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SicilianDefence
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

TheSicilianDefenceisachessopeningthatbeginswith
themoves:

SicilianDefence

1.e4c5
TheSicilianisthemostpopularandbestscoring
responsetoWhite'sfirstmove1.e4.1.d4isastatistically
moresuccessfulopeningforwhiteduetothehigh
successrateoftheSiciliandefenceagainst1.e4.[1]New
InChessstatedinits2000Yearbookthatofthegamesin
itsdatabase,Whitescored56.1%in296,200games
beginning1.d4,but54.1%in349,855gamesbeginning
1.e4,mainlyduetotheSicilian,whichheldWhitetoa
52.3%scorein145,996games.[2]
17%ofallgamesbetweengrandmasters,and25%ofthe
gamesintheChessInformantdatabase,beginwiththe
Sicilian.[3]Almostonequarterofallgamesusethe
SicilianDefence.[4]

1
a

Moves

1.e4c5

ECO

B20B99

GrandmasterJohnNunnattributestheSicilianDefence's
Origin
GiulioCesarePolerio,1594
popularityto"itscombativenatureinmanylinesBlack
Namedafter
Sicily
isplayingnotjustforequality,butfortheadvantage.The
Parent
King'sPawnGame
drawbackisthatWhiteoftenobtainsanearlyinitiative,
soBlackhastotakecarenottofallvictimtoaquick
attack."[5]GrandmasterJonathanRowsonconsideredwhytheSicilianisthemostsuccessfulresponseto
1.e4,eventhough1...c5developsnopieces,andthepawnonc5controlsonlyd4andb4.Rowsonwrites:
Tomymindthereisquiteastraightforwardexplanation.Inordertoprofitfromtheinitiative
grantedbythefirstmove,Whitehastomakeuseofhisopportunitytodosomethingbefore
Blackhasanequalnumberofopportunitiesofhisown.However,todothis,hehastomake
'contact'withtheblackposition.Thefirstpointofcontactusuallycomesintheformofapawn
exchange,whichleadstotheopeningoftheposition.Sothethoughtbehind1...c5isthis:
OK,I'llletyouopentheposition,anddevelopyourpiecesaggressively,butatapriceyou
havetogivemeoneofyourcenterpawns.
JonathanRowson,ChessforZebras:ThinkingDifferentlyAboutBlackandWhite[6]
TheearliestrecordednotesontheSicilianDefencedatebacktothelate16thcenturybytheItalianchess
playersGiulioPolerioandGioachinoGreco.[7][8]

Contents

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Contents
1Generalconcepts
2History
3OpenSicilian:2.Nf3and3.d4
3.12...d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3
3.1.1NajdorfVariation:5...a6
3.1.2DragonVariation:5...g6
3.1.3ClassicalVariation:5...Nc6
3.1.4ScheveningenVariation:5...e6
3.22...Nc63.d4cxd44.Nxd4
3.2.1SveshnikovVariation:4...Nf65.Nc3e5
3.2.2AcceleratedDragon:4...g6
3.2.3KalashnikovVariation:4...e55.Nb5d6
3.32...e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4
3.3.1TaimanovVariation:4...Nc6
3.3.2Kan(Paulsen)Variation:4...a6
3.3.3FourKnightsVariation:4...Nf65.Nc3Nc6
42.Nf3without3.d4:White'sthirdmovealternatives
4.12...d6without3.d4
4.1.1CanalSokolskyAttack:3.Bb5+
4.1.2Others
4.22...Nc6without3.d4
4.2.1NimzovichRossolimoAttack:3.Bb5
4.2.2Others
4.32...e6without3.d4
4.43.Bd3
52.Nf3:Black'ssecondmovealternatives
5.12...g6:HungarianVariation
5.22...a6:O'KellyVariation
5.32...Nf6:NimzovichRubinsteinVariation
5.4Others
6ClosedSicilian
7White'ssecondmovealternatives
7.1AlapinVariation:2.c3
7.2GrandPrixAttack:2.f4
7.3SmithMorraGambit:2.d4
7.4Others
8ECOcodes
9Seealso
10References
11Furtherreading

Generalconcepts

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Byadvancingthecpawntwosquares,Blackassertscontroloverthed4squareandbeginsthefightforthe
centreoftheboard.Themoveresembles1e5,thenextmostcommonresponseto1.e4,inthatrespect.
Unlike1...e5,however,1...c5breaksthesymmetryoftheposition,whichstronglyinfluencesbothplayers'
futureactions.White,havingpushedakingsidepawn,tendstoholdtheinitiativeonthatsideoftheboard.
Moreover,1...c5doeslittleforBlack'sdevelopment,unlikemovessuchas1...e5,1...g6,or1...Nc6,which
eitherdevelopaminorpieceorpreparetodoso.InmanyvariationsoftheSicilian,Blackmakesanumber
offurtherpawnmovesintheopening(forexample,...d6,...e6,...a6,and...b5).Consequently,Whiteoften
obtainsasubstantialleadindevelopmentanddangerousattackingchances.
Meanwhile,advancingaqueensidepawnhasgivenBlackaspatialadvantagethereandprovidesabasisfor
futureoperationsonthatflank.Often,Black'sc5pawnistradedforWhite'sd4pawnintheearlystagesof
thegame,grantingBlackacentralpawnmajority.ThepawntradealsoopensthecfileforBlack,whocan
placearookorqueenonthatfiletoaidtheirqueensidecounterplay.

