Sicilian Defence, Scheveningen Variation

Sicilian Defence, Scheveningen Variation In the opening of a game of chess, the Scheveningen Variation[1] of the Sicilian Defence is a line of the Open Sicilian characterised by Black setting up a “small centre” with pawns on d6 and e6. There are numerous move orders that reach the Scheveningen. One possible move order is:

too dangerous to be ignored. 7. h4 is strongest and the most popular. 7.g5 hxg5 8.Bxg5 Nc6 9.Qd2 Qb6 10.Nb3 a6 11.0-0-0 Bd7 12.h4 gives White an equal game at best. 7... Nc6 8. Rg1 (diagram) and here Black has two main lines to choose from:

2. Nf3 d6

• 8... d5 9.Bb5 Bd7 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nxd5 exd5 12.Qe2+ Be7 13.Nf5 Bxf5 14.gxf5 Kf8 15.Be3 Qa5+

3. d4 cxd4

• 8... h5 9.gxh5 Nxh5 10.Bg5 Nf6 11.Qd2

1. e4 c5

4. Nxd4 Nf6 both of which may give White a slight edge.

5. Nc3 e6

The seemingly modest d6–e6 pawn centre affords Black provide a solid defensive barrier, control of the critical 3 Classical Variation: 6.Be2 d5- and e5-squares, and retains flexibility to break in the centre with either ...e5 or ...d5. Black can proceed with Classical Variation after 12.Bf3 rapid development and the opening provides sound counterchances and considerable scope for creativity. Another very popular variation is the Classical[3] (also The line has been championed by Garry Kasparov, among known as Maroczy Variation) which is initiated by 6. many other distinguished grandmasters. Be2. Used to great effect by Anatoly Karpov, among other distinguished grandmasters, this methodical approach has gained many followers. The main line con1 Origin tinues 6... a6 7. 0-0 Be7 8. Be3 0-0 9. f4 Qc7 10. a4 Nc6 11. Kh1 Re8 12. Bf3 (diagram) reaching one of The variation first came under international attention dur- the main tabiyas of the Classical Scheveningen . White’s ing the 1923 chess tournament in the village Schevenin- plans here are to build up a kingside attack, typically by gen at the North Sea coast near The Hague. During the means of g2–g4–g5, Qd1–e1–h4, Bg2, Qh5, Rf3–h3, tournament the variation was played several times by sev- etc. Black will aim for a diversion on the queenside via eral players, including Euwe playing it against Maroczy. the semi-open c-file, or strike in the centre. Positional pawn sacrifices abound for both sides and the theory is very highly developed, thanks to decades of research by the most elite players such as Garry Kasparov, Vasily 2 Keres Attack: 6.g4 Smyslov, Anatoly Karpov, Viswanathan Anand, Veselin Topalov, Boris Gelfand and many others. Keres Attack after 8.Rg1

4 English Attack: 6.Be3

White has several different attacking schemes available, but the one considered most dangerous is the Keres Attack,[2] named after GM Paul Keres, which continues 6. g4. This move takes advantage of the fact that 5...e6 cuts off the black bishop’s control of g4, and plans to force the knight on f6, Black’s only developed piece, to retreat and force black into passivity. This also launches White into a kingside attack. Black usually continues with 6... h6 to stop White’s expansion. Previously moves like 6...Nc6 or 6...a6 were also recommended for Black but practical tests have shown that White’s offensive is

English Attack after 10.0-0-0 Bb7 The combative “English Attack” is modeled after the Yugoslav (Rauzer) Attack in the Sicilian Dragon. White starts an aggressive pawn storm on the kingside with f2– f3, g2–g4, h2–h4, and often g4–g5. White castles long and a very sharp game is often the result. Black, however, does not have to acquiesce to passive defence and 1

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has at least as many attacking threats. The main line continues 6. Be3 a6 7. f3 b5 8. g4 h6 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. 0-0-0 Bb7. White’s plans are to force g4–g5 and open the kingside files to his advantage. The first player may also exert considerable pressure on the d-file. Black will often consider an exchange sacrifice or at least a pawn sacrifice to open the queenside files for the heavy pieces. Time is of the essence and new ideas are discovered each year. Many elite players including Alexander Morozevich, Peter Leko, and Alexei Shirov have poured many hours of study into this critical variation.

REFERENCES

while eliminating 6.g4, still gives White additional options, and g4 is still a possibility a move after.

