An Introduction

to the
Sicilian Defense
w________w
rhb1kgn4]
0pdp0p0p]
wdwdwdwd]
dw0wdwdw]
wdsdPdwd]
dwdwdwdw]
P)P)s)P)]
$NGQIBHR]
ww
Compiled by Steven Craig Miller

Copyright 2003 Steven Craig Miller

Copying and distribution of this article is permitted for noncommercial purposes.
An Introduction to the Sicilian Defense complied by Steven Craig Miller Page 2

Table of Contents a. The Scheveningen Variation

Introduction 1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 d6 (or e6)
Part I: Open Sicilians 3. d4 cxd4
a. The Scheveningen Variation 4. Nxd4 Nf6
b. The Najdorf Variation 5. Nc3 e6 (or d6)
c. The Classical Variation w________w
d. The Dragon Variation rhb1kgs4]
e. The Accelerated Dragon 0pdsdp0p]
f. The Sveshnikov Variation d 0phwd]
g. Lwenthal Variation dwdwdwdw]
h. The Four Knights Variation dsHPdwd]
i. The Kalashnikov Variation dwHwdwdw]
j. The Taimanov Variation P)Pds)P)]
k. The Kan Variation $sGQIBdR]
ww
Part II: Other Sicilian Systems
l. The c3 Sicilain (Scheveningen is pronounced something
m. The Morra Gambit like: Shaw-ven-again).
n. The Closed Sicilian
o. The Bb5 Systems (1) Classical Scheveningen
p. The Grand Prix Attack (2) Modern Scheveningen
(3) English Attack
Introduction (4) Keres Attack
(5) Fischer Attack
The Sicilian Defense is the most popular
chess opening of all time. Almost a a1. Classical Scheveningen
quarter of all games played are Sicilians.
While the majority of scholastic games at 6. Be2 a6
the beginning level are symmetrical king 7. 0-0 Be7
pawn openings (1. e4 e5), at higher levels 8. f4 0-0
the most popular answer to 1. e4 is 1. 9. Be3 Nc6
c5. 10. a4 Qc7
w________w
Part I: Open Sicilians rdbds4kd]
dp1sgp0p]
In an Open Sicilian position, in which pdn0phwd]
White plays 2. Nf3 followed by 3. d4,
dwdwdwdw]
White has an advantage in development,
while Black has a structural advantage
PdsHP)wd]
with an extra central pawn.
dwHwGwdw]
s)PdBdP)]
$sdQdRIs]
ww
An Introduction to the Sicilian Defense complied by Steven Craig Miller Page 3

a2. Modern Scheveningen w________w

rdb1kgs4]
6. Be2 Nc6 0pdsdp0s]
7. 0-0 Be7 dn0phwd]
8. Be3 0-0 dwdwdwGw]
9. f4 dsHPdw)]
w________w dwHwdwdw]
rdb1s4kd] P)Pds)sd]
0pdsgp0p] $sGQIB$s]
dn0phwd] ww
dwdwdwdw]
dsHP)wd] a5. Fischer Attack
dwHwGwdw]
P)PdBdP)] 6. Bc4 a6
$sdQdRIs] 7. Bb3 b5
ww 8. 0-0 Be7
9. Qf3 Qc7
a3. English Attack 10. Qg3 0-0
w________w
6. Be3 a6 rhbds4kd]
7. Qd2 b5 ds1sgp0p]
8. f3 Nbd7 pdw0phwd]
9. g4 h6 dpdwdwdw]
10. 0-0-0 Bb7 dsHPdwd]
w________w dBHwdw!w]
rds1kgs4] P)Pds)P)]
dbdndp0s] $sGsdRIs]
pdw0phw0] ww
dpdwdwdw]
dsHPdPd] b. The Najdorf Variation
dwHwGPdw]
P)P!sds)] 1. e4 c5
$sIRdBdR] 2. Nf3 d6
ww 3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 a6
w________w
rhb1kgs4]
dpds0p0p]
a4. Keres Attack pdw0shwd]
dwdwdwdw]
6. g4 h6 dsHPdwd]
7. h4 Nc6 dwHwdwdw]
8. Rg1 h5 P)Pds)P)]
9. gxh5 Nxh5 $sGQIBdR]
10. Bg5 Nf6 ww
An Introduction to the Sicilian Defense complied by Steven Craig Miller Page 4

