The Most Flexible Sicilian A Black Repertoire with 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 Alexander Delchev Semko Semkov Chess Stars www.chess-stars.com Chess Stars Publishing Current Theory and Practice Series The Most Flexible Sicilian Cover design by Kalojan Nachev Copyright © 2014 by Alexander Delchev and Semko Semkov Printed in Bulgaria ISBN: 978-954 8782 97-5 Contents 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 Foreword 5 Introduction 6 Open Sicilian Part 1 The Classical System 11 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2; 4...a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2 Part 2 The English Attack 45 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3; 4...a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 Part 3 The Third Rank Set-Up 77 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Bd3; 4...a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Bd3 Part 4 The f4 System 123 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.f4; 4...a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.f4 Part 5 The Fianchetto 155 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.g3; 4...a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.g3 Part 6 Kan – the Maróczy Bind 197 4...a6 5.c4; 5.Bd3 Part 7 Taimanov with 5.Nb5 241 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nb5 d6 Part 8 Rare Lines on 5th and 6th Move 273 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nxc6; 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Nxc6; 6.Qd3; 6.Ndb5 Anti-Sicilian Systems Part 9 The Alapin System 289 3.c3 d5 Part 10 KID Reversed 301 3.d3 Part 11 Rare Lines on Move 3 315 3.b4; 3.b3; 3.c4; 3.Nc3; 3.Qe2; 3.g3 Index of Branches 337 Introduction Bibliography Books The Safest Sicilian, Alexander Delchev and Semko Semkov, Chess Stars 2008 The Sicilian Taimanov: Move by Move by John Emms, Gloucesters Publishers, 2012 Play the Sicilian Kan, Johan Hellsten, Everyman Chess 2008 The Complete Hedgehog: Volume 1+2 by Sergei Shipov, Mongoose Press Experts vs the Sicilian, 2nd edition, Quality Chess, 2006 English Attack by Nick de Firmian and John Fedorowicz, Batsford, 2004 Anti-Sicilians: A Guide for Black by Dorian Rogozenko, Gambit, 2003 Winning With the Sicilian by Mark Taimanov, Collier Books 1991 Secrets of Opening Preparation 2 by Mark Dvoretsky and Artur Yusupov, 1996 (In Russian) Super Tournaments 2000, Chess Stars, 2001 Super Tournaments 2002, Chess Stars, 2003 Super Tournaments 2003, Chess Stars, 2004 Opening for White According to Anand, vol. 9, by Alexander Khalifman, Chess Stars 2007 The Complete c3 Sicilian by Evgeny Sveshnikov, New in Chess 2010 How to beat the Sicilian Defence by Gawain Jones, Everyman Chess 2011 Periodicals Chess Informant New in Chess Internet resources Databases The Week In Chess (chesscenter.com) 10 Days (Chessmix.com) Internet Chess Club (chessclub.com) ChessPublishing.com forum Chess Today 4 Introduction Foreword This book offers a double reper- The queen goes early to c7 to toire for Black based on the moves control the central dark squares and 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6!. It is divided in support the bishop when it goes to several parts: playing against Be2; b4 or d6; against f4; g3; the third rank set-up We often change the pawn struc- Be3+Bd3; the English Attack; the ture by recapturing ...dxc6 followed hedgehog structures. by ...e6-e5. After 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4, I The hedgehog structures share analyse in separate chapters the the same main plan – to achieve the Taimanov move order with 4...Nc6, break ...d5. and the Kan with 4...a6. Every part begins with a chapter “Main Ideas” The concluding parts present a which discuses the pros and cons of repertoire against the Anti-Sicilians the two approaches and offers ad- like the Alapin with c3, the King’s vice which one works better against Indian Reversed with d3, and the White’s particular set-up. The next modern fianchetto with 3.g3. chapters, called “Taimanov – Step It is difficult to make a repertoire by Step” and “Kan – Step by Step”, which would satisfy every taste. I present detailed theory. Finally, a would recommend the Kan to read- “Complete Games” chapter offers ers who: understand positional play additional annotations. and prophylaxis; are not theoreti- This structure should allow you cians; defend calmly and unabash- to better understand the typical edly. ideas which are similar in many as- If you like early clashes and pects: sharp theoretical disputes (and Black’s pawn often remains on have good memory!), the Taimanov d7 