Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. Nf3/2...a6

Sicilian - O'Kelly variation


a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black kingb7 black pawnc7 black kingd7 black pawne7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black pawnb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black pawnd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 white pawnf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 white knightg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 black kingf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 black kingh1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6

Sicilian - O'Kelly variation

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2...a6

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This early a6 prevents White from occupying b5, so after 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 and then 6. Nb5 is prevented. The main problem with this variation is how to deal with 3. c3, which transposes to an Alapin Sicilian with the useless a6 move. Another problem is 3. c4 d6 d4 Bg4 dxc5 Bxf3 gxf3! dxc5 (An alternative is Qa5+ Nc3 Qxc5 (dxc5?! Qb3 (Ra7!?) Qc7? (Black would have done better to give up a pawn) Bf4! with a winning attack) Be3 Qc6 with a huge lead in development and two Bishops). Qxd8+ Kxd8. For the ruined structure, white has a crushing attack and 2 Bishops. d4 is also absolutely normal move

Sicilian - O'Kelly variation
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6


Theory table

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For explanation of notation, see Chess Opening Theory Table.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6

3 4 5
c3
d5
exd5
Nf6
c4
e6
+=
Nc3
e6
d4
cxd4
Nxd4 See Kan Sicilian
d4
cxd4
Nxd4
e5
Ne2
Bc5
=
...
...
Qxd4!?
Nc6
c4
e6
Nc3
Qc7
Be2
b6
=

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References

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