(1) Main Line Najdorf b3. Polugaevsky Variation

(2) Poisoned Pawn Variation
(3) Polugaevsky Variation 6. Bg5 e6
(4) English Attack (Najdorf) 7. f4 b5
(5) 6. Bc4 Najdorf 8. e5 dxe5
(6) 6. Be2 Najdorf 9. fxe5 Qc7
10. Qe2 Nfd7
b1. Main Line Najdorf 11. 0-0-0 Bb7
w________w
6. Bg5 e6 rhsdkgs4]
7. f4 Be7 db1ndp0p]
8. Qf3 Qc7 pdwdpdwd]
9. 0-0-0 Nbd7 dpdw)wGw]
w________w dsHsdwd]
rdbdkds4] dwHwdwdw]
dp1ngp0p] P)PdQdP)]
pdw0phwd] dsIRdBdR]
dwdwdwGw] ww
dsHP)wd]
dwHwdQdw] b4. English Attack (Najdorf)
P)PdsdP)]
$sIRdBdR] 6. Be3 e5
ww 7. Nb3 Be6
8. f3 Nbd7
b2. Poisoned Pawn Variation 9. g4 b5
w________w
6. Bg5 e6 rds1kgs4]
7. f4 Qb6 dsdndp0p]
8. Qd2 Qxb2 pdw0bhwd]
9. Rb1 Qa3 dpdw0wdw]
w________w dsdPdPd]
rhbdkgs4] dNHwGPdw]
dpdsdp0p] P)Pdsds)]
pdw0phwd] $sdQIBdR]
dwdwdwGw] ww
dsHP)wd]
1wHwdwdw]
PdP!sdP)]
dRdsIBdR]
ww
An Introduction to the Sicilian Defense complied by Steven Craig Miller Page 5

b5. 6. Bc4 Najdorf c. The Classical Variation

6. Bc4 e6 1. e4 c5
7. Bb3 b5 2. Nf3 d6 (or Nc6)
8. 0-0 Be7 3. d4 cxd4
9. Qf3 4. Nxd4 Nc6 (or d6)
w________w
________w rdb1kgs4]
rhb1kds4] 0pds0p0p]
dsdsgp0p] sdn0shwd]
pdw0phwd] dwdwdwdw]
dpdwdwdw] dsHPdwd]
dsHPdwd] dwHwdwdw]
dBHwdQdw] P)Pds)P)]
P)Pds)P)] $sGQIBdR]
$sGsdRIs] ww
ww
(1) Richter-Rauzer Attack
b6. 6. Be2 Najdorf (2) Sozin & Velimirovic Attacks
(3) Boleslavsky Variation
6. Be2 e5
7. Nb3 Be7
8. 0-0 0-0
9. Be3 Be6
10. Qd2 Nbd7 c1. Richter-Rauzer Attack
11. a4 Rc8
12. a5 Qc7 6. Bg5 e6
13. Rfd1 7. Qd2 a6
w________w 8. 0-0-0 h6
sdrds4kd] 9. Be3 Be7
dp1ngp0p] 10. f4 Nxd4
pdw0bhwd] 11. Bxd4 b5
)wdw0wdw] w________w
dsdPdwd] rdb1kds4]
dNHwGwdw] dsdsgp0s]
s)P!B)P)] pds0phw0]
$sdRdsIs] dpdwdwdw]
ww dsGP)wd]
dwHwdwdw]
P)P!sdP)]
dsIRdBdR]
ww
An Introduction to the Sicilian Defense complied by Steven Craig Miller Page 6

c2. Sozin-Velimirovic Attack d. The Dragon Variation

6. Bc4 e6 1. e4 c5
7. Be3 a6 2. Nf3 d6
8. Qe2 Be7 3. d4 cxd4
9. 0-0-0 0-0 4. Nxd4 Nf6
10. Bb3 Qc7 5. Nc3 g6
w________w w________w
rdbds4kd] rhb1kgs4]
dp1sgp0p] 0pds0pdp]
pdn0phwd] d 0shpd]
dwdwdwdw] dwdwdwdw]
dsHPdwd] dsHPdwd]
dBHwGwdw] dwHwdwdw]
P)PdQ)P)] P)Pds)P)]
dsIRdsdR] $sGQIBdR]
ww ww
(1) Yugoslav Attack
(2) Classical Dragon
c3. Boleslavsky Variation (3) Levenfish Attack
(4) Dragon with 6. g3
6. Be2 e5
7. Nf3 h6 d1. Yugoslav Attack with 9. Bc4
8. 0-0 Be7
9. Re1 0-0 6. Be3 Bg7
10. h3 Be6 7. f3 0-0
11. Bf1 8. Qd2 Nc6
w________w 9. Bc4 Bd7
rds1s4kd] 10. 0-0-0
0pdsgp0s] w________w
sdn0bhw0] rds1s4kd]
dwdw0wdw] 0pdb0pgp]
dsdPdwd] dn0shpd]
dwHwdNdP] dwdwdwdw]
P)Pds)Pd] dBHPdwd]
$sGQ$BIs] dwHwGPdw]
ww P)P!sdP)]
dsIRdsdR]
ww
An Introduction to the Sicilian Defense complied by Steven Craig Miller Page 7

