Questions tagged [sicilian-defense]

The Sicilian Defense is the opening given by the moves 1. e4 c5, and it is one of the most popular replies to white's 1. e4.

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1 answer
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Does anyone know the history of the Moscow variation of the Sicilian defense? It's now referred to as the Canal Attack

The variation starts 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+. It is considered an anti-Sicilian, and though I can find the theory behind it, I'm having a hard time tracking down any history. I checked the Oxford ...
-3 votes
0 answers
32 views

On the designation of Grivas Sicilian variant name [closed]

Black deploys the heavy early, and white responds in a "Fates" manner - is that correct? [Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "https://lichess.org/RrHyX2Ve"] [Date "...
4 votes
2 answers
1k views

How did the Grand Prix Attack get its name?

The moves 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 characterize the Grand Prix Attack in the Sicilian defense. [Title "Grand Prix Attack"] [StartPly "5"] [FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/...
1 vote
1 answer
74 views

Alapin Sicilian 4th move after 2... Nf6 3.e5 Nd5

[FEN ""] 1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 According to some databases I have looked at 4. Nf3 is clearly better than 4. d4. Actually d4 loses more than it wins. For example the lichess.org masters ...
1 vote
3 answers
263 views

Is it a good idea for white to play the Botvinnik system in the Sicillian defense?

After 1. e4 c5, the following line is not popular: [fen ""] [startply "3"] 1. e4 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 d6 6. Nge2 e6 Is there any reason that this line is not ...
3 votes
4 answers
2k views

Why is the Scheveningen Sicilian almost never seen nowadays at top-level chess?

It seems to me that, although we see lots of Sicilians, especially Najdorfs, Tajmanovs, and Kans, the once popular Scheveningen variation (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 -- or 2...e6 ...
2 votes
0 answers
86 views

In Alapin Sicilian 2... Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.cxd4 e6 what is the best plan for white?

What is the best reply after [FEN ""] 1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.cxd4 e6 I understand that this is definitely not the best move for black. Consulting some databases, I see that this move ...
0 votes
1 answer
102 views

Opening name change of one game at Chess.com

Here are the first few moves of a game that I played at chess.com and the name of the openings is shown by the system: c4 (English Opening) c5 (English Opening; Symmetrical Variation) Nc3 Nc6 (...
0 votes
1 answer
84 views

(black) why the pawn H6 is not good move in this position?

(My turn[black]) I want to attack the g5 knight, so I up the pawn at H6, but the chess engine evaluate 3.4 to 1.3 my winning points. Instead engine recommended pawn D6, pawn D5, king H8 is better move....
0 votes
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135 views

Unique checkmates count analysis

How many unique checkmates are there from this starting position? I can only see 5 lines on lichess from a game I've played and have tried several different moves. Mate in 4 is the fastest but I've ...
1 vote
1 answer
60 views

Why does black play ...e5 in this variant of sicillian defense?

[FEN ""] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. h3 g6 6. O-O Bg7 7. Bc2 e5 In this position the move e5 blocks the diagonal for white's bishop on c2 but it seems that it also blocks our ...
2 votes
1 answer
129 views

This variation in Open Sicilian: why give back the exchange?

This is my first foray into the Sicilian from the perspective of black. So I'm messing around with the open Sicilian on my engine, in particular 4 ...Qb6 5 Be3 Qxb2. In this variation, apparently even ...
7 votes
2 answers
1k views

What are some good "club-player" Sicilians?

My criteria for good "club-player" openings are: objectively good as little memorization is needed as possible forgetting theory / messing up move orders / playing mediocre moves won't kill ...
0 votes
1 answer
133 views

What are the 18 moves?

Last week New in Chess' book of the week was Zlotnik's Middlegame Manual by Boris Zlotnik. Zlotnik was Caruana's coach during his youth when he was living in Spain and Caruana wrote a foreword for the ...
2 votes
1 answer
282 views

Should I get into the Najdorf?

I'm a ~1500 rated player on Chess.com's scale (highest rating is 1420 or so, but rapidly growing so we'll say 1500). A few months ago I participated in an invitational tournament against another ...
2 votes
0 answers
126 views

Resources to learn the Open Sicilian

As per the title, I'm looking for resources to learn the Open Sicilian. In particular, I would like to understand general themes and pawn structures instead of memorizing precise moves. For the record,...
8 votes
1 answer
6k views

An Aggressive Response (for black) against the closed sicilian?

I am look for an aggressive response to the closed sicilian (1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 ...) in which black has strong attacking and tactical chances against white. Most of the variations I have seen result in ...
0 votes
0 answers
90 views

Hikaru on chess960: Have there been more Najdorf or Dragon games in the past decade?

