Sicilian Defence, Scheveningen Variation
Encyclopedia
In the opening of a game of chess
, the Scheveningen Variation of the Sicilian Defence
is one of Black's most ambitious lines in the Open Sicilian. Championed by Garry Kasparov
, among many other distinguished Grandmasters, it offers excellent counterchances and considerable scope for creativity.
The diagram shows the basic position reached after the moves:
The d6–e6 pawn centre affords Black control of the critical d5- and e5-squares and retains flexibility to break in the centre with either ...e5 or ...d5.
The Scheveningen Variation is a classically motivated defence which appreciates the advantages of an extra centre pawn and a more compact structure. It has been at the forefront of modern tournament practice for many years, yet its complexities show no signs of being exhausted.
, which continues 6. g4. This move takes advantage of the fact that 5...e6 cut 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 testing have proven that White's offensive is too dangerous to be ignored. 7. h4 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:
both of which may give White a slight edge.
, among other distinguished Grandmasters, this methodical approach has gained many followers. The main line continues 6... a6 7. Be7 8. Be3 9. f4 Qc7 10. a4 Nc6 11. Kh1 Re8 12. Bf3 (diagram) reaching one of the main tabiyas of Classical Scheveningen . White's plans here are to build up a kingside attack, typically by means of g2–g4–g5, Qd1–e1–h4, Bg2, Qh5, Rf3–h3, etc. Black will aim for a diversion on the queenside via 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 chess players such as Garry Kasparov
, Anatoly Karpov
, Viswanathan Anand
, Veselin Topalov
, Boris Gelfand
and countless others.
) Attack in the Dragon Variation. 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 defense and has at least as many threats of her own. 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 being discovered each year. Many elite players including Alexander Morozevich
, Peter Leko
, and Alexei Shirov
pour many hours of study into this critical 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, 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 become quite interesting and complex, and still advantageous for Black, even with the powerful English. Many modern chess software programs, such as HIARCS
, still play ...a6 early on, despite the fact that "modern" often precludes the line in definitive analysis, depending on the book. Vlastimil Jansa
has advocated this variation.
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
, the Scheveningen Variation of the Sicilian Defence
Sicilian Defence
The Sicilian Defence is a chess opening that begins with the moves:The Sicilian is the most popular and best-scoring response to White's first move 1.e4...
is one of Black's most ambitious lines in the Open Sicilian. Championed by Garry Kasparov
Garry Kasparov
Garry Kimovich Kasparov is a Russian chess grandmaster, a former World Chess Champion, writer, political activist, and one of the greatest chess players of all time....
, among many other distinguished Grandmasters, it offers excellent counterchances and considerable scope for creativity.
The diagram shows the basic position reached after the moves:
- 1. e4 c5
- 2. Nf3 d6
- 3. d4 cxd4
- 4. Nxd4 Nf6
- 5. Nc3 e6
The d6–e6 pawn centre affords Black control of the critical d5- and e5-squares and retains flexibility to break in the centre with either ...e5 or ...d5.
The Scheveningen Variation is a classically motivated defence which appreciates the advantages of an extra centre pawn and a more compact structure. It has been at the forefront of modern tournament practice for many years, yet its complexities show no signs of being exhausted.
Origin of the Scheveningen Variation
The variation first came under international attention during the 1923 chess tournament in the village Scheveningen at the North Sea coast near The Hague. During the tournament the variation was played several times by several players, including Euwe playing it against Maroczy.Keres Attack
White has several different attacking schemes available, but the one considered most dangerous is the Keres Attack, named after notable GM Paul KeresPaul Keres
Paul Keres , was an Estonian chess grandmaster, and a renowned chess writer. He was among the world's top players from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s....
, which continues 6. g4. This move takes advantage of the fact that 5...e6 cut 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 testing have proven that White's offensive is too dangerous to be ignored. 7. h4 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:
- 8... d5 9.Bb5 Bd7 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nxd5 exd5 12.Qe2+ Be7 13.Nf5 Bxf5 14.gxf5 Kf8 15.Be3 Qa5+
- 8... h5 9.gxh5 Nxh5 10.Bg5 Nf6 11.Qd2
both of which may give White a slight edge.
Classical
Another very popular variation is the Classical (also known as Maroczy Variation) which is initiated by 6. Be2. Used to great effect by Anatoly KarpovAnatoly Karpov
Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov is a Russian chess grandmaster and former World Champion. He was the official world champion from 1975 to 1985 when he was defeated by Garry Kasparov. He played three matches against Kasparov for the title from 1986 to 1990, before becoming FIDE World Champion once...