History
TheSicilianDefencewasanalysedbyGiulioPolerioinhis1594manuscriptonchess,[9]thoughhedidnot
usetheterm"SicilianDefence".[10]Itwaslaterthesubjectofanalysesbyleadingplayersoftheday
AlessandroSalvio(1604),DonPietroCarrera(c.1617),andGioachinoGreco(1623),andlaterComte
CarloFrancescoCozio(c.1740).ThegreatFrenchplayerandtheoreticianAndrDanicanPhilidoropined
oftheSicilianin1777,"Thiswayofopeningthegame...isabsolutelydefensive,andveryfarfrombeing
thebest...butitisaverygoodonetotrythestrengthofanadversarywithwhoseskillyouare
unacquainted."[11]
In1813,theEnglishmasterJacobHenrySarratteffectivelystandardisedhisEnglishtranslationofthename
ofthisopeningas"theSicilianDefence",referringtoanoldItalianmanuscriptthatusedthephrase,"il
giocosiciliano"("TheSicilianGame").[12]TheSicilianwasfairlypopularformuchofthenineteenth
centuryLouisCharlesMahdeLaBourdonnais,AdolfAnderssen,HowardStaunton,LouisPaulsen,and
CarlJaenischallplayeditwithsomeconsistency.InthenintheditionofModernChessOpenings,Walter
KornnotedthattheSicilian"receivedthreeofitsearliestpracticaltests,andabigboostinpopularity,inthe
1834MacDonnell[sic]LaBourdonnaismatch,1843StauntonSt.Amantmatch,andthe1851London
Tournament."[13]StauntonwroteoftheSicilian,"IntheopinionofJaenischandtheGerman'Handbuch',
withwhichIcoincide,thisisthebestpossiblereplyto1.PK4,[1.e4inalgebraicnotation]'asitrendersthe
formationofacentreimpracticableforWhiteandpreventseveryattack.'"[14]
Theopeningfelloutoffavourinthelaterpartofthenineteenthcentury,whensomeoftheworld'sleading
playersrejectedit.[A]PaulMorphy,theworld'sbestplayerinthelate1850s,decried"thatpernicious
fondnessfortheSicilianDefense...extendingfromabout1843tosometimeafter1851".[15]Wilhelm
Steinitz,thefirstWorldChampion,alsodislikedtheSicilianandrejecteditinfavourof1...e5.[B][16]The
deathoftheopening'stwogreatestproponents,StauntonandAnderssen,in1874and1879respectively,
alsocontributedtoitsdecline.Ithasbeensaidthat"theselossesalmostdealtaknockoutblowtothe
SicilianbecauseittookalongtimetofindsuchimportantfigurestocarrytheSicilian'sstandard."[17]
GeorgeH.D.Gossip,inTheChessPlayer'sManual,firstpublishedin1874,wrote,"Oflateyears...
discoverieshavebeenmadewhichhavetheeffectofconsiderablystrengtheningWhite'sattack,andthe
'Sicilian'isnowconsideredbymostmodernauthoritiestobeacomparativelyweakmodeofplay."[18]
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FreeboroughandRanken,intheirtreatiseChessOpenings:AncientandModern(1889,1896),wrotethat
theSicilian"hadatonetimethereputationofbeingthebestreplyto1.PK4,butthishasnotbeen
confirmedbypopularpractice.Severaleminentplayershave,however,heldtotheopinionthatitisquite
trustworthy."[19][20]
TheSiciliancontinuedtobeshunnedbymostleadingplayersatthestartofthetwentiethcentury,as1...e5
heldcentrestage.Capablanca,WorldChampionfrom1921to1927,famouslydenounceditasanopening
where"Black'sgameisfullofholes".[21]Similarly,JamesMasonwrote,"Fairlytriedandfoundwanting,
theSicilianhasnowscarcelyanystandingasafirstclassdefence....[It]istoodefensive.Therearetoo
manyholescreatedinthePawnline.Commandofthefield,especiallyinthecentre,istooreadilygiven
overtotheinvadingforce."[22]SiegbertTarraschwrotethat1...c5"iscertainlynotstrictlycorrect,forit
doesnothingtowarddevelopmentandmerelyattemptstorenderdifficultthebuildingupofacentrebythe
firstplayer....[T]heSicilianDefenceisexcellentforastrongplayerwhoispreparedtotakeriskstoforcea
winagainstaninferioropponent.Againstbestplay,however,itisboundtofail."[23]TheSicilianwasnot
seenevenonceinthe75gamesplayedatthegreatSt.Petersburg1914tournament.[24]
Nonetheless,someleadingplayers,suchasEmanuelLasker(WorldChampionfrom1894to1921),Frank
Marshall,SaviellyTartakower,andAronNimzowitsch,andlaterMaxEuwe(WorldChampionfrom1935
to1937)playedtheSicilian.[25]EvenCapablanca[26][27]andTarrasch,[28]despitetheircriticalcomments,
occasionallyplayedtheopening.Itwasplayedsixtimes(outof110games)atNewYork1924.[29]The
followingyear,theauthorsofModernChessOpenings(4thedition)wrote,"TheSicilianhasclaimstobe
consideredasthebestoftheirregulardefencesto1.PK4atBlack'sdisposal,andhasbeenpractisedwith
satisfactoryresultsbytheleadingplayersoftheday."[C]InthisperiodBlack'sapproachwasusuallyslow
andpositional,andthealloutattacksbyWhitethatbecamecommonafterWorldWarIIhadnotyetbeen
developed.[30]
ThefortunesoftheSicilianwerefurtherrevivedinthe1940sand1950sbyplayerssuchasIsaac
Boleslavsky,AlexanderKotov,andMiguelNajdorf.ReubenFine,oneoftheworld'sleadingplayersduring
thistimeperiod,wroteoftheSicilianin1948,"Blackgivesupcontrolofthecentre,neglectshis
development,andoftensubmitstohorriblycrampedpositions.Howcanitbegood?Yet,thebrilliantwins
byWhitearematchedbyequallybrilliantwinsbyBlacktimeandagaintheBlackstructurehasbeenable
totakeeverythingandcomebackformore."[D]Later,BentLarsen,LjubomirLjubojevi,LevPolugaevsky,
LeonidStein,MarkTaimanov,andMikhailTalallmadeextensivecontributionstothetheoryandpractice
ofthedefence.ThroughtheeffortsofworldchampionsBobbyFischerandGarryKasparov,theSicilian
DefencebecamerecognisedasthedefencethatofferedBlackthemostwinningchancesagainst1.e4.Both
playersfavouredsharp,aggressiveplayandemployedtheSicilianalmostexclusivelythroughouttheir
careers,burnishingthedefence'spresentreputation.Today,mostleadinggrandmastersincludetheSicilian
intheiropeningrepertoire.SomeofthecurrenttoplevelplayerswhoregularlyuseitincludePeterLeko,
ViswanathanAnand,BorisGelfand,VassilyIvanchuk,AlexeiShirov,PeterSvidler,andVeselinTopalov.
In1990,theauthorsofModernChessOpenings(13thedition)notedthat"inthetwentiethcenturythe
Sicilianhasbecomethemostplayedandmostanalysedopeningatboththeclubandmasterlevels."[31]In
1965,inthetentheditionofthatbook,grandmasterLarryEvansobservedthat,"TheSicilianisBlack's
mostdynamic,asymmetricalreplyto1.PK4.Itproducesthepsychologicalandtensionfactorswhich
denotethebestinmodernplayandgivesnoticeofafiercefightontheveryfirstmove."[32]

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OpenSicilian:2.Nf3and3.d4
Over75%ofgamesbeginningwith1.e4c5continuewith2.Nf3,whentherearethreemainoptionsfor
Black:2...d6,2...Nc6,and2...e6.LineswhereWhitethenplays3.d4arecollectivelyknownastheOpen
Sicilian,andresultinextremelycomplexpositions.Whitehasaleadindevelopmentandextrakingside
space,whichWhitecanusetobeginakingsideattack.ThisiscounterbalancedbyBlack'scentralpawn
majority,createdbythetradeofWhite'sdpawnforBlack'scpawn,andtheopencfile,whichBlackuses
togeneratequeensidecounterplay.

2...d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3
Black'smostcommonmoveafter2.Nf3is2...d6.Thisprepares...Nf6
toattacktheepawnwithoutlettingWhitepushittoe5.Thegame
usuallycontinues3.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3.Sometimesplayedis
3...Nf64.Nc3cxd45.Nxd4givingthesameresult.Blackcanthen
choosebetweenfourmajorvariations:inorderofdecreasing
popularity,thesearetheNajdorf(5...a6),Dragon(5...g6),Classical
(5...Nc6),andScheveningen(5...e6).TheVeniceAttack(5...e5
6.Bb5+)andKupreichikVariation(5...Bd7)arerarelyplayed.5...e5
isoftenconsideredsomethingofanerroronBlack'spartand5...Bd7
cantransposetooneofthemorecommonvariations,suchasthe
ClassicalorDragon,buttherearealsoanumberofindependentlines.