From Wikipedia: Hikaru in 2014 on chess960: (emphasis added) I think chess960 is great as it is simply pure intuition and understanding without theory or computers. In my opinion, a lot depends on ...
3 votes
2 answers
144 views

Why taking the knight on d5 in Alapin Sicilian is not so good for white

I'm going through some preparation of the Alapin Sicilian. Studying the opening I reached this position: rnbqk2r/pp2bppp/3pp3/3nP3/2BP4/5N2/PP3PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq - 2 8 In which I wonder why it isn't ...
3 votes
6 answers
3k views

What is the reason (if any) for 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3?

As title above, what is the point of playing 3.Nc3 (before d2-d4) after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6? Compared to the “normal” 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4? [fen ""] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B50"] [Opening "Sicilian ...
2 votes
2 answers
224 views

How to avoid the Sicilian after 1.e4 d6 2.Nf3?

I am learning the Pirc Defense as black. I am a bit confused when after 1.e4 d6 white plays 2.Nf3. Are they forcing me to transpose into a Sicilian with 2... c5? I kind of like the Sicilian Dragon, so ...
9 votes
1 answer
440 views

Can the Sicilian Defence be reached if White didn't start with 1. e4?

If white is not playing 1.e4, can you still play the Sicilian Defense or is it even called that in this case? Also, after starting with the English Opening, can you only play Reversed Sicilian if ...
8 votes
2 answers
2k views

Why do all e4-c5 variations only have a single name (Sicilian Defence)?

I was wondering why e4-e5 openings have different names depending on the next move, but Sicilian Defence continuations are all just variations of the Sicilian Defence. Is that because they are ...
2 votes
1 answer
244 views

What's a line for black in the Sicilian that has good piece activity?

I'm looking to learn the Sicilian for black. There seem to be a hundred different variations. It's easy enough to look them up, but it's hard to get a feel for what kind of games they lead to. Can ...
3 votes
1 answer
83 views

What is the point of a5 in Sveshnikov Nd5 variation?

I am currently learning Sicilian Svenshnikov. Today, I came across a new line with Nd5 variation. First, we move a4 to kick the white knight and then play a5. I couldn't quite understand the point of ...
10 votes
5 answers
524 views

Why does Black get away with giving White so many free tempi in the Sicilian?

Every child learns that piece activity is the most important principle in chess, which is why we should develop quickly in the opening and avoid unnecessary pawn moves (and start with 1.e4 or 1.d4, ...
6 votes
2 answers
750 views

Is The Four Knight Sicilian winning for White?

Consider this variation of the Four Knight Sicilian: [FEN "rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 1 0"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. ...
7 votes
2 answers
456 views

As a Closed Sicilian player, is it impossible to avoid the Taimanov Variation without accepting an inferior position?

I'm a Closed Sicilian player and I like the setup with Nc3/g3/Bg2/d3 a lot for White, since it cuts out having to learn tons of theory I'd have to know otherwise against the Open Sicilian. However, I ...
4 votes
4 answers
1k views

Rossolimo 3.Bb5 vs open Sicilian against c5-Nc6 sicilian

Many chess players nowadays recommend the Rossolimo against c5-Nc6 Sicilian: [fen ""] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 However, I find the open sicilian to be easier to play: [fen ""] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 ...
5 votes
2 answers
677 views

Sicilian endgames - favourable for which side and why?

I often come across statements like this: Generally speaking, Sicilian endgames tend to favour Black for structural reasons. The extra center pawn and the half-open c-file are both advantageous for ...
6 votes
2 answers
318 views

What is the idea behind the Sicilian Flohr Variation?

[FEN ""] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qc7 Is this merely a transpositional device to avoid some lines of the Taimanov Sicilian, or does it have any independent ideas?
6 votes
2 answers
504 views

What is White's compensation in the Smith-Morra Gambit, Paulsen Formation (a6, e6, Nc6) after an early ...Na5?

The variation is almost forced if White aims for the standard Smith-Morra setup. At the end White is a pawn down and no longer has two bishops, but is well developed. However Black's setup does not ...
4 votes
3 answers
1k views

Play/learn Sveshnikov Sicilian as a beginner?

I've read countless times, that beginners should not play the Sicilian. On the other hand, one often reads that the opening does not matter for beginners. There are many courses claiming the included ...
2 votes
2 answers
663 views

What is White's main plan in Sicilian Keres variation?

