Sicilian Sveshnikov

Play as BlackDefence

Black accepts a weak d5 square for active pieces and a space advantage.

The main line, move by move

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5

1. 1. e4 — Claim the center and open lines for the queen and bishop.
2. 1... c5 — The Sicilian: fight for the d4 square from the side.
3. 2. Nf3 — Brings the knight into the game.
4. 2... Nc6 — Brings the knight into the game.
5. 3. d4 — Open the center: White is happy to trade a wing pawn for the center pawn.
6. 3... cxd4 — Takes the pawn on d4.
7. 4. Nxd4 — Takes the pawn on d4.
8. 4... Nf6 — Brings the knight into the game.
9. 5. Nc3 — Brings the knight into the game.
10. 5... e5 — The Sveshnikov: kick the knight and take space in the center.
11. 6. Ndb5 — Jump to b5, aiming at the d6 square.
12. 6... d6 — Stop the knight from reaching d6.
13. 7. Bg5 — Brings the bishop into the game.
14. 7... a6 — Kick the knight away from b5.
15. 8. Na3 — The knight cannot stay on b5, so it heads for c4 via a3.
16. 8... b5 — Gain space and cut off the knight.
17. 9. Nd5 — Plant the knight on the strong d5 square.

Related openings

• Sicilian Defense (Najdorf)
• French Defense
• Caro-Kann Defense
• Scandinavian Defense
• Pirc Defense

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