The Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Opening is the most popular opening from Black. It has caused a fair share of troubles and victories in some of the most remarkable games in the world.The Sicilian Opening begins with white playing e4 followed by black playing c5 – the Sicilian Defense. The basic idea of c5 is to gain control over the d4 square. 

c5 is the most popular response to white’s e4 and is considered to break the symmetry of the board, unlike the e5 opening, which is the second most common response to e4. It is the best scoring response to e4 according to computer analysis. Usually, the blacks c5 pawn is exchanged with white’s d4 pawn.

History

Giulio Polerio introduced this opening to the world in his 1594 manuscript on Chess where he did not name it the Sicilian Defense. Initially, the chess players of the world deemed it defensive and far from the best. The first world champion – Wilhelm Steinitz also disliked this opening. Although the opening gained some popularity in the mid-nineteenth century, it lost its charm among players in the twentieth century when the world champion Capablanca said that “Black’s game is full of holes” when playing the Sicilian Defense.

Statistics

Theory

Sicilian is the most complex opening because both sides have a lot of variety, unlike the Italian game with e4-e5 where at some points both players are a bit short of ideas.

From Black’s point of view, it is very flexible because he can choose between many pawn structures if white goes for the main lines with d4. White can try the closed line with Nc3 and g3 or with Nc3,f4, and Bc4 or Bb5. This is the only chance to get some initiative without d4.

He could play 2.c3 to prepare d4 but black has many good moves and he should attack the center and to not allow white to take control there. If white goes for the main lines he can choose where to put the bishops,g5 or e3 and e2 or c4. Apart from it, if he is to attack with the pawns later either he has to go for f3,g4,h4 setup or for f4 snf to seek e5 or f5 break.

Black has plenty of options. If he wants to get a more solid game he can go to the setups with d6 and e5, where the game is more closed. If he prefers a more sharp game and is ready to take the risk to allow white to attack him, then he can go for Dragon or Najdorf with e6. Sozin’s attack was the favorite line of Boby Fischer.

1.  Open Sicilian

2.  Closed Sicilian

3. Alapin Variation

Principles

Variations of The Sicilian Defense

Open Sicilian (Main Line)

Classical Variation

In this variation, black goes with d6, after which there is a trade of the d4 pawn followed by knight playing Nf6 and then Nc6. This variation puts maximum pressure on white’s center.

White’s common responses are Bg5 called the Richter-Rauzer Attack, and Bc4, the Sozin variation. Black usually responds with e6 to prevent double pawns on the kingside in the former and to limit the c4 bishop’s range, and e5, the Boleslavsky system, the most typical setup, in the latter.

Dragon: The Most Popular Line

This variation was named by Fyodor Dus-Chotimirsky in 1901 because he saw a resemblance between the positioning of the pawns and the Draco constellation.

Here, after the trade of the d4 pawns, black plays Nf6, followed by white’s Nc3 to which black plays g6. The primary point of the g6 move is to fianchetto the black bishop on h8-a1 diagonal in the next move. Fianchetto means to develop a bishop by placing it at a square where it controls a long diagonal of the board.

In this variation, the opponents castle on opposite sides with white castling on the queenside and black castling on the kingside. The game then leads to a ferocious battle where white tries to break black’s dragon by playing the ‘Yugoslav attack.’ Although this variation is one of the sharpest chess openings, one can play, it has often been called unplayable due to the vast complications that can arise.

   Know Everything About Sicilian Accelerated Dragon

Najdorf Variation

This is black’s most famous variation in the Sicilian Defense.

After the trade of the d4 pawns and Nf6 and Nc3, black plays – a6, Najdorf. a6 prevents white from giving a check by playing Bb5+ and also prevents the knights from coming to the b5 square. Black is now preparing to play b5 in his next move to focus on a more queenside play. Playing a6 first instead of e5 temporarily prevents white’s g4’s thrust.

Black’s most popular response to a6 is Be3 which is known as the English Attack. White is further planning on playing f3, Qd2 and then long side castling. If white plays G4 immediately after Be3, it is known as the Hungarian Attack. Black usually responds by playing moves like e6,e5 or Ng4.

The mainline is Bg5 in response to a6 followed by black playing e6. 

Scheveningen

Here, after trading the d4 pawns and developing the knights, black plays e6 covering a small center. To this, white can play g4, called the Keres attack, further threatening g5 to attack the knight.

The most common move played in response to this h6 to prevent g5, however even after this move, black has gained a fair amount of kingside space, and the idea of kingside castling may seem discouraging to black. Following h6 white can either play Be2 or Bg2. Another typical response to white’s g4 is also a6.

Black can hold the balance under the Keres attack, but a lot of players avoid this by playing a6 first before e6.  

Less Common Variations

Sveshnikov Variation

Kalashnikov Variation

The Kalashnikov Variation is a close relative of the Sveshnikov Variation and is sometimes known as the Neo-Sveshnikov.

