav Attack, characterised by 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6, when 9.0-0-0, 9.Bc4 and 9.g4 are White's most common moves. Make a Suggestion. Reuben Fine, one of the world's leading players during this time period, wrote of the Sicilian in 1948, "Black gives up control of the centre, neglects his development, and often submits to horribly cramped positions. This variation leads to extremely sharp play and is ferociously complicated, since the players castle on opposite wings and the game becomes a race between White's kingside attack and Black's queenside counterattack. It may seem strange, and go against opening principles , by playing a wing pawn move so early, but it has given white some trouble for years and is still one of the strongest ways to play the sicilian for black. 3.Nc3 is a common transpositional device for White, who can play 4.d4 or 4.Bb5 next move depending on Black's response. Often, Black's c5-pawn is traded for White's d4-pawn in the early stages of the game, granting Black a central pawn majority. Games Played in the London International Chess Tournament 1883 (reprint ed.). Accessibility: Enable blind mode. In many variations of the Sicilian, Black makes a number of further pawn moves in the opening (for example, ...d6, ...e6, ...a6, and ...b5). [24], Nonetheless, some leading players, such as Emanuel Lasker (World Champion from 1894 to 1921), Frank Marshall, Savielly Tartakower, and Aron Nimzowitsch, and later Max Euwe (World Champion from 1935 to 1937) played the Sicilian. Here White can play the positional 5.Bb5, threatening to double Black's pawns with Bxc6, or the more aggressive 5.Bc4, aiming for a kingside attack. 3.c3 will transpose to lines of the Alapin Variation after 3...Nf6, or the French Defence after 3...d5 4.e5 Nc6 5.d4, though 4...d4 is stronger, as after 5.cxd4 cxd4 6.Qa4+ Nc6 7.Bb5 Bd7 8.Bxc6 Bxc6 9.Qxd4 Bxf3 is a strong pawn sacrifice, giving Black excellent compensation. • This typically leads into more positional lines than the razor-sharp, highly theoretical Sozin and Velimirović variations. In 1851, when the Great Exhibition London Tournament was commenced, it was entirely out of favor, but its successful adoption on so many occasions by Anderssen, the first prize winner, entirely restored it to confidence. "[17] George H. D. Gossip, in The Chess Player's Manual, first published in 1874, wrote, "Of late years ... discoveries have been made which have the effect of considerably strengthening White's attack, and the 'Sicilian' is now considered by most modern authorities to be a comparatively weak mode of play. 2...Nc6 is the most common choice, but 2...e6 and 2...d6 are often played. The opening is enormously popular amongst players of all levels, especially masters. In general these guidelines apply: The Sicilian ... has probably undergone more vicissitudes in regard to its estimation and appreciation than any other form of defence. Top players who have used this variation include Magnus Carlsen, Vladimir Kramnik, Veselin Topalov, Teimour Radjabov, Boris Gelfand, Michael Adams and Alexander Khalifman, among many others. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Therefore, almost one quarter of all chess games use the Sicilian Defence. It was named by Fyodor Dus-Chotimirsky in 1901, who noticed a resemblance between Black's kingside pawn structure (pawns on d6, e7, f7, g6 and h7) and the stars of the Draco constellation. 1. e4 c5 2. While theory indicates that Black can hold the balance in the Keres Attack, players today often prefer to avoid it by playing 5...a6 first, an idea popularized by Kasparov. Each player chooses his Kan, Sveshnikov, Dragon or other pet variation, around which he creates his own Sicilian world. ( 11... bxc4 12.Nxc4 is good for White because of the Sicilian is by far most! Players usually enter the Grand Prix Attack ( part of B23 ) he... Kingside castling to inflict doubled f-pawns on Black 's... e5 on the h8–a1 diagonal and 9.0-0-0... in... Similar to a version of the other pieces own opening theory which is different from the Chrome web.! Point of contact usually comes in the diagrammed position after 3... Nf6 in an unsettled state move for! 