allowing an early activation of is the better choice. the dark-squared bishop through The ultimate goal should be to b4, c5 or even d6 in some lines, the master both systems. Then you’ll ...d5 break is without loss of tempo be really unpredictable to your op- on ...d6; ponents! The pressure on the e4-pawn with ...b5, ...Bb7, ...Nf6 is common Alexander Delchev for both systems; April 2014 5 Part 6 Introduction The Taimanov System which aris- Sicilian brought about a burst of es after the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6! popularity of my pet system. The 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 first players developed many new was my main weapon against 1.e4 plans, the engines also improved until 2008. dramatically. Some of my back- XIIIIIIIIY up alternatives were refuted. There was no more ground for retreat and 9r+l+kvlntr0 I had to accept deep theoretical 9zppwqp+pzpp0 disputes in every game. It became 9-+n+p+-+0 practically unrewarding to keep my 9+-+-+-+-0 repertoire in full swing all the time. 9-+-sNP+-+0 So I decided to reserve the 9+-sN-+-+-0 Taimanov for rapid games where there is no time for targeted home 9PzPP+-zPPzP0 preparation and good understand- 9tR-vLQmKL+R0 ing is often more important than xiiiiiiiiy the objective evaluation of the posi- It suits well my style and it tion. Thus I was able to experiment brought me good practical results. with new ideas without spending Another cause of my successes was too much time on them. that my opponents lacked clear At the same time I began my mi- models to follow since the varia- gration toward the Kan. I was ex- tion was not popular at top level. I tremely impressed by its flexibili- was able to play my own schemes ty and the variety of plans it offers. and I only had to make minor im- The move order 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6! provements on my previous games. 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 is outwardly so It was sufficient to keep in store a modest and unobtrusive that White few alternatives which aimed to es- could choose virtually any develop- cape home preparation and assured ing scheme at his liking. The play me of the psychological edge. I had is not forced and both sides have always the feeling that the battle tons of options on every move. This was fought on my land. How ever, greatly reduces the chance of be- the second edition of The safest ing caught on a home preparation. 6 Introduction The wide choice also means an am- White must give up the c4-pawn ple ground for strategic mistakes. with a dubious compensation. Even good grandmasters often mix up the move order and allow an easy The best way to exploit the weak- equalisation. Look at the follow- nesses of your opponents’ reper- ing variation: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 toires is to master the whole range cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Bd3 Nc6 of systems with 2...e6. That would 7.Be3?! allow you to choose the most un- XIIIIIIIIY pleasant set-up against any par- 9r+lwqkvl-tr0 ticular opponent. For instance, if the White player is narrowly spe- 9+p+p+pzpp0 cialised in the English Attack, you 9p+n+psn-+0 may choose to delay ...Nc6. This 9+-+-+-+-0 approach effectively discourages 9-+PsNP+-+0 White’s set-up with Be3. It is also 9+-+LvL-+-0 very good against the fans of an 9PzP-+-zPPzP0 early f4, the fianchetto with g3 and the Classical system with Be2. On 9tRN+QmK-+R0 the contrary, if your opponent is a xiiiiiiiiy practical player who avoids main White played a natural devel- lines, then the Taimanov move or- oping move, but Black suddenly der would be more unpleasant as it leaps forward: 7...Ne5! 8.h3 – an- narrows White’s safe paths in the other natural move which occurred opening. in 5 games (8.Nc3 Nfg4; 8.0-0 Nfg4 9.Bf4 g5!) 8...Qb6! and Black I would choose the Kan against already has an initiative – 9.Nb3 any player who treats it with 5.Nc3, (9.a3 Qxb2 10.Nb3 Nxd3+ 11.Qxd3 and the Taimanov against fans of Qe5 12.N1d2 Qc7; 9.Nb5 Bc5µ) 9... the Maróczy Bind. The Kan may Qc6! (9...Bb4+ 10.Nc3 Qd6 11.Bd4 also be the better option if your op- Nxd3+ 12.Qxd3 e5 13.0-0-0!) ponent tried to outwit you by the XIIIIIIIIY move order 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3. 9r+l+kvl-tr0 The knight is committed to c3 so 3... 9+p+p+pzpp0 a6!? would be an excellent choice. 9p+q+psn-+0 Keep in mind that the Taimanov 9+-+-sn-+-0 is a self-sufficient system while in 9-+P+P+-+0 some Kan lines it is best to develop 9+N+LvL-+P0 the knight on c6 switching over to 9PzP-+-zPP+0 the Taimanov.