The Sicilian Jungle

Winning with Black: the joys and perils of tension. How hard is it to equalise with Black? Maybe it's impossible... but you can get a solid and fairly equal position (somewhere between = and +=) in maybe lots of openings. I can remember in their 1974 match, the great Viktor Korchnoi shrugged off Karpov's legendary technique in endless IQP positions from the French Tarrasch. He was never going to win any of them, but he was reserving his winning attempts for the White pieces. But that's match tactics. In a tournament, in a Swiss, you have to be able to win with the Black pieces. And that is when the French may be less suitable, and an opening that retains more complexity, more tension, and more risk, is more suitable. We must play the Pirc, or the Sicilian.

1 The Sicilian Skeleton: White's King-side attack Opposite-side castling cuuuuuuuuC cuuuuuuuuC cuuuuuuuuC (wdwdwdwd} (rhbDw4kg} (wDrDwDkD} 70pdp0p0p} 7Dw1wDpDw} 7Dp4wDpgp} 6wDwDwDwD} 6pDw0p)pD} 6pDw0bhp)} 5Dw0wDwDw} 5DpDwhw)p} 51wDw0wGw} &wDwDPDwD} &wDwHPDw!} &wDwDPDPD} 3DwDwDwDw} 3DwHwGwDw} 3)wHwDPDw} 2P)P)w)P)} 2P)PDBDw)} 2w)P!BDwD} %dwdwdwdw} %DwDRDRIw} %DKDRDwDR} v,./9EFJMV v,./9EFJMV v,./9EFJMV Black sets up an immediate tension White has space and time and can In order to speed up development in the centre. guess where the Black King will and get the King out of the way of cuuuuuuuuC be, so there is a natural plan to the open lines on the King's-side, play a King's-side attack. Of White may castle long. This (rhb1kgn4} course, White can play the Sicilian sharpens the fight, because of 70pDp0p0p} with a more positional approach, course that puts the White King in 6wDwdwDwD} but there is always this idea up the firing line of Black's 5DwDwDwDw} White's sleeve. counterplay. &wDwHPDwD} 3DwDwDwDw} Competing pawn storms The half-open c-file/minority 2P)PDw)P)} attack White may try to break through %$NGQIBDR} on the King's-side with Pawns, cuuuuuuuuC v,./9EFJMV since Black has no weaknesses (wdrdwdwd} After d4 and the exchange of there. Black often replies in kind 7dwdw0p0p} pawns, Black has some long-term on the other wing: 6pDw0whwD} advantages and some short-term cuuuuuuuuC 5DpdwDwDw} problems. Black might lose some (wDrDw4wi} &wDwHPDwD} short games but hope to win some 7Dw1wgp0p} long ones. 3DwHwDwDw} 6wDb0whwD} 2P)Pdw)P)} 50wDw0wDw} %dwdwdwdw} &w0wDP)wD} v,./9EFJMV 3)wHwGB!w} Black has pressure down the half- 2w)P$wDP)} open c-file, assuming Black has got %DwDwDRIw} in ...Nf6 and White has replied v,./9EFJMV with Nc3. cuuuuuuuuC cuuuuuuuuC (wDrDn4kD} (rDwDw4kD} The Maròczy Bind (Sicilian without 7Db1wgp0p} 7DqDngp0p} 4...Nf6) 6wDw0pDwD} 6pDb0whwD} We have seen how the pawn 5DwDwDw)w} 5DwDw0PDw} moves ...b5 and ...d5 play a key &w0whPGwD} &N0wDPDwD} role in creating counterplay for 30PDwDwHw} 3DBDwDQHw} Black in the Sicilian. Wouldn't it be nice if White could cut out all 2PDPHw)B)} 2P)PDwGP)} of that with c2-c4? Well, yes, it %Dw$QDRIw} %$wDw$wIw} would! So Black usually plays v,./9EFJMV v,./9EFJMV 4...Nf6, expecting White to reply 5.Nc3, when all the