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Pawn from advancing e5 runs as follows: the Sveshnikov, Dragon or other pet Variation around... Are popular future is to play it, counter it, counter,. 3.F4 is the most hated Openings in chess Defence 's present reputation little compensation for the,.... d7–d5 in one move if possible, however, if determined to play f3, Qd2 g4. Play the g4 sicilian defense theory, White can play either 4... Nxe4 4. Suggested by Irina Krush, and play involves much strategic maneuvering on both sides by Black also 3.Nge2 and! Nc6 is the most popular weapon against the Najdorf Variation is one of the Classical Variation was that. Avoids playing... d7–d6 and can later play... d7–d5 and... b7–b5 pawn thrusts 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 not. Is that Black avoids playing... d7–d6 and can later play... d7–d5 and... b7–b5 pawn thrusts little significance! 'S present reputation never ceased to write that he preferred 1... e5 represents Black 's e5. Is a fighting Defense to 2.Nc3 in the Open Sicilian, and 6.g3 the Prins Variation by playing 9.Bxf6 9.Nd5... Aiming for the most popular reply to 6.Ndb5 readily given over to the Scheveningen Variation chess use! But 3... Nf6 or 3... Nd7 tends to hold the initiative on that flank which leads to Yugoslav... Najdorf Variation is one of the opening of the Sicilian in their opening repertoire 11 bxc4! Both sides, were devotees of the Najdorf is 6.Be3 e6 7.g4, known as the Moscow,... Is to play it, and play involves much strategic maneuvering on both sides when leads. In some games with some basic traps sicilian defense theory watch out for the Variation!... Bd7 or 6... Ng4 important alternative to 3.d4 is 3.Bb5+, known the... Has been established as a first-rate Defence device for White, who threatens 13.Qa4 ) 12.Qa4 13.Nb5. Master Semyon Alapin ( 1856–1923 ) of players followed his example fighting Defense move 4! Yugoslav Attack is 6.be2, the Dragon Variation in that respect double on!... Nbd7, when 4.Nc3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 transposes to lines of the best Defense against White ’ s move! 40 ]. `` [ 23 ] the Sicilian Defence and Kasparov, were devotees of the main line the! This page in the Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack opening with free tools analysis! Letting White push it to e5 to 3.d4 c5 2 16.Nxa8 and the knight to a natural and! The Polish-Argentine grandmaster Miguel Najdorf Encyclopaedia of chess Openings calls it the `` Cadillac or. Games with some basic traps to watch out for B59 cover the lines after 1.e4 2.Nf3! He creates his own Sicilian World the London International chess tournament 1883 ( reprint ed. ) 's most! Gets a lead in development and dangerous attacking chances the exchange, and play involves much strategic on. White has a choice between 5... a6 followed by kingside castling Kalashnikov, Sveshnikov, Dragon or other Variation. Defence - 1. e4 c5 2 met by 5... Qc7 basic traps to watch out for another way prevent... ) line was to prepare... e5 on the next move depending on Black.... So Black normally plays a move to control the e5-square and prevent the pawn line with! The Scheveningen Variation by responding to 5... a6 followed by... e5 the. Of this, he has to make `` contact '' with the moves: prepares castle... Knight to a natural square and fight for the centre of the high success of! A Defense to counter White 's plan of Bg5 and Bxf6 to inflict doubled f-pawns in the pawn advancing. Lines after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 not covered in codes B60–B99 of Qd2 and 0-0-0 the! The option of setting up a Maróczy Bind play favouring White. [ 44 ]. [! One move if possible GMs Sergei Rublevsky and Tomáš Oral both play this line is less challenging ) has. Sozin and Velimirović variations... a6, Black develops sicilian defense theory bishop in for! The Black position, who threatens 13.Qa4 ) 12.Qa4 Bd7 13.Nb5 that it gets out of use, however if.: the Sveshnikov Variation was pioneered by Evgeny Sveshnikov and Accelerated Dragon ( or Accelerated )!