Here, Black gives up two Bishops to gain a lead in development. This variation is not very popular as it has been studied that White has an advantage in this variation. The idea of this line is similar to Sveshnikov where Black has a backward pawn on the d6 square and has a weak d5 square. However, the difference between the two variations is that here Black has not developed the knight to f6 and White has brought the knight to c3.

Kan Sicilian (Paulsen Variation)

The Paulsen Sicilian, also known as Kan variation, is one of the most practical options for Black against 1.e4. A perfect blend of the Scheveningen, Taimanov and Hedgehog variations that allows you to play an attacking game without many forced lines. Many strong grandmasters have played it regularly and achieved great success with it like- Lajos Portisch, Ilya Smirin, Vadim Milov. World Champions like Magnus Carlsen and Kramnik have played it successfully as well.

Post this, White has three main moves – c4, Bd3 and Nc3. Nc3 offers the widest range of moves as the game progresses.

Four Knights Variation

Here, Black immediately puts pressure on the central squares and further build this pressure by playing Bb4. This variation is a solid choice for Black as it is a very active line that limits White’s choices to move. This is also one of the easiest lines of the Sicilian to learn as it does not consist of the complicated pawn structure that the popular variations of the Sicilian Defense consist of, making this line easy for Beginners to learn.

Four Knights Variation

White’s Response to the Sicilian Defense

Alapin Variation

Here white’s response to c5 is c3.

This opening allows white to avoid trading a central ‘d ‘ pawn for black’s ‘ c ‘ pawn. Semyon Alapin exhaustively played this opening, and hence the name was coined. Today, Sergei Tiviakov is one of the Grand Masters that is often seen playing this opening.

After c3 white aims to play d4 to control the center, hence black plays either d5 or Nf6 to try to maintain control. The Nf6 variation would resemble Alekhine’s Defense if white plays e5 followed by black playing Nd5. In the Nf6 variation, black immediately attacks White’s e4 pawn.

   Know Everything About Sicilian Alapin Variation

Nf6 Variation

White can now play Bc4 and gain a spatial advantage.

Another Alapin variation is if Black plays d5 instead of Nf6. Here, white usually end up with an isolated d pawn after the queens are exchanged, however white is left with more space.

d5 Variation

Black’s strategy now is to play Bb4 and develop his king side. This variation also transposes into the Advanced French Defense. Alapin is usually played to divert Black from the main lines of Sicilian and to force Black to adapt to White’s plan for controlling the center.

Grand Prix Attack

Instead of playing d4, White tries to convert the spatial advantage into a king side attack. White intends to play Nf3 followed by Bb5 or Bc4 to castle king side soon into the game and plan the further attack.

If White plays Bb5, attacking the Knight on Nc6, it is Black’s decision to either allow the double pawns by doing bxc6 or to prevent the trade between the bishop and the knight. If Black chooses to allow the double pawns, then Black’s queen side expansion with a6 will not be possible.

Black usually avoids the trade and plays a popular move – Nd5.

White can also play Bc4 placing the bishop on a strategically good square keeping an eye on the f7 pawn and hoping to play f5 at some point in the game. Unfortunately, black can exploit this situation to develop pieces by playing moves like b5 to attack the bishop on c4.

Black can even play e6, blocking the c4 bishop from controlling the f7 diagonal. White’s king may seem open here, but White has a decent amount of control over the center.

Smith-Morra Gambit

This is an extremely aggressive response to the Sicilian defense.

Morra Gambit Accepted

Morra Gambit Declined

This usually leads to one of the main variations of Alapin. White now has a spatial advantage, and Black isn’t even up by a pawn. Morra Gambit can prove to be dangerous, especially if Black is unprepared for this opening. Even if Black can tackle this opening, black has the capacity to gain. an extremely pressurizing position.

Closed Sicilian

Nc3 is a common response to Sicilian as well. Usually, Black responds in a similar way like that to Nf3. Black usually avoids playing a6 or g6 after Nc3. White can follow Nc3 with Nf3, and other possible moves are g3,f4 and Nge2. Many lines of the Closed Sicilian can transpose into Open Sicilian.

Closed Sicilian is not as challenging for Black as Black has various responses to Nc3.

White can follow this with Be2, Qd2 and castling.

Sicilian Defense Traps

1.  Fischer Trap

The Queen is trapped, making White material up.

2.  Wing Gambit

Black wins a Rook.

3.  Magnus Smith Trap

Weakness of the Sicilian Defense

How to Prepare

Famous Players that Played the Sicilian Defense

Famous Games

Books to Refer to:

FAQ

Conclusion

Although this opening is strategically rich, it is highly complex. There are at least a dozen sub-variations under the open Sicilian; however, these are the most commonly played and popular variations. This immensely strong opening is not a beginners play. Still, if you are interested in playing an exciting, aggressive game with dozens of possibilities and complications, this one is for you. A lot of strong players have a love-hate relationship with this opening, but the spectrum of options makes the sharpest minds the most curious.

This article is technically edited and reviewed by Grand Master Marian Petrov.