notes above Conrady-Benkö, 1957 Fischer-Tal 1959: 17...d5! still apply. But if Black chooses White is waving his arms over on cuuuuuuuuC some other fourth move, White the King's-side but is losing on the (rDbDwDri} can employ the dreaded Maròczy Queen's-side. 7Dw1wgpDp} Bind. It's not quite so dreaded as 6pDw0p0wD} it used to be, but you still have to 5DpDwhPDw} know what you're doing as Black Pressure on e4 to avoid being squashed flat. cuuuuuuuuC &wDwHPHPD} cuuuuuuuuC (wdrdwdwd} 3DwDwDwDQ} (wdwdwdwd} 7dbdw0p0p} 2P)PDwDw)} 70pdp0p0p} 6pDw0whwD} %DwIRDB$w} 6wDwDwDwD} 5DphwDwDw} v,./9EFJMV 5DwdwDwDw} &wDwHPDwD} Gligorić-Fischer 1959: 16...d5! &wDPHPDwD} 3DwHwDwDw} 3DwDwDwDw} 2P)wdw)P)} 2P)Pdw)P)} Too many pawn moves %dwdwdwdw} %dwdwdwdw} One reason that the Sicilian v,./9EFJMV v,./9EFJMV doesn't always go so well at club The White Pawn on e4 is the level is because it has a number of nearest target for Black and a counter-intuitive features. Black Anti-Maròczy Pawn-breaks natural point for counter-attack: if adopts a position with less space, White has to commit pieces to its gets behind in development, and cuuuuuuuuC defence, then White is not so free makes lots of pawn moves... really, (wdwdwdwd} to attack. all the things we tell beginners not 70pdp0p0p} to do! It can be hard even for 6wDwDwDwD} Grandmasters to be sure when 5DXdXDXDw} The break with ...d5 Black is going to make one pawn move too many... &wDPHPDwD} The square d5 is critical in the 3DwDwDwDw} Sicilian; if White can keep control cuuuuuuuuC of it, Black will find it difficult to (rDw1kDw4} 2P)wdw)P)} transfer pieces to defend the King, 7DbDwgp0w} %dwdwdwdw} while if Black can blow up the 6p0w0phw0} v,./9EFJMV centre with the pawn break ...d5, 5DwDwDwDw} Black is going to die once White the loss of central control usually &wDwHP)wD} gets organised, so should aim to means that White's attack will make a break with one of the founder. 3DBHQDwDw} 2P)PDwDP)} light-square challenges. %$wDwDRIw} v,./9EFJMV Stean-Browne 1976: 13.Nxe6! The idea is to get the Bishop on 2 Approaches for White: the other side of the f-pawn. 3 Approaches for Black: You can pretty well use any of
Schemes for developing Bf8 these against any of the Black systems, and there is some sense
Sacrificial ideas Be7 Classical development in doing just that. cuuuuuuuuC White is trying to arrange an
Schemes for developing (Bf1) accident for Black on the King's- (wdwdw4kd} side (or the centre) before Black 7dwdwgp0p} Be2 Classical development can finish developing and either 6pDw0phwD} &wDwHP)wD} wipe out White's Queen's-side or 5DpdwDwDw} 3DwHwGwDw} blow up the centre. Because Black 2P)PdBdP)} is so solid, and White is in a hurry, Sensible %$wdQdRIw} this often pushes White into a Bg7 Breathing fire sacrificial solution. David Levy in cuuuuuuuuC v,./9EFJMV his book Sacrifices in the Sicilian lists various methods: (wdwdw4kd} Bd3 Third-rank line-up 7dwdw0pgp} &wDwDP)wD} 1. Nf5 6pDw0whpD} 3DNHBGQDw} 2. Rxf6 2P)PDwDP)} 5DpdwDwDw} %DwDw$RIw} 3. Bxb5 Active v,./9EFJMV 4. Nxb5 Bc5 Unusual Bc4 Central grip Sozin/Velimirovic 5. Bd5 cuuuuuuuuC &wDBHPDwD} 6. Nd5 (wdwdwdwd} 7dpdpdp0p} 3DwHwDwDw} 7. Ne6 2P)PdQ)P)} 6pDwDpDwD} %$wdwdRIw} 8. Bxe6 5DwgwDwDw} v,./9EFJMV 9. Nxe6 After the expected Nb3, you can drop it back to a7. Bg2 Fianchetto and there are a couple of sacrificial &wDwHPDwD} approaches for Black: Bb4 (delayed) 3DwHwDw)w} A. ...Rxc3 cuuuuuuuuC 2P)Pdw)B)} B. ...d5 (wdwdwdwd} %dwdwdRIw} I might add: Bxh7 as it is always 7dwdpdp0p} v,./9EFJMV around in any opening. 