1
a

Thereareafewwaysforeithersidetodeviatefromthemovesgiven
Positionafter1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4
above.After3...cxd4,Whiteoccasionallyplays4.Qxd4,the
cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3
ChekhoverVariation,intendingtomeet4...Nc6with5.Bb5Bd7
6.Bxc6,whenWhitehopesthattheirleadindevelopment
compensatesforBlack'sbishoppair.Blackcanavoidthislinebyplaying3...Nf6,when4.Nc3cxd45.Nxd4
returnstomainlines.However,Whitehastheoptionof4.dxc5!?,whenBlackcanplayeither4...Nxe4or
4...Qa5+.Anotherunusualsidelineis3...cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.f3!?,thePrinsVariation,whichtriesto
maintaintheoptionofc4withaMarczyBindformation.
NajdorfVariation:5...a6
TheNajdorfVariationisBlack'smostpopularsystemintheSicilianDefence.Najdorf'sintentionwith
5...a6wastoprepare...e5onthenextmovetogainspaceinthecentretheimmediate5...e5?!howeveris
metby6.Bb5+!,whenBlackmusteitherplay6...Bd7or6...Nbd7.TheformerallowsWhitetoexchangeoff
Black'slightsquaredbishop,afterwhichthed5squarebecomesveryweakbutthelatterallows7.Nf5,
whenBlackcanonlysavethedpawnbyplayingtheawkward7...a68.Bxd7+Qxd7.Inbothcases,White's
gameispreferable.
Thus,byplaying5...a6,BlackdeprivesWhiteofthecheckonb5,sothat...e5mightbepossiblenextmove.
Ingeneral,5...a6alsopreventsWhite'sknightsfromusingtheb5square,andhelpsBlackcreatequeenside
playbypreparingthe...b5pawnpush.Thisplanof5...a6followedby...e5representsBlack'straditional
approachintheNajdorfVariation.Later,GarryKasparovalsoadoptedthe5...a6moveorder,butwiththe
ideaofplaying...e6ratherthan...e5.Kasparov'spointisthattheimmediate5...e6(theScheveningen
Variation,discussedbelow)allows6.g4,whichisWhite'smostdangerouslineagainsttheScheveningen.
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Byplaying5...a6first,BlacktemporarilypreventsWhite'sg4thrust
andwaitstoseewhatWhiteplaysinstead.Often,playwilleventually
transposetotheScheveningenVariation.
Currently,White'smostpopularweaponagainsttheNajdorfis6.Be3.
ThisiscalledtheEnglishAttack,becauseitwaspopularisedby
EnglishgrandmastersMurrayChandler,JohnNunnandNigelShort
inthe1980s.White'sideaistoplayf3,Qd2,g4and000insome
order.Blackcanrespondwith6...e6,6...e5or6...Ng4toprevent
...Ng4,Whitesometimesstartswith6.f3instead,butthisallows
6...Qb6!ArelatedattackingideaforWhiteis6.Be3e67.g4,known
astheHungarianAttackorPerenyiAttack.

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a

NajdorfVariation:1.e4c52.Nf3d6

Formerly,6.Bg5e67.f4wasthemainlineoftheNajdorf,when
3.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3a6
Whitethreatenstoattackthepinnedknightwith8.e5.Blackcan
simplybreakthepinwith7...Be7,whenWhiteusuallyplays8.Qf3
and9.000.SomeofBlack'salternativesare7...Qb6,thePoisonedPawnVariationpopularizedbyFischer,
and7...b5,thePolugaevskyVariation,whichhasthetacticalpoint8.e5dxe59.fxe5Qc7!10.exf6Qe5+
winningthebishopinreturnfortheknight.
Whitehasotherchoicesonthesixthmove.6.Be2preparestocastlekingsideandisaquieteralternative
comparedto6.Be3and6.Bg5.EfimGellerwasanearlyproponentofthismove,afterwhichBlackcanstay
in"pure"Najdorfterritorywith6...e5ortransposetotheScheveningenwith6...e6.Otherpossibilitiesfor
Whiteinclude6.f4,6.Bc4(theFischerSozinAttack),6.g3,and6.h3,(theAdamsAttack,namedafter
WeaverAdams),whichwasusedseveraltimesbyBobbyFischer.
DragonVariation:5...g6
IntheDragonVariation,BlackfianchettoesaBishopontheh8a1
diagonal.ItwasnamedbyFyodorDusChotimirskyin1901,who
noticedaresemblancebetweenBlack'skingsidepawnstructure
(pawnsond6,e7,f7,g6andh7)andthestarsoftheDraco
constellation.[33]White'smostdangeroustryagainsttheDragonisthe
YugoslavAttack,characterisedby6.Be3Bg77.f3008.Qd2Nc6,
whenboth9.000and9.Bc4maybeplayed.Thisvariationleadsto
extremelysharpplayandisferociouslycomplicated,sincethe
playerscastleonoppositewingsandthegamebecomesarace
betweenWhite'skingsideattackandBlack'squeensidecounterattack.
White'smainalternativestotheYugoslavAttackare6.Be2,the
ClassicalVariation,and6.f4,theLevenfishAttack.

1
a

DragonVariation:1.e4c52.Nf3d6
3.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3g6

ClassicalVariation:5...Nc6

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Thisvariationcanarisefromtwodifferentmoveorders:1.e4c5
2.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3Nc6,or1.e4c52.Nf3Nc6
3.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3d6.Blacksimplybringstheirknightto
itsmostnaturalsquare,anddefers,forthemoment,thedevelopment
oftheirking'sbishop.
White'smostcommonreplyis6.Bg5,theRichterRauzerAttack
(ECOcodesB60etseq).Themove6.Bg5wasKurtRichter's
invention,threateningtodoubleBlack'spawnsafterBxf6and
forestallingtheDragonbyrendering6...g6unplayable.After6...e6,
VsevolodRauzerintroducedthemodernplanofQd2and000inthe
1930s.White'spressureonthed6pawnoftencompelsBlackto
respondtoBxf6with...gxf6,ratherthanrecapturingwithapiece(e.g.
thequeenond8)thatalsohastodefendthedpawn.Thisweakens
theirkingsidepawnstructure,inreturnforwhichBlackgainsthetwo
bishops,plusacentralpawnmajority,thoughtheseassetsare
difficulttoexploit.

1
a

ClassicalVariation:1.e4c52.Nf3
d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3
Nc6

