An Introduction to the Sicilian Defense w________w árhb1kgn4] à0pdp0p0p] ßwdwdwdwd] Þdw0wdwdw] ÝwdsdPdwd] Üdwdwdwdw] ÛP)P)s)P)] Ú$NGQIBHR] wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw Compiled by Steven Craig Miller
An Introduction to the Sicilian Defense complied by Steven Craig Miller
Table of Contents Introduction Part I: Open Sicilians a. The Scheveningen Variation b. The Najdorf Variation c. The Classical Variation d. The Dragon Variation e. The Accelerated Dragon f. The Sveshnikov Variation g. Löwenthal Variation h. The Four Knights Variation i. The Kalashnikov Variation j. The Taimanov Variation k. The Kan Variation Part II: Other Sicilian Systems l. The c3 Sicilain m. The Morra Gambit n. The Closed Sicilian o. The Bb5 Systems p. The Grand Prix Attack
Introduction The Sicilian Defense is the most popular chess opening of all time. Almost a quarter of all games played are Sicilians. While the majority of scholastic games at the beginning level are symmetrical king pawn openings (1. e4 e5), at higher levels the most popular answer to 1. e4 is 1. … c5.
Part I: Open Sicilians In an ‘Open Sicilian’ position, in which White plays 2. Nf3 followed by 3. d4, White has an advantage in development, while Black has a structural advantage with an extra central pawn.
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a. The Scheveningen Variation 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
e4 Nf3 d4 Nxd4 Nc3
c5 d6 (or e6) cxd4 Nf6 e6 (or d6)
w________w árhb1kgs4] à0pdsdp0p] ß d 0phwd] Þdwdwdwdw] Ý dsHPdwd] ÜdwHwdwdw] ÛP)Pds)P)] Ú$sGQIBdR] wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw (Scheveningen is pronounced something like: Shaw-ven-again). (1) Classical Scheveningen (2) Modern Scheveningen (3) English Attack (4) Keres Attack (5) Fischer Attack
An Introduction to the Sicilian Defense complied by Steven Craig Miller (1) Main Line Najdorf (2) Poisoned Pawn Variation (3) Polugaevsky Variation (4) English Attack (Najdorf) (5) 6. Bc4 Najdorf (6) 6. Be2 Najdorf
Another possibility is 6. … d6 7. Bf4 e5 8. Bg5 which transposes into the Sveshnikov variation with both sides having made an extra move (Black has played e6 and e5, and White has played Bf4 and Bg5). 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.
w________w árhbdkgs4] àdp1sdp0p] ßpds0phwd] Þdwdwdwdw] Ý dPHPdwd] ÜdwdBdwdw] ÛP)sdQ)P)] Ú$sGsdRIs] wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw Part II: Other Sicilian Systems l. The c3 Sicilain 1. 2.
e4 c3
c5
w________w árhb1kgn4] à0pdp0p0p] ß d d d d] Þdw0wdwdw] Ý dsdPdwd] Üdw)wdwdw] ÛP)s)s)P)] Ú$NGQIBHR] wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw (1) 2. c3 With 2. … Nf6 (2) 2. c3 With 2. … d5
An Introduction to the Sicilian Defense complied by Steven Craig Miller
An Introduction to the Sicilian Defense complied by Steven Craig Miller For further reading, see: Starting Out: The Sicilian by John Emms (Everyman Chess, 2002). The next two works are good one volume surveys, which attempt to cover every chess opening to some degree. Modern Chess Openings by Nick de Firmian (14th edition; Three Rivers Press, 1997). Nunn’s Chess Openings by John Nunn, Graham Burgess, John Emms, and Joe Gallagher (Gambit/Everyman Chess, 1999). The following books are more specialized: Easy Guide to the Classical Sicilian by Jouni Yrjölä (Everyman Chess, 2000). Easy Guide to the Najdorf by Tony Kosten (Everyman Chess, 1999). Easy Guide to the Dragon by Mikhail Golubev (Everyman Chess, 1999). Easy Guide to the Sicilian Scheveningen by Steffen Pedersen (Cadogan, 1998). Easy Guide to the Sveshnikov Sicilian by Jacob Aagaard (Everyman Chess, 2000). The Grand Prix Attack by Gary Lane (Batsford, 1997). … just to name a few!