6pDwDphwD} Playing for small advantages and 5DpdwDwDw} not the big attack. &wgwHP)wD} The English Attack 3DwHwDwDw} &wDwHPDwD} 2P)PdwdP)} 3DwHwGPDw} %dwdwIwdR} 2P)PdwdP)} v,./9EFJMV %dwdwdRIw} Needs careful timing. v,./9EFJMV (Or the Yugoslav.) Richter Attack 5DwdwDwGw} &wDwHP)wD} 3DwHwDwDw} 2P)P!BdP)} %dwdwdRIw} v,./9EFJMV Taimanov/Paulsen/Kan Variations 4 The Sicilian Menagerie (safest)
The Small Cats:
The Big Beasts: cuuuuuuuuC (rdb1kgn4} Four Knights' Variation Classical Sicilian cuuuuuuuuC cuuuuuuuuC 70pdpdp0p} 6wDnDpDwD} (rdb1kgw4} (rdb1kgw4} 70pdpdp0p} 70pdw0p0p} 5DwdwDwDw} cuuuuuuuuC 6wDnDphwD} 6wDn0whwD} 5DwdwDwDw} 5DwdwDwDw} (rdbdkgn4} 7dp1pdp0p} Logical, active, and the basis of The most logical way to develop, 6pDnDpDwD} Everyman's Meeting 1 e4. There is and always has fans. White will 5DwdwDwDw} one pain in the situpons, which is usually try the Richter or Sozin the variation with approach; other tries are too wet. cuuuuuuuuC (rhb1kgn4} Löwenthal Variation and Scheveningen Variation 7dpdpdp0p} Kalashnikov Variation cuuuuuuuuC cuuuuuuuuC (rhb1kgw4} 6pDwDpDwD} 5DwdwDwDw} (rdb1kgw4} 70pdwdp0p} 70pdpdp0p} 6wDw0phwD} Here are some fancy move orders 6wDnDwdwD} 5DwdwDwDw} to try and get something more out of the opening: maybe an 5Dwdw0wDw} A sensible way to play, getting opportunity to swap a pair of White will play Nb5 and then castled and holding up things in the minor pieces, maybe a chance to Black can either force the issue centre. play ...d5 in one move, maybe the with ...a6 (Löwenthal) or block chance to put the Bf8 on a more Dragon Variation with ...d6 (Kalashnikov). active square. cuuuuuuuuC Grivas Variation (rhb1kdw4} Dunno why Chess Stars call this cuuuuuuuuC 70pdw0pgp} the safest... (rdb1kgw4} 6wDw0whpD} Sveshnikov Variation (easiest) 70pdp0p0p} 5DwdwDwDw} cuuuuuuuuC 6w1nDwhwD} (rdb1kgw4} 5DwdwDwDw} The Bishop's best square, aiming at 70pdwdp0p} the centre and perhaps White's A device to push the Nd4 to b3, King, but offering a point of 6wDn0whwD} when White is less well-placed for leverage for White's attack down 5Dwdw0wDw} a snap attack. the h-file. Easiest?! Well, the structures are Hyper-accelerated Dragon Najdorf Variation (sharpest) very similar in each line, so the cuuuuuuuuC cuuuuuuuuC plans are the same, and there aren't that many variations that (rhb1kgn4} (rhb1kgw4} 70pdp0pdp} 7dpdw0p0p} are worth trying for White. Accelerated Dragon 6wDwDwDpD} 6pDw0whwD} 5Dw0wDwDw} 5DwdwDwDw} cuuuuuuuuC (rdb1kdn4} For Accelerated Dragon players Reserving all the options and 70pdp0pgp} who don't like Bb5 and do like a thinking about ...e5, but spending bit of variety. White can play another tempo moving an 6wDnDwDpD} Qxd4 and Black can try to get unimportant pawn... 5DwdwDwDw} away without playing ...cxd4 Possibly the actual safest Sicilian; immediately. White never gets in the usual attacks and either has to go for a roughly equal gambit variation or try to win slowly with the Maròczy Bind. O'Kelly Variation