d2. Classical Dragon d4. Dragon with 6. g3

6. Be2 Bg7 6. g3 Nc6

7. 0-0 Nc6 7. Nde2 Bg7
8. Be3 0-0 8. Bg2 0-0
9. Nb3 Be6 9. 0-0
w________w w________w
rds1s4kd] rdb1s4kd]
0pds0pgp] 0pds0pgp]
dn0bhpd] dn0shpd]
dwdwdwdw] dwdwdwdw]
dsdPdwd] dsdPdwd]
dNHwGwdw] dwHwdw)w]
P)PdB)P)] P)PdN)B)]
$sdQdRIs] $sGQdRIs]
ww ww

d3. Levenfish Attack e. The Accelerated Dragon

6. f4 Nc6 1. e4 c5
7. Nxc6 bxc6 2. Nf3 Nc6
8. e5 Nd7 3. d4 cxd4
9. exd6 exd6 4. Nxd4 g6
w________w w________w
rdb1kgs4] rdb1kgn4]
0sdndpdp] 0pdp0pdp]
dp0sdpd] dndsdpd]
dwdwdwdw] dwdwdwdw]
dsds)wd] dsHPdwd]
dwHwdwdw] dwdwdwdw]
P)PdsdP)] P)Pds)P)]
$sGQIBdR] $NGQIBdR]
ww ww
(1) Maroczy Bind
(2) Classical Accelerated Dragon
An Introduction to the Sicilian Defense complied by Steven Craig Miller Page 8

e1. Maroczy Bind f. The Sveshnikov Variation

5. c4 Bg7 1. e4 c5
6. Be3 Nf6 2. Nf3 Nc6
7. Nc3 Ng4 3. d4 cxd4
8. Qxg4 Nxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6
9. Qd1 Ne6 5. Nc3 e5
w________w 6. Ndb5 d6
rdb1kds4] 7. Bb5 a6
0pdp0pgp] 8. Na3 b5
dsdndpd] w________w
dwdwdwdw] rdb1kgs4]
dPHPdwd] dsdsdp0p]
dwHwdwdw] pdn0shwd]
P)sds)P)] dpdw0wGw]
$sdQIBdR] dsdPdwd]
ww HwHwdwdw]
P)Pds)P)]
$sdQIBdR]
e2. Classical Accelerated Dragon ww

5. Nc3 Bb7 (1) Sveshnikov with 9. Bxf6

6. Be3 Nf6 (2) Sveshnikov with 9. Nd5
7. Bc4 Qa5
8. 0-0 0-0 f1. Sveshnikov with 9. Bxf6
w________w
rdbds4kd] 9. Bxf6 gxf6
0pdp0pgp] 10. Nd5 f5
dndshpd] 11. c3 Bg7
1wdwdwdw] 12. exf5 Bxf5
dBHPdwd] 13. Nc2 0-0
dwHwGwdw] 14. Nce3 Be6
P)Pds)P)] 15. Bd3 f5
$sdQdRIs] w________w
ww rds1s4kd]
dsdsdsgp]
pdn0bdwd]
dpdN0pdw]
dsdsdwd]
dw)BHwdw]
P)sds)P)]
$sdQIsdR]
ww
An Introduction to the Sicilian Defense complied by Steven Craig Miller Page 9