I want to learn a new opening in the Sicilian defense called the Keres variation. What is White's main plan here? [FEN ""] 1. e4 c5 2. Ne2
5 votes
2 answers
505 views

How does the Najdorf variation of the Sicilian defense stop the Keres attack?

Recently I've been looking into the Scheveningen variation of the Sicilian and from what I have read it seems like the Keres attack is a big threat and you need great calculation ability to stop it as ...
-1 votes
1 answer
79 views

How to open a chess game [closed]

Any chess opening book or site for open a chess game for FIDE elo around 1800?Can any one help me to overcome opening difficulties? Specially as sicilian keres attack and english open as black. I ...
8 votes
3 answers
703 views

4-2 vs 3-3 (only pawn) endgames arising from Sicilian/Anti Sicilian

I play Sicilian (mainly Najdorf) against e4. Sometimes (in anti-Sicilian or Sicilian openings) I end up with exchanging everything except 6 pawns. So it becomes a 4-2 pawn (4 on the kingside) versus 3-...
13 votes
1 answer
3k views

Why is capturing the bishop in this position a blunder?

[FEN "r2n1rk1/pp1bppbp/1n4p1/q1N5/3P3N/PB2B2P/1P3PP1/R2Q1RK1 w - - 3 18"] Why is Nxd7 a blunder in this position? I think that once the light squared bishop comes to c6 it will become very ...
1 vote
3 answers
750 views

How good is 1. e4 c5 move for black? Why does Stockfish play it?

I've been running some engine vs engine games out of boredom and noticed Stockfish, when playing as black, 90% of the time played c7-c5 on white's e4. I've never actually seen a human play this, in ...
4 votes
1 answer
424 views

How does the Grand Prix Attack compare to the Rossolimo/Canal Attack?

How does the Grand Prix Attack compare to the Rossolimo/Canal Variations for someone who wants to develop an anti-Sicilian repertoire? What are the pros and cons of each opening? Thanks.
3 votes
2 answers
377 views

Why is Bc4 "bad" in a regular Sicilian, yet played almost exclusively in the Smith-Morra?

I know that Bc4 is supposed to be a "bad" move early in the Sicilian, because Black can nullify it by just playing e6: [FEN ""] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 (2...Nc6 3.Bc4? e6) 3.Bc4? e6 Why ...
2 votes
1 answer
295 views

Looking for tactical Sicilian lines besides the Dragon and Najdorf

I am looking for a tactical Sicilian. But I don't want a really popular line like the Najdorf or Dragon that has been analyzed to death.
7 votes
5 answers
804 views

What is the point of c3 in the Sicilian Alapin?

In the Alapin variation of the Sicilian, the game goes 1. e4 c5 2. c3. However, this sequence just blocks the b1 knight from its best square, and it doesn't develop anything. Both squares attacked by ...
5 votes
1 answer
562 views

What is the idea behind 2...e6 in some Sicilian lines?

I've learned a bit of the Taimanov and have been playing it with some decent results, although I have not gotten very deep at all into it. Still, it bothers me that even though I've looked at a couple ...
5 votes
2 answers
1k views

Franco-Sicilian Defense Theory [duplicate]

I am wondering what the main lines and point of the Franco-Sicilian Defense are for Black. I could barely find any theory about it online, and it' is my favorite opening as Black. As such, I am ...
10 votes
1 answer
3k views

A disagreement between me and my chess engines

In a recent blitz game, I was playing as White and faced the Lasker-Pelikan variation of the Sicilian. Things were not really going according to plan, I was down a Knight and facing obliteration. In ...
9 votes
2 answers
2k views

Why is an early e5 against a Yugoslav setup evaluated at +2.6 according to Stockfish?

I was looking at analysis on one of my games and found this variation against a Yugoslav attempt against the Sicilian Dragon which Stockfish 12 instantly says is +2.6 for white: [FEN ""] [...
9 votes
1 answer
6k views

What's wrong with 4...e5 in the Open Sicilian?

I like to play 4...e5 in the Open Sicilian in my games, usually facing something like this: [StartPly "8"] [fen ""] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb3 Nc6 I do this to: Chase the ...
1 vote
1 answer
125 views

Classical Scheveningen: Why is ...Ne8 so rare in this position?

Black to move. This position from the classical variation of the Scheveningen occurs over 900 times in the Lichess database, yet ...Ne8 has been played only three times. The move seems strong: it ...
2 votes
1 answer
292 views

Black answers to Grand Prix attack

I am reading about the Grand Prix Attack and the main lines of development for Black. One line considered is as follows. [FEN ""] 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bc4 Nc6 6. O-O ...