Games - Sicilian Defence

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	Games - Sicilian Defence

The Sicilian Defence is a chess opening which begins with: :1.e4 c5 This is the most popular response to 1.e4 at the master level. Black immediately fights for the centre, but by attacking from the c-file (instead of mirroring White's move) he creates an asymmetrical position that leads to complicated situations. Typically, White has the initiative on the kingside while Black obtains counterplay on the queenside, particularly on the c-file after the exchange of Black's c-pawn for White's d-pawn.

The opening was named by Gioacchino Greco in the 17th century.

Open Sicilian

The most common Sicilian variations start with the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3, when there are three main continuations for Black: 2...d6, 2...Nc6, and 2...e6. White then plays 3.d4, when black replies with 3...cxd4. The resulting position is one of the most complex in modern chess practice, as white's advantage in development and space is counterbalanced by black's central pawn majority and open c file.

2...d6

The most common move, Black's move opens up for his bishop and defends the e5 square. Play usually continues 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 when Black usually winds up playing the Dragon (5...g6), Najdorf (5...a6), Classical (5...Nc6), or Scheveningen (5...e6).

Dragon

Black can adopt a variety of set-ups, among them the Dragon variation, which begins

:1.e4 c5 :2.Nf3 d6 :3.d4 cxd4 :4.Nxd4 Nf6 :5.Nc3 g6

In this variation, Black fianchettoes a Bishop on the h8-a1 diagonal. This is called the "Dragon" variation, by one account because Black's kingside pawn structure looks like the constellation "Draco". Another possible reason for the name is that a very aggressive middlegame usually develops following opposite-side castling. The dragon has a reputation for being a very agressive opening.

Najdorf

The most popular Sicilian system is the Najdorf, which begins

:1.e4 c5 :2.Nf3 d6 :3.d4 cxd4 :4.Nxd4 Nf6 :5.Nc3 a6

White plays a variety of moves here, including 6.Bg5, 6.Be2, 6.Be3, Bobby Fischer's preferred response 6.Bc4, 6.f3, 6.f4, 6.g3, and, rarely, 6.h3 or even 6.Rg1 (Jovan Petronic), preparing 7.g4.

Classical

After :1.e4 c5 :2.Nf3 d6 :3.d4 cxd4 :4.Nxd4 Nf6 :5.Nc3 Nc6, the so-called "Classical" Sicilian arises, featuring sound natural development from both sides. Both sides have brought out their knights to the best squares. White usually continues with 6.Bg5 (the Richter-Rauzer Variation), which aims to weaken the Black kingside with a timely Bxf6 when Black often must respond with the weakening ...gxf6. In return, Black will enjoy a useful majority of pawns in the centre. Another popular variation is 6.Bc4, the Sozin Variation, which brings the bishop to an aggressive square, and allows white to castle on either the kingside or the queenside (the hyper-aggressive Velimorovic Attack). The Sozin Variation was a favorite of Bobby Fischer. Less popular moves are 6.Be2, 6.Be3, 6.f3, 6.g3, and 6.f4.

Scheveningen

:1.e4 c5 :2.Nf3 d6 :3.d4 cxd4 :4.Nxd4 Nf6 :5.Nc3 e6 The Scheveningen gives Black a small defensive centre, but which can be useful in preventing a White assault there while Black concentrates on the queenside. A surprising but dangerous attempt for White is the Keres Attack, beginning with 6. g4.

Moscow

:1.e4 c5 :2.Nf3 d6 :3.Bb5+ This is a simplifying line which is a fairly popular alternative if White wants to avoid the mainline theory. This variation was played by Garry Kasparov in the online game Kasparov versus The World.

Other

White can also keep his options open with the "Chameleon System" championed by Soltis and others, a typical line of which runs 2. Nc3 d6 3. Nge2, keeping Black guessing whether White will play a Closed Sicilian with 4.g3 or transpose to a standard Open Sicilian with 4. d4.

2...Nc6

By playing 2...Nc6 Black develops the knight to a natural square. Play often transposes to the Classical variation given under 2...d6, but there are some major alternatives.

Sveshnikov

:1.e4 c5 :2.Nf3 Nc6 :3.d4 cxd4 :4.Nxd4 Nf6 :5.Nc3 e5 :6.Ndb5 d6 :7.Bg5 a6 :8.Na3 Be6 This variation (pioneered by Evgeny Sveshnikov) has become very popular in master level chess. Black's 5...e5 looks illogical, making the d6 pawn backward and potentially weak, and the d5 square is now a hole in the Black position. In return Black gets a foothold in the centre and White's knight is forced to spend a lot of time to find a safe square. White will have a strong d5 knight and a weak a3 knight.

Accelerated Dragon

:1.e4 c5 :2.Nf3 Nc6 :3.d4 cxd4 :4.Nxd4 g6 The Accelerated Dragon features an early ...g6 from Black. An important difference between this line and the Dragon is that Black avoids playing ...d7-d6, so that he can later play ...d7-d5 in one move if possible. Black also avoids the Yugoslav attack, but since White has not been forced to play Nc3 yet, the option of playing c4 (the Maróczy Bind) becomes available. Generally, this opening features a more positional style of play, unlike many of the other sicilian variations.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Sicilian Defence ]

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