Anothervariationis6.Bc4,called"Sozin"(ECOcodeB57).Itbringsthebishoptoanaggressivesquare.
Blackusuallyplays6...e6tolimittherangeofWhite'sbishop,butWhitecaneventuallyputpressureonthe
e6pawnbypushingtheirfpawntof5.Whitecaneithercastlekingsidewith7.Bb3a68.00(theFischer
SozinAttack,namedafterBobbyFischerandRussianmasterVeniaminSozin,whooriginateditinthe
1930s),orqueensidewith7.Be3Be7(or7...a6)8.Qe2and9.000(theVelimiroviAttack).Insteadof
6...e6,BlackcanalsotryBenko'smove6...Qb6,whichforcesWhitetomakeadecisionoverthed4knight.
Thistypicallyleadsintomorepositionallinesthantherazorsharp,highlytheoreticalSozinand
Velimirovicvariations.
6.Be2isthe"classical"line(ECOcodeB58).Blackcanchooseamong6...e56...e6,transposingtothe
ScheveningenVariationand6...g6,transposingtotheClassicalVariationoftheDragon.Withmove...e5,
7.Nf3usuallycontinues...h68.OOBe79.Re17.Nb3isthedynamicandnotverygoodBoleslavsky
Variation(ECOcodeB59).Othermovesinclude6.Be3,6.f3,and6.g3.
ScheveningenVariation:5...e6
IntheScheveningenVariation,Blackiscontentwitha"smallcentre"(pawnsond6ande6,ratherthane5)
andpreparestocastlekingside.Inviewofthis,PaulKeresintroduced6.g4,theKeresAttack,in1943.
Whiteintendstodriveawaytheblackknightwithg5.IfBlackpreventsthiswith6...h6,whichisthemost
commonanswer,WhitehasgainedkingsidespaceanddiscouragedBlackfromcastlinginthatarea,and
maylaterplayBg2.Ifthecomplicationsafter6.g4arenottoWhite'staste,amajoralternativeis6.Be2,a
typicallinebeing6...a6(thispositioncanbereachedfromtheNajdorfvia5...a66.Be2e6)7.00Be78.f40
0.6.Be3and6.f4arealsocommon.
WhiletheoryindicatesthatBlackcanholdthebalanceintheKeresAttack,playerstodayoftenpreferto
avoiditbyplaying5...a6first,anideapopularizedbyKasparov.However,ifWhiteisdeterminedtoplay
theg4thrust,theycanprepareitbyrespondingto5...a6with6.h3(asFischersometimesplayed)or6.Rg1.

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1
a

ScheveningenVariation:1.e4c5
2.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf6
5.Nc3e6

2...Nc63.d4cxd44.Nxd4
2...Nc6isanaturaldevelopingmove,andalsoprepares...Nf6(like
2...d6,BlackstopsWhitefromreplyinge5).After3.d4cxd44.Nxd4,
Black'smostcommonmoveis4...Nf6.Otherimportantmovesare
4...e6(transposingtotheTaimanovVariation),4...g6(the
AcceleratedDragon)and4...e5(theKalashnikovVariation).Less
commonchoicesinclude4...Qc7,whichmaylatertransposetothe
TaimanovVariation,4...Qb6,theGrivasVariation,and4...d6.
After4...Nf6,Whiteusuallyreplies5.Nc3.Blackcanplay5...d6,
transposingtotheClassicalVariation5...e5,theSveshnikov
Variationor5...e6,transposingtotheFourKnightsVariation.

1
a

SveshnikovVariation:4...Nf65.Nc3e5

Positionafter1.e4c52.Nf3Nc6
3.d4cxd44.Nxd4

TheSveshnikovVariationwaspioneeredbyEvgenySveshnikovand
GennadiTimoshchenkointhe1970s.Beforetheirefforts,the
variationwascalledtheLaskerPelikanVariation.EmanuelLaskerplayeditonceinhisworld
championshipmatchagainstCarlSchlechter,andJorgePelikanplayeditafewtimesinthe1950s,but
Sveshnikov'streatmentofthevariationwasthekeytoitsrevitalization.Themove5...e5seemsanti
positionalasitleavesblackwithabackwardsdpawnandaweaknessond5.Also,blackwouldhaveto
acceptthedoubledfpawnsinthemainlineoftheopening.TheopeningwaspopularisedwhenSveshnikov
sawitsdynamicpotentialforBlackinthe1970sand80s.Today,itisextremelypopularamong
grandmastersandamateursalike.ThoughsomelinesstillgiveBlacktrouble,ithasbeenestablishedasa
firstratedefence.Themainlineafter5...e5runsasfollows:
6.Ndb5
Thetheoreticallycriticalmove,threateningNd6+.AllothermovesareconsideredtoallowBlack
easyequality.6.Nxc6isusuallymetby6...bxc6,whenBlack'sextrapawninthecentregivesgood
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playalternatively,even6...dxc67.Qxd8+Kxd8issufficient
forequality.[34]6.Nb3and6.Nf3canbewellmetby6...Bb4,
threateningtowinWhite'spawnone4.[35]6.Nf5allows6...d5!
7.exd5Bxf58.dxc6bxc69.Qf3Qd7.[36]6.Nde2canbemetby
either6...Bc5or6...Bb4.[37]
6...d6
Blackdoesnotallow7.Nd6+Bxd68.Qxd6,whenWhite'spair
ofbishopsgivethemtheadvantage.
7.Bg5
Whitegetsreadytoeliminatetheknightonf6,further
weakeningBlack'scontroloverthed5square.Alesscommon
alternativeis7.Nd5Nxd58.exd5Nb8(or8...Ne7),whenWhite
willtrytoexploittheirqueensidepawnmajority,whileBlack
willseekcounterplayonthekingside.

1
a

SveshnikovVariation:1.e4c52.Nf3
Nc63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3
e5

7...a6
BlackforcesWhite'sknightbacktoa3.
8.Na3
Theimmediate8.Bxf6forces8...gxf6,whenafter9.Na3,Blackcantransposeintothemainlinewith
9...b5ordeviatewith9...f5!?
8...b5!
8...b5wasSveshnikov'sinnovation,controllingc4andthreatening...b4forkingWhite'sknights.
Previously,Blackplayed8...Be6(theBirdVariation),whichallowedthea3knighttoreturntolife
with9.Nc4.Theentirevariationupto8...b5isreferredtoastheChelyabinskVariation.Itcanalsobe
reachedfromthealternatemoveorder1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3Nc66.Ndb5d6
7.Bf4e58.Bg5a69.Na3b5,whichisonemovelonger.(ThatalternativemoveordergivesWhite
otheralternatives,including6.Nxc6bxc67.e5Nd58.Ne4,intendingc4,andthegambit6.Be2Bb4
7.00!?,allowingBxc38.bxc3Nxe4.)Themovenumbersinthefollowingdiscussionarebasedon
themoveordergiveninbold.
TheSveshnikovVariationhasbecomeverypopularinmasterlevelchess.Black's...e5pushseemsanti
positional:ithasmadethed6pawnbackwardandthed5squareweak.However,inreturn,Blackgetsa
footholdinthecentreandgainstimeonWhite'sknight,whichhasbeendriventotheedgeoftheboardon
a3.TopplayerswhohaveusedthisvariationincludeVladimirKramnik,VeselinTopalov,Teimour
Radjabov,BorisGelfand,MichaelAdamsandAlexanderKhalifman,amongmanyothers.
Inthediagrammedpositionafter8...b5,Whiteusuallyparriesthethreatof...b4byplaying9.Bxf6or9.Nd5.
After9.Bxf6,9...Qxf6?!10.Nd5Qd8failsto11.c4b4(11...bxc412.Nxc4isgoodforWhite,whothreatens
13.Qa4)12.Qa4Bd713.Nb5!axb514.Qxa8Qxa815.Nc7+Kd816.Nxa8andtheknightescapesviab6.
Thus9...gxf6isforced,whenWhitecontinues10.Nd5.White'spowerfulknightond5andBlack'sshattered
kingsidepawnstructurearecompensatedbyBlack'sbishoppairandWhite'soffsideknightona3.Also,
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Blackhastheplanofplaying10...f5,followedby...fxe4and...f5
withthesecondfpawn,whichwouldgivethemgoodcontrolofthe
centre.Analternativeplanistoplay10...Bg7followedby...Ne7to
immediatelytradeoffWhite'spowerfulknightthislineisknownas
theNovosibirskVariation.