f2. Sveshnikov with 9. Nd5 h. The Four Knights Variation

9. Nd5 Be7 1. e4 c5
10. Bxf6 Bxf6 2. Nf3 Nc6 (or e6)
11. c3 0-0 3. d4 cxd4
12. Nc2 Bg5 4. Nxd4 Nf6
13. a4 bxa4 5. Nc3 e6 (or Nc6)
14. Rxa4 a5 w________w
w________w rdb1kgs4]
rdb1s4kd] 0pdpdp0p]
dsdsdp0p] dndphwd]
sdn0sdwd] dwdwdwdw]
0sdN0wgw] dsHPdwd]
RdsdPdwd] dwHwdwdw]
dw)wdwdw] P)Pds)P)]
s)Nds)P)] $sGQIBdR]
dsdQIBdR] ww
ww
6. Nbd5 Bb4
g. Lwenthal Variation
Another possibility is 6. d6 7. Bf4 e5 8.
1. e4 c5 Bg5 which transposes into the Sveshnikov
2. Nf3 Nc6 variation with both sides having made an
3. d4 cxd4 extra move (Black has played e6 and e5,
4. Nxd4 e5 and White has played Bf4 and Bg5).
5. Nb5 a6
6. Nd6+ Bxd6 7. a3 Bxc3+
7. Qxd6 Qf6 8. Nxc3 d5
w________w 9. exd5 exd5
rdbdkdn4] 10. Bd3 0-0
dpdpdp0p] 11. 0-0
pdn!s1sd] w________w
dwdw0wdw] rdb1s4kd]
dsdPdwd] 0pdsdp0p]
dwdwdwdw] dndshwd]
P)Pds)P)] dwdpdwdw]
$NGsIBdR] dsdsdwd]
ww )wHBdwdw]
s)Pds)P)]
$sGQdRIs]
ww
An Introduction to the Sicilian Defense complied by Steven Craig Miller Page 10

i. The Kalashnikov Variation j. The Taimanov Variation

1. e4 c5 1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 Nc6 2. Nf3 Nc6 (or e6)
3. d4 cxd4 3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 e5 4. Nxd4 e6 (or Nc6)
5. Nb5 d6 w________w
w________w rdb1kgn4]
rdb1kgn4] 0pdpdp0p]
0pdsdp0p] dndpdwd]
dn0sdsd] dwdwdwdw]
dNdw0wdw] dsHPdwd]
dsdPdwd] dwdwdwdw]
dwdwdwdw] P)Pds)P)]
P)Pds)P)] $NGQIBdR]
$NGQIBdR] ww
ww
(1) Maroczy Taimanov
6. c4 Be7 (2) Pure Taimanov
7. N1c3 a6 (3) Paulsen Taimanov
8. Na3 Be6
9. Be2 Bg5 j1. Maroczy Taimanov
10. Nc2 Bxc1
11. Rxc1 Nf6 5. Nb5 d6
12. 0-0 0-0 6. c4 Nf6
w________w 7. N1c3 a6
rds1s4kd] 8. Na3
dpdsdp0p] w________w
pdn0bhsd] rdb1kgs4]
dsdw0wdw] dpdsdp0p]
dPdPdwd] pdn0phwd]
dwHwdwdw] dwdwdwdw]
P)NdB)P)] dPdPdwd]
ds$QdRIS] HwHwdwdw]
ww P)sds)P)]
$sGQIBdR]
ww
An Introduction to the Sicilian Defense complied by Steven Craig Miller Page 11

j2. Pure Taimanov k. The Kan Variation

5. Nc3 a6 1. e4 c5
6. Be2 Nge7 2. Nf3 e6
7. Be3 Nxd4 3. d4 cxd4
8. Qxd4 b5 4. Nxd4 a6
9. 0-0 Nc6 5. Bd3 Nf6
10. Qd2 Be7 6. 0-0 Qc7
w________w 7. Qe2 d6
rdb1kds4] 8. c4
dsdpgp0p] w________w
pdndpdwd] rhbdkgs4]
dpdwdwdw] dp1sdp0p]
dsdPdwd] pds0phwd]
dwHwGwdw] dwdwdwdw]
P)P!B)P)] dPHPdwd]
$sdsdRIs] dwdBdwdw]
ww P)sdQ)P)]
$sGsdRIs]
j3. Paulsen Taimanov ww

5. Nc3 Qc7 Part II: Other Sicilian Systems

6. Be3 a6
7. Be2 Nf6 l. The c3 Sicilain
8. 0-0 Bb4
9. Na4 1. e4 c5
w________w 2. c3
rdbdkds4] w________w
dp1pdp0p] rhb1kgn4]
pdndphwd] 0pdp0p0p]
dwdwdwdw] d d d d]
NgsHPdwd] dw0wdwdw]
dwdwGwdw] dsdPdwd]
P)PdB)P)] dw)wdwdw]
$sdQdRIs] P)s)s)P)]
ww $NGQIBHR]
ww
(1) 2. c3 With 2. Nf6
(2) 2. c3 With 2. d5
An Introduction to the Sicilian Defense complied by Steven Craig Miller Page 12