, among other distinguished Grandmasters, this methodical approach has gained many followers. The main line continues 6... a6 7. Be7 8. Be3 9. f4 Qc7 10. a4 Nc6 11. Kh1 Re8 12. Bf3 (diagram) reaching one of the main tabiyas of Classical Scheveningen . White's plans here are to build up a kingside attack, typically by means of g2–g4–g5, Qd1–e1–h4, Bg2, Qh5, Rf3–h3, etc. Black will aim for a diversion on the queenside via 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 chess players such as Garry Kasparov
Garry Kasparov
Garry Kimovich Kasparov is a Russian chess grandmaster, a former World Chess Champion, writer, political activist, and one of the greatest chess players of all time....
, Anatoly Karpov
Anatoly Karpov
Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov is a Russian chess grandmaster and former World Champion. He was the official world champion from 1975 to 1985 when he was defeated by Garry Kasparov. He played three matches against Kasparov for the title from 1986 to 1990, before becoming FIDE World Champion once...
, Viswanathan Anand
Viswanathan Anand
V. Anand or Anand Viswanathan, usually referred as Viswanathan Anand, is an Indian chess Grandmaster, the current World Chess Champion, and currently second highest rated player in the world....
, Veselin Topalov
Veselin Topalov
Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov is a Bulgarian chess grandmaster. He currently has the sixth highest rating in the world, and was the challenger facing world champion Viswanathan Anand in the World Chess Championship 2010, losing the match 6½–5½....
, Boris Gelfand
Boris Gelfand
Boris Abramovich Gelfand is a Belarus-born Israeli chess Grandmaster. He won the 2011 Candidates Tournament and will challenge Viswanathan Anand for the World Chess Championship 2012.-Biography:...
and countless others.
English Attack
The currently fashionable approach is the so-called "English Attack", modeled after the Yugoslav (RauzerVsevolod Rauzer
Vsevolod Rauzer is probably best known for his extensive chess opening theory. The Richter–Rauzer Variation of the Sicilian Defence , was named in honor of him and the German master Kurt Richter....
) Attack in the Dragon Variation. 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 defense and has at least as many threats of her own. 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 being discovered each year. Many elite players including Alexander Morozevich
Alexander Morozevich
Alexander Morozevich is a Russian chess Grandmaster. In the November 2011 FIDE list, he had an Elo rating of 2762, making him the 9th-highest rated player in the world, although he has previously ranked as high as second, in the July 2008 list....
, Peter Leko
Péter Lékó
On the way to winning the prestigious Corus chess tournament in 2005, Lékó defeated Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand with the black pieces. The moves were:...
, and Alexei Shirov
Alexei Shirov
Alexei Dmitrievich Shirov is a Soviet-born Latvian chess grandmaster. He has consistently ranked among the world's top players since the early 1990s, and reached a ranking as high as number four in 1998...
pour many hours of study into this critical variation.
Other variations
- Fischer Attack: 6. Bc4. White is trying to pressure the d5 square directly. Viable Black responses 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 then, 9.Bxe6!? fxe6 10.Nxe6 Qa5 11.Nxf8 Bxf8, and White sacrifices two pieces for a Rook) 9.Qe2 Nc5 10.f3. The ensuing position is balanced, with Black ready to counter White's g2–g4–g5 with a7–a6 and b7–b5–b4 on the other flank.
- Tal Variation: 6. f4. In one of the main lines: 6... Nc6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qf3, White seeks to castle queenside placing its rook on the half-open d-file, and support the g-pawn's advance with the Queen.
- Minor Lines: 6. g3; 6. Bb5, etc. these moves are less difficult to meet and are not theoretically challenging for Black.
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 VariationSicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation
The Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defence is one of the most respected and deeply studied of all chess openings. Modern Chess Openings calls it the Cadillac or Rolls Royce of chess openings. The opening is named after the Polish-Argentinian Grandmaster Miguel Najdorf...
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
World Chess Championship 1984
The World Chess Championship 1984 was a match between challenger Garry Kasparov and defending champion Anatoly Karpov for the World Chess Championship title...
, 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, 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
Sicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation
The Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defence is one of the most respected and deeply studied of all chess openings. Modern Chess Openings calls it the Cadillac or Rolls Royce of chess openings. The opening is named after the Polish-Argentinian Grandmaster Miguel 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 become quite interesting and complex, and still advantageous for Black, even with the powerful English. Many modern chess software programs, such as HIARCS
HIARCS
HIARCS is a commercial computer chess program developed by Mark Uniacke. Its name is an acronym stands for higher intelligence auto response chess system.-Overview:...
, still play ...a6 early on, despite the fact that "modern" often precludes the line in definitive analysis, depending on the book. Vlastimil Jansa
Vlastimil Jansa
Vlastimil Jansa is a Chess Grandmaster from the Czech Republic .He learned chess while in hospital at the age of eight and at fourteen, became the youth champion of Prague. In 1959, he finished second in the Czechoslovak national junior championship...
has advocated this variation.