Insteadof9.Bxf6,Whitecanalsoplay9.Nd5,whichusuallyleadsto
4
4
quieterplay.WhitedecidesnottodoubleBlack'sfpawnsandthe
3
3
gameoftencontinues9...Be710.Bxf6Bxf611.c3.ThisallowsWhite
2
2
tomaintaintheirknightond5bytradingoffBlack'sknightonf6,and
1
1
preparestobringtheknightona3backintoplaywiththemanoeuvre
a b c d e f g h
Na3c2e3.Anotherlineis10.Nxe7Nxe7!(fightingforcontrolofd5
andnotfearingthedoubledpawns)11.Bxf6gxf6.However,arecent
ChelyabinskVariation:6.Ndb5d6
developmentintheSveshnikovhasbeen11.c4(insteadofc3),which
7.Bg5a68.Na3b5
oftenleadstopositionswherewhiteispressingforthewinatnorisk.
Aquickdrawispossibleafter9.Nd5Qa5+!?10.Bd2(inorderto
prevent10...Nxe4)10...Qd811.Bg5Qa5+etc.Inordertoavoidthis,Whitecanplay11.Nxf6+or11.c4.
AcceleratedDragon:4...g6
LikethestandardDragonVariation,Blackdevelopsthebishoptog7
intheAcceleratedDragon.ThedifferenceisthatBlackavoids
playing...d7d6,sothattheycanlaterplay...d7d5inonemoveif
possible.Forexample,ifWhitetriestoplayinthestyleofthe
YugoslavAttackwith5.Nc3Bg76.Be3Nf67.f3008.Qd2,8...d5!
equalisesimmediately.WhenWhitedoesplay5.Nc3,itisusually
withtheideaofcontinuing5...Bg76.Be3Nf67.Bc4008.Bb3
(forestallinganytricksinvolving...Nxe4and...d5),followedby
kingsidecastling.
ThecriticaltestofBlack'smoveorderis5.c4,theMarczyBind.
WhitehopestocrampBlack'spositionbyimpedingthe...d7d5and
...b7b5pawnthrusts.Generally,thislineislesstacticalthanmany
oftheotherSicilianvariations,andplayinvolvesmuchstrategic
maneuveringonbothsides.After5.c4,themainlineruns5...Bg7
6.Be3Nf67.Nc3andnow7...00or7...Ng4ismostfrequently
played.

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AcceleratedDragon:1.e4c52.Nf3
Nc63.d4cxd44.Nxd4g6

KalashnikovVariation:4...e55.Nb5d6
TheKalashnikovVariation(ECOcodeB32)[38]isacloserelativeoftheSveshnikovVariation,andis
sometimesknownastheNeoSveshnikov.Themove4...e5hashadalonghistoryLouisCharlesMahde
LaBourdonnaisuseditinhismatchesagainstAlexanderMcDonnellin1834,anditwasalsopopularfora
shorttimeinthe1940s.TheseearliergamesfocusedontheLwenthalVariation(similartothe
Kalashnikovbutthereplyto5.Nb5is5...a6)with4...e55.Nb5a66.Nd6+Bxd67.Qxd6Qf6,whereBlack
givesupthetwobishopstoachievealeadindevelopment.However,themovefelloutofuseonceitwas
determinedthatWhitekepttheadvantageintheselines.
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Onlyinthelate1980sdidBlackplayersrevive4...e5withthe
intentionofmeeting5.Nb5with5...d6:thisistheKalashnikov
Variation.TheideasinthislinearesimilartothoseintheSveshnikov
Blackacceptsabackwardpawnond6andweakensthed5square
butgainstimebychasingtheknight.Thedifferencebetweenthetwo
variationsisthatBlackhasnotdevelopedtheirknighttof6and
Whitehasnotbroughttheirknightouttoc3,sobothplayershave
extraoptions.Blackmayforego...Nf6infavourof...Ne7,e.g.after
6.N1c3a67.Na3b58.Nd5Nge7,whichavoidsWhite'splanofBg5
andBxf6toinflictdoubledfpawnsonBlack.Or,Blackcandelay
bringingouttheknightinfavourofplaying...Be7g5oraquick...f5.
Ontheotherhand,Whitehastheoptionof6.c4,whichsolidifiestheir
gripond5andclampsdownon...b5,butleavesthed4square
slightlyweak.

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KalashnikovVariation:1.e4c5
2.Nf3Nc63.d4cxd44.Nxd4e5
5.Nb5d6

2...e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4
Black'smove2...e6givesprioritytodevelopingthedarksquaredbishop.After3.d4cxd44.Nxd4,Black
hasthreemainmoves:4...Nc6(theTaimanovVariation),4...a6(theKanVariation)and4...Nf6.After
4...Nf65.Nc3,BlackcantransposetotheScheveningenVariationwith5...d6,orplay5...Nc6,theFour
KnightsVariation.Alsonotethatafter4...Nf6Whitecannotplay5.e5?becauseof5...Qa5+followedby
Qxe5.
TaimanovVariation:4...Nc6
NamedafterMarkTaimanov,theTaimanovVariationcanbereached
through1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nc6or1.e4c52.Nf3Nc6
3.d4cxd44.Nxd4e6.Blackdevelopstheknighttoanaturalsquare
andkeepshisoptionsopenregardingtheplacementofhisother
pieces.Oneoftheideasofthissystemistodeveloptheking'sbishop
tob4orc5.Whitecanpreventthisby5.Nb5d6,when6.c4leadstoa
versionoftheMarczyBindfavouredbyKarpov.Theresulting
positionafter6.c4Nf67.N1c3a68.Na3b6isatypeofHedgehog.
TheKasparovGambit8...d5wasplayedtwiceintheWorldChess
Championship1985,butvirtuallydisappearedfrommasterpraxis
afterthegameKarpovvanderWiel,Brussels(SWIFT)1986.

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TaimanovVariation:1.e4c52.Nf3

5.Nc3ismorecommonnowadaysthan5.Nb5,when5...d6normally
e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nc6
transposestotheScheveningenVariationand5...Nf6istheFour
KnightsVariation(seebelow).IndependentmovesforBlackare
5...Qc7and5...a6,withtheformerbeingthemoreusualmoveorderseeninrecentyears,asafter5...a6,the
continuation6.Nxc6bxc67.Bd3,despiteitsapparentsimplicity,hasgivenBlackdifficultiesinreaching
equality.Taimanov'sideawastoplay5...a6(preventingNb5)followedby...Nge7and...Nxd4.
Kan(Paulsen)Variation:4...a6
NamedafterIlyaKan.Byplaying4...a6,BlackpreventsNb5andpreparesaneventual...b5advance.
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White'ssecondmostpopularreplyis5.Nc3,whenBlack's
developmentofthekingsideknightoftentakesfocus,sinceplaying
...Nf6canbemetwithe5whichbothcreatesaBlackweaknessonthe
d6squareandcausestheBlackknightadisadvantageousmove.So
Blacknormallyplaysamovetocontrolthee5squareandpreventthe
pawnfromadvancing.ThemainKanmoveis5...Qc7,although
5...Nc6transposingintoaTaimanovor5...d6transposingintoa
Scheveningencanoccur.Analternativeideaistheimmediate5...b5
tocreatepressurefromthequeensidewiththeideaofplaying...b4
attackingthec3knight,orBb7tobuildpressurealongthelong
whitesquareddiagonal.Whitegenerallyanswerswith6.Bd3,
supportingthee4pawn.
ThemostpopularfifthmoveforWhiteis5.Bd3,whenafter5...Bc5
6.Nb3Blackcaneitherretreat6...Be7where7.Qg4makesBlack's
kingsideproblematic,or6...Ba7.Alsopossibleis5.c4tocreatea
Marczybindsetup.