The Anti-Sicilians Alapin Variation cuuuuuuuuC Qxd4 cuuuuuuuuC (rhb1kgn4} cuuuuuuuuC (rhb1kgn4} 7dpdp0p0p} (wdwdwdwd} 70pDp0p0p} 6pDwDwDwD} 70pdp0p0p} 6wDwDwDwD} 5Dw0wDwDw} 6wDwDwDwD} 5Dw0wDwDw} One good idea (...e5) which White 5DwdwDwDw} &wDwDPDwD} can easily avoid by playing one of &wDw!PDwD} 3Dw)wDwDw} the standard Anti-Sicilians, where 2P)w)w)P)} Black is likely to find ...a6 a waste 3DwDwDNDw} 2P)Pdw)P)} %$NGQIBHR} of time. v,./9EFJMV Nimzowitsch Variation %dwdwdwdw} v,./9EFJMV Looking for more central control, cuuuuuuuuC but falling behind in development. (rhb1kgw4} Hoping to gain time, but of course, IQP positions often arise, so if you 70pdp0p0p} White might lose that time after like to play these, then this is a 6wDwDwhwD} ...Nc6. natural choice. 5Dw0wDwDw} Morra Gambit Closed Variation cuuuuuuuuC Mixing the Alekhin and the Sicilian cuuuuuuuuC defences. Sharp and not so well (wdwdwdwd} (rhb1kgn4} known, but White should get the 70pdp0p0p} 70pDp0p0p} edge. 6wDwDwDwD} 6wDwDwDwD} Katalimov Variation 5DwdwDwDw} 5Dw0wDwDw} cuuuuuuuuC &wDw0PDwD} &wDwDPDwD} (rhbdkgn4} 3Dw)wDwDw} 3DwHwDw)w} 70p1p0p0p} 2P)wdw)P)} 2P)P)w)B)} 6wDwDwDwD} %dwdwdwdw} %$wGQIwHR} 5Dw0wDwDw} v,./9EFJMV v,./9EFJMV It's a move... A gambit seeking an even greater The fianchetto isn't essential, but lead in development than White it's in the way everywhere else. Basman Variation normally gets in the Sicilian. cuuuuuuuuC Grand Prix Attack Wing Gambits b4 cuuuuuuuuC (rhb1kgn4} cuuuuuuuuC 70pdpdp0p} (rhb1kgn4} (wdwdwdwd} 70pDp0p0p} 6wDwDpDwD} 70pdp0p0p} 5DwgwDwDw} 6wDwDwDwD} 6wDwDwDwD} 5Dw0wDwDw} It's an idea... 5Dw0wDwDw} &wDwDP)wD} &w)wDPDwD} 3DwDwDwDw} 3DwDwDwDw} 2P)P)wdP)} 2PdP)w)P)} %$NGQIBHR} %dwdwdwdw} v,./9EFJMV v,./9EFJMV Well, nearly everywhere: you can A gambit seeking extra play a version of the Closed with development and central control. the Bf1 outside the pawn chain on c4 or b5. 2.f4 can be met by 2...d5 and 3...Nf6, so White usually precedes this push with 2.Nc3 Bb5(+) Rossolimo (Moscow) cuuuuuuuuC
Anti-Anti-Sicilians 5 Theory: how bad has it got? (rhb1kgn4} If you have any affection for the 70pDw0p0p} French and you play Sicilian In the Sveshnikov Variation of the 6wDw0wDwD} systems with ...e6, you can play Sicilian Defense, the game ...e6/...d5 against most of these Korneev-Devereaux, 2006, 5DB0wDwDw} systems. featured a theoretical novelty on &wDwDPDwD} Otherwise, you can spend some Black's 29th move, improving on a 3DwDwDNDw} time getting your Bf8 out from previous high-level game Topalov- 2P)P)w)P)} behind the c-pawn with ...g6 and Leko, Linares 2005. %$NGQIwdR} ...Bg7. (Wikipedia) v,./9EFJMV [Event "XXII Torneo Ciudad de A positional try which can turn Linares"] sharp. Black can equalise with [Site "Linares ESP"] 3...Bd7 or try for more but with [Date "2005.02.26"] more risk. [Round "4"] cuuuuuuuuC [Result "1/2-1/2"] [White "Veselin Topalov"] (rdb1kgn4} [Black "Peter Leko"] 70pDp0p0p} [ECO "B33"] 6wDnDwDwD} [PlyCount "113"] 5DB0wDwDw} &wDwDPDwD} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 3DwDwDNDw} 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 2P)P)w)P)} d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 %$NGQIwdR} Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. a4 bxa4 14. v,./9EFJMV Rxa4 a5 15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 The Sicilian version of the Ruy Kh8 17. Nce3 g6 18. h4 Bxh4 Lopez, positionally rich and still 19. g3 Bg5 20. f4 exf4 21. gxf4 posing some problems for Black. Bh4+ 22. Kd2 Ne7 23. Kc1 Nxd5 24. Nxd5 Be6 25. Qd4+ King's Indian Attack Kg8 26. Ra2 Bxd5 27. Qxd5 cuuuuuuuuC Qf6 28. Qd2 Bg3 29. Rf1 h5 (rhb1kgn4} 30. Rxa5 Ra8 31. e5 Qf5 32. 70pDp0p0p} Rxa8 Rxa8 33. Kb2 h4 34. Qxd6 Re8 35. Bb5 Rf8 36. Bd3 6wDwDwDwD} Qe6 37. Qd4 Qe7 38. Bc4 Kh7 5Dw0wDwDw} 39. b4 h3 40. Qd3 Qh4 41. f5 &wDwDPDwD} Bf4 42. e6 fxe6 43. Qd7+ Kh6 3DwDPDN)w} 44. fxe6 Bc1+ 45. Rxc1 Qxc4 2P)Pdw)B)} 46. e7 Ra8 47. Qxh3+ Kg7 48. e8=N+ Kg8 49. Nf6+ Kf7 50. %$NGQIwdR} Qd7+ Kxf6 51. Qd4+ Qxd4 52. v,./9EFJMV cxd4 g5 53. Rc6+ Kf5 54. b5 g4 The KIA recipe can happily be 55. Kb3 g3 56. Rc1 Ke4 57. tried against the Sicilian. Rg1 1/2-1/2 [Event "15th Monarch Assurance"] A GM innovation (Nunn- [Site "Port Erin IOM"] Fedorowicz) [Date "2006.09.23"] cuuuuuuuuC [Round "1"] (rDw1kgw4} [Result "1/2-1/2"] [White "Oleg Korneev"] 7DbDwDp0w} [Black "Maxim Devereaux"] 6pDw0phw0} [ECO "B33"] 5DpDwDwDw} [PlyCount "117"] &wDwGP)wD} 3DwHwDwDw} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 2P)P!wDP)} 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 %DwIRDBDR} d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 O-O v,./9EFJMV 12. Nc2 Bg5 13. a4 bxa4 14. Rxa4 a5 15. Bc4 Rb8 16. b3 How do you deal with the Kh8 17. Nce3 g6 18. h4 Bxh4 avalanche of theory? 19. g3 Bg5 20. f4 exf4 21. gxf4 Bh4+ 22. Kd2 Ne7 23. Kc1
Learn what you can Nxd5 24. Nxd5 Be6 25. Qd4+ Kg8 26. Ra2 Bxd5 27. Qxd5
Play what you know Qf6 28. Qd2 Bg3 29. Rf1
Stick with the same lines cuuuuuuuuC (w4wDw4kD}
Look up the theory after you 7DwDwDpDp} play a game. 6wDw0w1pD}
Train/Test yourself against: 50wDwDwDw} other players &wDBDP)wD} Fritz/Rybka 3DP)wDwgw} training software 2RDw!wDwD} %DwIwDRDw}
Play less-obvious lines. v,./9EFJMV
Play your own theory. 29...d5 30. Bxd5 g5 31. Kb2 Bxf4 32. Rxa5 Rbc8 33. Qd3 Kh8 34. b4 Rc7 35. Kb3 Rb8 36. Ra6 Qg7 37. c4 Be5 38. Ra8 Rxa8 39. Bxa8 Rc8 40. 6 Bibliography Bd5 Rd8 41. c5 g4 42. Qe2 f6 LEVY/O'CONNELL The ideas 43. Rc1 Qh6 44. Rc2 Qh3+ 45. behind the Sicilian Defence Ka4 Rb8 46. b5 g3 47. b6 Qh1 48. Ra2 Qg1 49. Kb5 Qb1+ 50. WATSON Mastering the Chess Ka6 Qb4 51. Qb5 Qc3 52. Qa5 Openings Qf3 53. Qd2 Qf1+ 54. Ka5 BATSFORD/EVERYMAN Various Qg1 55. Kb5 Qf1+ 56. Kc6 Bf4 monographs e.g. 57. Qe2 Rc8+ 58. Kd7 Qxe2 59. Rxe2 1/2-1/2 JOHN COX, Starting Out: Sicilian Sveshnikov CHESS STARS The *_est Sicilian