Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. Nf3/2...d6/3. d4/3...cxd4/4. Nxd4/4...Nf6/5. Nc3

Open Sicilian
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation(FEN) rnbqkb1r/pp2pppp/3p1n2/8/3NP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKB1R

Open Sicilian

Time has come for Black to make an important strategic choice.

He may keep on developing his forces by playing 5...Nc6.

He can choose to strengthen his pawn structure and to reinforce his control of the center with 5...e6.

He can also start to take the control of the queen-side with 5...a6.

He may decide to put a deadly bishop in g7 and play 5...g6.

These are the four main variations. Another more aggressive option is 5...e5, less popular than the previous moves.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables see theory table and for notation see algebraic notation.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3

	5	6	7	8
Najdorf variation	... a6	+=
Sicilian Scheveningen	... e6	+=
Dragon variation	... g6	Be3 Bg7	f3 O-O	Qd2 Nc6	+=
Classical variation	... Nc6	Bg5 e6	Qd2 Be7	O-O O-O	+=
	... e5	Bb5+ Nbd7	Nf5 a6	+=

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References

• Batsford Chess Openings 2 (1989, 1994). Garry Kasparov, Raymond Keene. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.