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KanVariation:1.e4c52.Nf3e6
3.d4cxd44.Nxd4a6

FourKnightsVariation:4...Nf65.Nc3Nc6
TheFourKnightsVariationismainlyusedasawayofgettinginto
themainlineSveshnikovVariation,reachedafter6.Ndb5d67.Bf4e5
8.Bg5a69.Na3b5.Thepointofthismoveorderistoavoidlines
suchastheRossolimoVariation(1.e4c52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5),or1.e4
c52.Nf3Nc63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3e56.Ndb5d67.Nd5,
whicharepossibleinthestandardSveshnikovmoveorder.Onthe
otherhand,intheFourKnightsmoveorder,Whiteacquirestheextra
optionof6.Nxc6bxc67.e5Nd58.Ne4,soWhiteisnotobligedto
entertheSveshnikov.
IfBlackisnotaimingfortheSveshnikov,themainalternativeisto
play6...Bb4inreplyto6.Ndb5.Then7.a3Bxc3+8.Nxc3d59.exd5
exd5leadstoapositionwhereBlackhasgivenupthetwobishops
buthasactivepiecesandthepossibilityofplaying...d5d4.

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FourKnightsVariation:1.e4c5
2.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf6
5.Nc3Nc6

2.Nf3without3.d4:White'sthirdmovealternatives
Whitecanplay2.Nf3withoutintendingtofollowupwith3.d4.Thesystemsgivenbelowareusually
classifiedalongwithWhite'ssecondmovealternativesasAntiSicilians.

2...d6without3.d4
CanalSokolskyAttack:3.Bb5+

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After1.e4c52.Nf3d6,White'smostimportantalternativeto3.d4is
3.Bb5+,knownastheMoscowVariationortheCanalSokolsky
Attack.Grandmasterssometimeschoosethisvariationwhenthey
wishtoavoidtheoryforinstance,itwasplayedbyGarryKasparov
intheonlinegameKasparovTheWorld.Expertsinthislineinclude
GMsSergeiRublevskyandTomOral.Blackcanblockthecheck
with3...Bd7,3...Nc6or3...Nd7.Thepositionafter3...Nc6canalso
bereachedviatheRossolimoVariationafter1.e4c52.Nf3Nc6
3.Bb5d6.Mostcommonis3...Bd7,whenafter4.Bxd7+Qxd7,White
caneitherplay5.00followedbyc3andd4,or5.c4inthestyleofthe
MarczyBind.
TheWorldTeamVariationoftheCanalSokolskyAttack
continueswith5.c4Nc66.Nc3Nf67.00g68.d4cxd49.Nxd4Bg7
10.Nde2Qe6,forkingWhite'spawnsone4andc4.Thismovewas
suggestedbyIrinaKrush,andplayedintheKasparovTheWorld,
1999onlinegame.Kasparovnoteditsnovelty.[39]

1
a

MoscowVariationortheCanal
SokolskyAttack:1.e4c52.Nf3d6
3.Bb5+

Others
AnotherpossibilityforWhiteis3.c3,intendingtoestablishapawncentrewithd4nextmove.Themost
frequentcontinuationis3...Nf64.Be2,when4...Nxe4??losesto5.Qa4+.Whitesometimesplays3.Nc3,
whichusuallytransposestotheOpenSicilianafter3...Nf64.d4.

2...Nc6without3.d4
NimzovichRossolimoAttack:3.Bb5
TheRossolimoVariation,3.Bb5,isawellrespectedalternativeto
3.d4.ItisnamedafterNicolasRossolimoandisrelatedtothe
MoscowVariation.White'susualintentionistoplayBxc6,giving
Blackdoubledpawns.Black'smajorresponsesare3...g6preparing
...Bg7,3...d6preparing...Bd7(ahybridlinethatalsoarisesfromthe
MoscowVariationafter2...d63.Bb5+Nc6),and3...e6preparing
4...Nge7.SergeiRublevskyandTomOralbothplaythislineas
wellastheMoscowVariation.
Others
3.Nc3isacommontranspositionaldeviceforWhite,whocanplay
4.d4or4.Bb5nextmovedependingonBlack'sresponse.Black
sometimesplays3...e5toavoidbothmovesthen4.Bc4isconsidered
White'sbestmove.3.c3transposestolinesoftheAlapinVariation
after3...Nf6or3...d5.

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RossolimoVariation:1.e4c52.Nf3
Nc63.Bb5

2...e6without3.d4
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Whitesometimesplays3.Nc3asawaitingmove,thoughithaslittleindependentsignificance.With3.d3,
WhiteplanstodevelopinKing'sIndianAttackstylewithg3andBg2thislinewasusedbyFischerto
crushOscarPannoinafamousgame(FischerPanno,BuenosAires1970).3.c3willtransposetolinesof
theAlapinVariationafter3...Nf6,ortheFrenchDefenceafter3...d54.e5Nc65.d4,though4...d4is
stronger,asafter5.cxd4cxd46.Qa4+Nc67.Bb5Bd78.Bxc6Bxc69.Qxd4Bxf3isastrongpawnsacrifice,
givingBlackexcellentcompensation.3.b3,intendingBb2,isarareindependenttry,occasionallyessayed
byHeikkiWesterineninthe1970s.

3.Bd3
InFoxyOpeningsVol.30,IMDannyKopecsuggeststhemove3.Bd3againstanyofBlack'scommon
responses,intendingtofollowupwithc3andBc2.Thislineisknownas"TheKopecSystem."[40]

2.Nf3:Black'ssecondmovealternatives
After1.e4c52.Nf3,Blackhassomelesscommonlyplayedoptionsapartfrom2...d6,2...Nc6and2...e6.

2...g6:HungarianVariation
2...g6istheHyperAcceleratedDragon.Whitecommonlyplays
3.d4.Othermovesare3.c3and3.c4.Mostcommonhereis3...cxd4
but3...Bg7isalsoplayed.Incaseof3...cxd4Whitemayplay
4.Nxd4.Then4...Nc6maybeplayedfora2...Nc6line.Theother
mainmoveforBlackis4...Bg7.Thiswillhaveeither5.c4or5.Nc3.
Foreither3.c3or3.c4,thenBlackmayplay3...Bg7.Then4.d4with
3.c4transposestothe3.d4line.Or4.d4with3.c3transposestoan
Alapin(orAcceleratedDragon)line.

2...a6:O'KellyVariation
2...a6istheO'KellyVariation.Theideaisthat3.d4runsinto
3...cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3e5when6.Nb5isprevented,andBlack
willequalizebyplaying6...Bb4andpossibly...d5.However,after
3.c3or3.c4itisunclearhow2...a6hasimprovedBlack'sposition.