l1. 2. c3 With 2. Nf6 m. The Morra Gambit

2. Nf6 1. e4 c5
3. e5 Nd5 2. d4 cxd4
4. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3
5. Nf3 Nc6 4. Nxc3
6. Bc4 Nb6 w________w
7. Bb3 d5 rhb1kgn4]
8. exd6 Qxd6 0pdp0p0p]
9. 0-0 Be6 d d d d]
w________w dwdwdwdw]
rdsdkgs4] dsdPdwd]
0pds0p0p] dwHwdwdw]
hn1bdwd] P)sds)P)]
dwdwdwdw] $sGQIBHR]
ds0sdwd] ww
dB)wdNdw]
P)sds)P)] 4. Nc6
$NGQdRIs] 5. Nf3 d6
ww 6. Bc4 e6
7. 0-0 Nf6
8. Qe2 Be7
l2. 2. c3 With 2. d5 9. Rd1 e5
10. h3 0-0
2. d5 w________w
3. exd5 Qxd5 rdb1s4kd]
4. d4 Nf6 0pdsgp0p]
5. Nf3 e6 dn0whwd]
6. Be3 cxd4 dwdw0wdw]
7. cxd4 Nc6 dBdPdwd]
8. Nc3 Qd6 dwHwdNdP]
9. a3 Be7 P)sdQ)Pd]
10. Bd3 0-0 $sGRdsIs]
11. 0-0 ww
w________w
rdbds4kd] n. The Closed Sicilian
0pdsgp0p]
dn1phwd] 1. e4 c5
dwdwdwdw] 2. Nc3 Nc6
ds)sdwd] 3. g3 g6
)wHBGNdw] 4. Bg2 Bg7
s)sds)P)] 5. d3 d6
$sdQdRIs] 6. Be3 Rb8
ww 7. Qd2 b5
8. Nge2 Nd4
9. 0-0 b4
10. Nd1
An Introduction to the Sicilian Defense complied by Steven Craig Miller Page 13

w________w o2. Moscow Variation

s4b1kdn4]
0sds0pgp] 1. e4 c5
d 0 dpd] 2. Nf3 d6
dw0wdwdw] 3. Bb5+
0shPdwd] w________w
dwdPGw)w] rhb1kgn4]
P)P!N)B)] 0pds0p0p]
$sdNdRIs] ds0wdwd]
ww dB0wdwdw]
dsdPdwd]
o. The Bb5 Systems dwdwdNdw]
P)P)s)P)]
(1) Rossolimo Variation $NGQIsdR]
(2) Moscow Variation ww
3. Bd7
o1. Rossolimo Variation 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7
5. c4 Nc6
1. e4 c5 6. 0-0 Nf6
2. Nf3 Nc6 7. Nc3 g6
3. Bb5 8. d4 cxd4
w________w 9. Nxd4 Bg7
rdb1kgn4] 10. Nde2
0pdp0p0p]
dndwdwd] p. The Grand Prix Attack
dB0wdwdw]
dsdPdwd] 1. e4 c5
dwdwdNdw] 2. Nc3 Nc6
P)P)s)P)] 3. f4 g6
$NGQIsdR] 4. Nf3 Bg7
ww 5. Bb5 Nd4
3. g6 w________w
4. 0-0 Bg7 rdb1kdn4]
5. Re1 Nf6 0pdp0pgp]
6. c3 0-0 dsdwdpd]
7. d4 d5 dB0wdwdw]
8. e5 Ne4 dshP)wd]
dwHwdNdw]
P)P)sdP)]
$sGQIsdR]
ww
An Introduction to the Sicilian Defense complied by Steven Craig Miller Page 14

For further reading, see:

Starting Out: The Sicilian by John Emms

(Everyman Chess, 2002).

The next two works are good one volume

surveys, which attempt to cover every
chess opening to some degree.

Modern Chess Openings by Nick de Firmian

(14th edition; Three Rivers Press, 1997).

Nunns Chess Openings by John Nunn,

Graham Burgess, John Emms, and Joe
Gallagher (Gambit/Everyman Chess,
1999).

The following books are more specialized:

Easy Guide to the Classical Sicilian by Jouni

Yrjl (Everyman Chess, 2000).

Easy Guide to the Najdorf by Tony Kosten

(Everyman Chess, 1999).

Easy Guide to the Dragon by Mikhail

Golubev (Everyman Chess, 1999).

Easy Guide to the Sicilian Scheveningen by

Steffen Pedersen (Cadogan, 1998).

Easy Guide to the Sveshnikov Sicilian by Jacob

Aagaard (Everyman Chess, 2000).

The Grand Prix Attack by Gary Lane

(Batsford, 1997).

just to name a few!