Much modern analysis of the Scheveningen is under the rubric of the Najdorf. In fact, many books exploring the Scheveningen today have Najdorf in the title. This, continuing the line of thinking in the English section above, is technically the Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian defense with the very popular English Attack. Note that the “Modern” Scheveningen only covers lines without an early ...a6 from Black. The “Classical” Scheveningen includes the early ...a6. This distinction is important in choosing books to study, as titles covering recent games will often leave out the ...a6 early line, which can still 5 Other variations become quite interesting and complex, and still advantageous for Black, even with the powerful English Attack. Many modern chess software programs, such as 5.1 Fischer-Sozin Attack: 6.Bc4 HIARCS, still play ...a6 early on, despite the fact that [4][5] With the Fischer-Sozin Attack 6. Bc4, White tries to “modern” often precludes the line in definitive analysis, the book. Vlastimil Jansa has advocated pressure the d5-square directly. Viable Black responses depending on[7][8][9] this variation. in the centre include variations of Nb8–c6–a5 or Nb8– d7–c5, supplemented by a7–a6 and b7–b5–b4 on the queenside. A possible line is 6...Be7 7.Bb3 0-0 8.Be3 Na6 (aiming for the c5-square; note that in case 8...Nbd7, 7 See also then 9.Bxe6!? fxe6 10.Nxe6 Qa5 11.Nxf8 Bxf8, and White sacrifices two pieces for a rook) 9.Qe2 Nc5 10.f3. • List of chess openings The ensuing position is balanced, with Black ready to counter White’s g2–g4–g5 with a7–a6 and b7–b5–b4 on • List of chess openings named after places the other flank.

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Tal Variation: 6.f4

After 6. f4,[6] in one of the main lines, 6... Nc6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qf3, White seeks to castle queenside placing his rook on the half-open d-file, and support the g-pawn’s advance with the queen.

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Minor lines

6. g3; 6. Bb5, etc. These moves are less difficult to meet and are not theoretically challenging to Black.

8 References [1] “Sicilian, Scheveningen Variation (B80)". Chess openings. Chessgames.com. Retrieved 2008-01-19. [2] “Sicilian, Keres Attack (B81)". Chess openings. Chessgames.com. Retrieved 2008-01-19. [3] “Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical (B85)". Chess openings. Chessgames.com. Retrieved 2008-01-19. [4] “Sicilian, Fischer–Sozin Attack (B86)". Chess openings. Chessgames.com. Retrieved 2008-01-19. [5] “Sicilian, Fischer–Sozin Attack (B88)". Chess openings. Chessgames.com. Retrieved 2008-01-19.

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Question of move orders and the Najdorf Variation

The Keres Attack puts Black into a rather defensive and potentially dangerous position. For this reason, many advocates of this defense tend to play the Najdorf Variation move order and then play 6...e6, transposing into the Scheveningen. The most prominent example of such a preference for the Najdorf move order was seen in World Chess Championship 1984, where after game one when Kasparov had difficulties in the opening, he never allowed the Keres Attack and finally switched to the Najdorf move order. One should note that the Najdorf move order,

[6] “Sicilian, Scheveningen (B82)". Chess openings. Chessgames.com. Retrieved 2008-01-19. (known as Tal Variation) [7] Nunn, John. “Play the Najdorf: Scheveningen Style-A Complete Repertoire for Black in this Most Dynamic of Openings (9781857443233): John Emms: Books”. Amazon.com. Retrieved 2012-01-12. [8] Williams, Simon. “Dynamics of Chess Strategy (9780713486087): Vlastimil Jansa: Books”. Amazon.com. Retrieved 2012-01-12. [9] Averbakh, Yuri. “The Best Move (9780890580417): Books”. Amazon.com. Retrieved 2012-01-12.

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Further reading • Kinlay, Jon (1981). Sicilian: Keres Attack. Batsford. ISBN 0-7134-2139-8. • Pritchett, Craig (2006). Sicilian Scheveningen. Everyman Chess. ISBN 9781857444131.

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TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

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• Sicilian Defence, Scheveningen Variation Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicilian_Defence%2C_Scheveningen_Variation? oldid=724839309 Contributors: Webhat, Andycjp, Bob.v.R, Andreas Kaufmann, Longhair, Sjakkalle, Backward Development, Otto ter Haar, FrozenPurpleCube, SmackBot, Fetofs, Shalom Yechiel, OrphanBot, CmdrObot, R'n'B, Lyctc, VolkovBot, TXiKiBoT, Randy Kryn, Sun Creator, SilvonenBot, Addbot, LaaknorBot, Dr Zimbu, Luckas-bot, Yobot, MrsHudson, Adrignola, BukMer, FrescoBot, Phoenixthebird, H3llBot, Ihardlythinkso, TitaniumCarbide, Acrazydiamond, Frietjes, Green Rain, Jkmaskell, YFdyh-bot, TuxLibNit and Anonymous: 19

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