1
a

1.e4c52.Nf3g63.d4Bg74.c4
cxd4

2...Nf6:NimzovichRubinsteinVariation
2...Nf6istheNimzowitschVariation.ItbearssomesimilaritytoAlekhine'sDefence.[41]White'sstrongest
replyistochasetheknightby3.e5Nd54.Nc3andnow(a)4...Nxc35.dxc3,when5...b6?,asNimzowitsch
playedandrecommended,losesto6.e6!f67.Ne5![42]or(b)4...e6(themainline)5.Nxd5exd56.d4Nc6
7.dxc5Bxc58.Qxd5Qb6(8...d69.exd6Qb6isalsoplayed)[43]9.Bc4!Bxf2+10.Ke20011.Rf1Bc5
12.Ng5Nd4+13.Kd1withsharpplayfavoringWhite.[44]

Others
Othermovesinclude:
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2...b6istheKatalymovVariation,aftertheKazakh/RussianmasterBorisKatalymov.Itisgenerally
consideredbetterforWhite,thoughithasfrequentlybeenplayedbytheFrenchGMChristianBauer.
OtherGMs,includingGataKamsky,haveoccasionallyuseditasasurpriseweapon.
2...Qc7istheQuinterosVariation.Itwillfrequentlytransposeintoastandardlinesuchasthe
TaimanovVariationorPaulsenVariation,orelseWhitecanplay3.c3inthestyleoftheAlapin
Variation,whereBlack'squeenmaynotbesowellplacedonc7.

ClosedSicilian
2.Nc3isWhite'ssecondmostcommonmoverespondingto1.e4c5.
Black'soptionsaresimilartothosefor2.Nf3,themostcommon
being...Nc6,alongwith...e6and...d6,andlesscommonly...a6and
...g6.Inallcases,Whitecanthenplay3.Nf3,asifWhitehadplayed
2.Nf3then3.Nc3(e.g.2.Nf3Nc63.Nc3,B30).
Forthemostpart,othermovesaretheClosedSicilian.Possible
movesare3.g3and3.f4ingeneral,also3.Nge2,andlesscommonly
3.d3and3.Bc4.SomelinesmaytransposetotheOpenSicilian,but
therearemanythatdonot.
Alsoofsomeinterestis3.Bb5to...Nc6.
Atypicallineis2...Nc63.g3(ECOcodeB24).Also2...Nc63.f4is
theClosedSicilian,GrandPrixAttack(partofB23).

1
a

ClosedSicilian(Mainline):1.e4c5
2.Nc3Nc63.g3g64.Bg2Bg75.d3
d6

Whitecanalsokeeptheiroptionsopenwith3.Nge2.AndrewSoltis
hasdubbedthatthe"ChameleonSystem",sinceWhitemaintainstheoptionofplayingaClosedSicilian
with4.g3ortransposingtoastandardOpenSicilianwith4.d4cxd45.Nxd4.Twodrawbacksarethat(a)the
ClosedSicilianlineswithanearlyNge2arenotverychallengingforBlack,and(b)ifBlackplays2...Nc6
3.Nge2g6,4.d4reachesanAcceleratedDragonwhereWhitehaslosttheoptionofplayingc4,theMarczy
Bind,oftenconsideredWhite'sbestline.[45]InviewofpossibletranspositionstothemainSicilian
variations,Black'sreplyto2.Nc3willdependonwhattheyplayintheOpenSicilian.2...Nc6isthemost
commonchoice,but2...e6and2...d6areoftenplayed.TheMainlineoftheClosedSicilianis2.Nc3Nc6
3.g3g64.Bg2Bg75.d3d6(diagram),whenWhite'smainoptionsare6.Be3followedbyQd2andpossibly
000,and6.f4followedbyNf3and00.

White'ssecondmovealternatives
Othermovesbesides2.Nf3and2.Nc3arepopular.

AlapinVariation:2.c3
2.c3istheAlapinVariationorc3Sicilian.OriginallychampionedbySemyonAlapinattheendofthe
19thcentury,itwasrevivedinthelate1960sbyEvgenySveshnikovandEvgenyVasiukov.Nowadaysits
strongestpractitionersincludegrandmastersSergeiTiviakovandEduardasRozentalis.Whiteaimstosetup
aclassicalpawncentrewith3.d4,soBlackshouldcounterimmediatelyinthecentreby2...Nf6or2...d5.
Theline2...Nf63.e5Nd5resemblesAlekhine'sDefence,buttheinclusionofthemovesc3and...c5is
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definitelyinBlack'sfavour.NowWhitecanplay4.d4cxd45.Nf3,whenBlackhasachoicebetween5...e6
and5...Nc6.AnotherideaforWhiteis5.Bc4,whichismetby5...Qc7.2...d53.exd5Qxd54.d4Nf65.Nf3
istheothermainline,whenBlack'smainoptionsare5...e6and5...Bg4.Inthisline,Whiteusuallyendsup
withanisolatedqueen'spawnafterpawnsareexchangedond4.ArareroptiononBlack'ssecondmoveis
2...e6,withtheaimoftransposingtotheAdvanceVariationoftheFrenchDefenceafter3.d4d54.e5.

GrandPrixAttack:2.f4
2.f4istheGrandPrixAttackorMcDonnellAttack:thelatternamestemsfromthe14thmatchgame
playedinLondonin1834betweenAlexanderMcDonnellandCharlesLouisMahdeLaBourdonnais,won
byBlack.AccordingtoJeremySilmanandothers,Black'sbestreplyis2...d53.exd5Nf6!,theTalGambit,
whichhascausedtheimmediate2.f4todeclineinpopularity.[46]Whitemaydeclinethegambitwith3.Nc3,
calledthe"ToiletVariation",sonamedafteritsreputedplaceofinvention.[47]Alesscommonoptionis
2...e6,asLaBourdonnaisplayedagainstMcDonnell.PlayersusuallyentertheGrandPrixAttacknowadays
byplaying2.Nc3firstbeforecontinuing3.f4.Themodernmainlineruns2.Nc3Nc63.f4g64.Nf3Bg7.
Themove2.Nc3hasbeenplayedathighlevelgrandmasterchess(GelfandandShorthaveplayedit)but
onlyrarely.HereWhitecanplaythepositional5.Bb5,threateningtodoubleBlack'spawnswithBxc6,or
themoreaggressive5.Bc4,aimingforakingsideattack.

SmithMorraGambit:2.d4
2.d4cxd43.c3istheSmithMorraGambit.Decliningitbyeither3...Nf6or3...d5,transposingtothec3
line,ispossible,butacceptingitby3...dxc3iscritical.[48]After4.Nxc3,Whiteisconsiderednottohave
enoughcompensationforthepawn[49][50][51][52]however,itcanbedangerousforBlackifheisunprepared,
astherearemanypitfallsfortheunwary.[53]

Others
Othermovesinclude:
2.Ne2istheKeresVariation,afavouriteofPaulKeres,andhassimilarideastotheChameleon
Systemdiscussedunder2.Nc3Whitecanfollowupwith3.d4withanOpenSicilian,3.g3witha
ClosedSicilian,or3.Nbc3,continuingtodeferthechoicebetweenthetwo.
2.d3signalsWhite'sintentiontodevelopalongKing'sIndianAttacklines,andusuallytransposesto
theClosedSicilian.
2.b3followedby3.Bb2istheSnyderVariation,namedforUSCFmasterRobertM.Snyder.[54]It
hasbeenusedoccasionallybyNigelShortandisafavouriteofGeorgianGMTamazGelashvili.
2.g3istheSteinitzVariation,whichwassometimesalsoplayedbyTaimanov,andcantransposeto
theClosedSicilianbutoffersotheroptionssuchas2...d53.exd5Qxd5forBlack,andacentral
buildupwithc3andd4forWhite.
2.c4occasionallyleadstopositionsthatresemblelinesintheEnglishOpening.
2.b4istheWingGambit.White'sideais2.b4cxb43.a3,hopingtodeflectBlack'scpawn,then
dominatethecenterwithanearlyd4.However,Blackcangainanadvantagewithaccurateplay.The
WingGambitisthusgenerallyconsideredtooreckless.GMJoeGallaghercallsit"aforgottenrelic,
hardlyhavingsetfootinatournamenthallsincethedaysofFrankMarshallandRudolphSpielmann.
Whitesacrificesapawnfor...well,notalot."[55]
2.a3issimilartotheWingGambit,theideabeingtoplay3.b4nextmove.
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2.Na3isaneccentricmoverecentlybroughtintoprominencebyGMVadimZvjaginsevatthe2005
RussianChessChampionshipSuperfinal.Heuseditthriceduringthetournament,drawingtwiceand
beatingAlexanderKhalifman.
2.Bc4istheBowlderAttack,andthoughonceplayedatthehighestlevel,ispopulartodayonly
amongclubplayersorbeginnerswhoareunfamiliarwiththeSicilianandarelookingeithertoattack
theweakf7pawnortoprepareforaquickkingsidecastle.However,afteramovesuchas2...e6,
Blackwillsoonplay...d5andopenupthecentrewhilegainingtimebyattackingthebishop.
AnderssenWyvill,London1851continued2..e63.Nc3a64.a4Nc65.d3g66.Nge2Bg77.00Nge7
8.f4009.Bd2d510.Bb3Nd411.Nxd4,andnowSoltisrecommends11...cxd4!12.Ne2Bd7![56]
2.e5,whichgainsspaceandpreventsBlackplayingNf6.Whiteoftensupportthee5pawnwith3.f4
or3.Nf3.Thedrawbackof2.e5isthatnoadditionalpressureisbroughttothecenter,allowingBlack
variousoptions.WilhelmSteinitzplayed2.e5atleastthreetimesintournamentplay,defeating
SzymonWinawer,MaxWeiss,andCelsoGolmayoZpide.[57]
2.Qh5,threateningthecpawnasintheWaywardQueenAttack,wasplayedtwicein2005byHikaru
Nakamura,butthemoveisconsidereddubious.Simply2...Nf6givesBlackacomfortableposition
after3.Qxc5Nxe4,while3.Qh4displacesthequeenandlosestime.Nakamuralostin23movesto
AndreiVolokitinin2005,andNeilMcDonaldcriticisedtheopeningexperimentas"rather
foolish".[58]

ECOcodes
TheEncyclopaediaofChessOpeningsclassifiestheSicilianDefenceunderthecodesB20throughB99,
givingitmorecodesthananyotheropening.Ingeneraltheseguidelinesapply:
CodesB20throughB29coverlinesafter1.e4c5whereWhitedoesnotplay2.Nf3,andlineswhere
Whiteplays2.Nf3andBlackrespondswithamoveotherthan2...d6,2...Nc6or2...e6.
CodesB30throughB39coverthelinesbeginning1.e4c52.Nf3Nc6thatdonottransposeintolines
thatcanalsobeginwith2...d6.ThemostimportantvariationsincludedherearetheRossolimo,
Kalashnikov,SveshnikovandAcceleratedDragon.
CodesB40throughB49coverthelinesbeginning1.e4c52.Nf3e6,mostimportantlytheTaimanov
andKanvariations.
CodesB50throughB59coverthelinesafter1.e4c52.Nf3d6notcoveredincodesB60B99.This
includestheMoscowVariation(3.Bb5+),3.d4cxd44.Qxd4,andlinesintheClassicalVariation
exceptfortheRichterRauzerAttack,includingtheSozinAttackandtheBoleslavskyVariation.
CodesB60throughB69covertheRichterRauzerAttackoftheClassicalVariation.
CodesB70throughB79coverthenormal(unaccelerated)DragonVariation.
CodesB80throughB89covertheScheveningenVariation.
CodesB90throughB99covertheNajdorfVariation.

Seealso
Listofchessopenings
Listofchessopeningsnamedafterplaces

References
Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicilian_Defence

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SicilianDefenceWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

A. HenryBird,writingin1883,summarizedthefluctuationsintheSicilian'sreputationthus:
TheSicilian...hasprobablyundergonemorevicissitudesinregardtoitsestimationand
appreciationthananyotherformofdefence.In1851,whentheGreatExhibitionLondon
Tournamentwascommenced,itwasentirelyoutoffavor,butitssuccessfuladoptiononsomany
occasionsbyAnderssen,thefirstprizewinner,entirelyrestoredittoconfidence.Itsrejectionby
Morphyin18578,andbySteinitzin1862,causeditagaintolapseinconsiderationasnotbeinga
perfectlyvalidandreliabledefence.Itsfortuneshaveeversincecontinuedinanunsettledstate.
Staunton(threeweeksbeforehisdeath),...pronouncedittobequitetrustworthy,andonthesame
dateLowenthalexpressedasimilaropinion.BaronKolisch...concursintheseviews.
J.I.Minchin(editor)(1973).GamesPlayedintheLondonInternationalChessTournament1883(reprinted.).
BritishChessMagazine.pp.28687.SBN900846089.
B. "Steinitz,throughouthislife,hadacertaindislikeoftheSicilian.Heneverceasedtowritethathepreferred1...e5
andthemajorityofplayersfollowedhisexample."Polugaevsky,LevJeroenPiketChristopheGuneau(1995).
SicilianLove:LevPolugaevskyChessTournament,BuenoAires1994.NewinChess.p.65.ISBN907168999
9.
C. Griffith,R.C.J.H.White(1925).ModernChessOpenings.Leeds:Whitehead&Miller.p.191.Twelveyears
earlier,inthesecondedition,theauthorshadwritten,"Formanyyears,theSicilianhasenjoyedafair,though
fluctuatingamountoffavourformatchplay.WhileitisnotanalyticallysosoundastheFrench,itaffordsgreater
opportunityforcounterattackandlesschanceofanearlydraw."Griffith,R.C.J.H.White(1913).Modern
ChessOpenings.London:Longmans,GreenandCo.p.164.
D. Fine,Reuben(1965).GreatMomentsinModernChess.NewYork:DoverPublications.ISBN0486214494.
(describedas"anunabrigedandunalteredrepublication"ofMcKay,David(1948).TheWorld'saChessboard.
p.212..

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Furtherreading
Levy,DavidO'Connell,Kevin(1987).HowtoPlaytheSicilian
TheWikibookChess
Defense.MacmillanPublishers.ISBN0020291914.
OpeningTheoryhasapage
Bangiev,Alexander(1988).DevelopmentsintheSicilian2.f41980
onthetopicof:Sicilian
88.QuadrantMarketing.
Defence
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.ez
net.com/~mephisto/Understanding%20Sicilian%20Dragon.html)

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