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SicilianIntroduction PDF
SicilianIntroduction PDF
to the
Sicilian Defense
w________w
árhb1kgn4]
à0pdp0p0p]
ßwdwdwdwd]
Þdw0wdwdw]
ÝwdsdPdwd]
Üdwdwdwdw]
ÛP)P)s)P)]
Ú$NGQIBHR]
wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw
Compiled by Steven Craig Miller
Introduction 1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 d6 (or e6)
Part I: Open Sicilians 3. d4 cxd4
a. The Scheveningen Variation 4. Nxd4 Nf6
b. The Najdorf Variation 5. Nc3 e6 (or d6)
c. The Classical Variation w________w
d. The Dragon Variation árhb1kgs4]
e. The Accelerated Dragon à0pdsdp0p]
f. The Sveshnikov Variation ß d 0phwd]
g. Löwenthal Variation Þdwdwdwdw]
h. The Four Knights Variation Ý dsHPdwd]
i. The Kalashnikov Variation ÜdwHwdwdw]
j. The Taimanov Variation ÛP)Pds)P)]
k. The Kan Variation Ú$sGQIBdR]
wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw
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 árdbds4kd]
àdp1sgp0p]
In an ‘Open Sicilian’ position, in which ßpdn0phwd]
White plays 2. Nf3 followed by 3. d4,
Þdwdwdwdw]
White has an advantage in development,
while Black has a structural advantage
ÝPdsHP)wd]
with an extra central pawn.
ÜdwHwGwdw]
Ûs)PdBdP)]
Ú$sdQdRIs]
wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw
An Introduction to the Sicilian Defense complied by Steven Craig Miller Page 3
6. Bc4 e6 1. e4 c5
7. Bb3 b5 2. Nf3 d6 (or Nc6)
8. 0-0 Be7 3. d4 cxd4
9. Qf3 … 4. Nxd4 Nc6 (or d6)
w________w
________w árdb1kgs4]
árhb1kds4] à0pds0p0p]
àdsdsgp0p] ßsdn0shwd]
ßpdw0phwd] Þdwdwdwdw]
Þdpdwdwdw] Ý dsHPdwd]
Ý dsHPdwd] ÜdwHwdwdw]
ÜdBHwdQdw] ÛP)Pds)P)]
ÛP)Pds)P)] Ú$sGQIBdR]
Ú$sGsdRIs] wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw
wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw
(1) Richter-Rauzer Attack
b6. 6. Be2 Najdorf (2) Sozin & Velimirovic Attacks
(3) Boleslavsky Variation
6. Be2 e5
7. Nb3 Be7
8. 0-0 0-0
9. Be3 Be6
10. Qd2 Nbd7 c1. Richter-Rauzer Attack
11. a4 Rc8
12. a5 Qc7 6. Bg5 e6
13. Rfd1 … 7. Qd2 a6
w________w 8. 0-0-0 h6
ásdrds4kd] 9. Be3 Be7
àdp1ngp0p] 10. f4 Nxd4
ßpdw0bhwd] 11. Bxd4 b5
Þ)wdw0wdw] w________w
Ý dsdPdwd] árdb1kds4]
ÜdNHwGwdw] àdsdsgp0s]
Ûs)P!B)P)] ßpds0phw0]
Ú$sdRdsIs] Þdpdwdwdw]
wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw Ý dsGP)wd]
ÜdwHwdwdw]
ÛP)P!sdP)]
ÚdsIRdBdR]
wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw
An Introduction to the Sicilian Defense complied by Steven Craig Miller Page 6
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
árdbds4kd] árhb1kgs4]
àdp1sgp0p] à0pds0pdp]
ßpdn0phwd] ß d 0shpd]
Þdwdwdwdw] Þdwdwdwdw]
Ý dsHPdwd] Ý dsHPdwd]
ÜdBHwGwdw] ÜdwHwdwdw]
ÛP)PdQ)P)] ÛP)Pds)P)]
ÚdsIRdsdR] Ú$sGQIBdR]
wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw
(1) Yugoslav Attack
(2) Classical Dragon
c3. Boleslavsky Variation (3) Levenfish Attack
(4) Dragon with 6. g3
6. Be2 e5
7. Nf3 h6 d1. Yugoslav Attack with 9. Bc4
8. 0-0 Be7
9. Re1 0-0 6. Be3 Bg7
10. h3 Be6 7. f3 0-0
11. Bf1 8. Qd2 Nc6
w________w 9. Bc4 Bd7
árds1s4kd] 10. 0-0-0
à0pdsgp0s] w________w
ßsdn0bhw0] árds1s4kd]
Þdwdw0wdw] à0pdb0pgp]
Ý dsdPdwd] ß dn0shpd]
ÜdwHwdNdP] Þdwdwdwdw]
ÛP)Pds)Pd] Ý dBHPdwd]
Ú$sGQ$BIs] ÜdwHwGPdw]
wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw ÛP)P!sdP)]
ÚdsIRdsdR]
wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw
An Introduction to the Sicilian Defense complied by Steven Craig Miller Page 7
6. f4 Nc6 1. e4 c5
7. Nxc6 bxc6 2. Nf3 Nc6
8. e5 Nd7 3. d4 cxd4
9. exd6 exd6 4. Nxd4 g6
w________w w________w
árdb1kgs4] árdb1kgn4]
à0sdndpdp] à0pdp0pdp]
ß dp0sdpd] ß dndsdpd]
Þdwdwdwdw] Þdwdwdwdw]
Ý dsds)wd] Ý dsHPdwd]
ÜdwHwdwdw] Üdwdwdwdw]
ÛP)PdsdP)] ÛP)Pds)P)]
Ú$sGQIBdR] Ú$NGQIBdR]
wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw
(1) Maroczy Bind
(2) Classical Accelerated Dragon
An Introduction to the Sicilian Defense complied by Steven Craig Miller Page 8
5. c4 Bg7 1. e4 c5
6. Be3 Nf6 2. Nf3 Nc6
7. Nc3 Ng4 3. d4 cxd4
8. Qxg4 Nxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6
9. Qd1 Ne6 5. Nc3 e5
w________w 6. Ndb5 d6
árdb1kds4] 7. Bb5 a6
à0pdp0pgp] 8. Na3 b5
ß dsdndpd] w________w
Þdwdwdwdw] árdb1kgs4]
Ý dPHPdwd] àdsdsdp0p]
ÜdwHwdwdw] ßpdn0shwd]
ÛP)sds)P)] Þdpdw0wGw]
Ú$sdQIBdR] Ý dsdPdwd]
wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw ÜHwHwdwdw]
ÛP)Pds)P)]
Ú$sdQIBdR]
e2. Classical Accelerated Dragon wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw
9. Nd5 Be7 1. e4 c5
10. Bxf6 Bxf6 2. Nf3 Nc6 (or e6)
11. c3 0-0 3. d4 cxd4
12. Nc2 Bg5 4. Nxd4 Nf6
13. a4 bxa4 5. Nc3 e6 (or Nc6)
14. Rxa4 a5 w________w
w________w árdb1kgs4]
árdb1s4kd] à0pdpdp0p]
àdsdsdp0p] ß dndphwd]
ßsdn0sdwd] Þdwdwdwdw]
Þ0sdN0wgw] Ý dsHPdwd]
ÝRdsdPdwd] ÜdwHwdwdw]
Üdw)wdwdw] ÛP)Pds)P)]
Ûs)Nds)P)] Ú$sGQIBdR]
ÚdsdQIBdR] wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw
wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw
6. Nbd5 Bb4
g. Löwenthal 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
árdbdkdn4] 10. Bd3 0-0
àdpdpdp0p] 11. 0-0 …
ßpdn!s1sd] w________w
Þdwdw0wdw] árdb1s4kd]
Ý dsdPdwd] à0pdsdp0p]
Üdwdwdwdw] ß dndshwd]
ÛP)Pds)P)] Þdwdpdwdw]
Ú$NGsIBdR] Ý dsdsdwd]
wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw Ü)wHBdwdw]
Ûs)Pds)P)]
Ú$sGQdRIs]
wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw
An Introduction to the Sicilian Defense complied by Steven Craig Miller Page 10
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 árdb1kgn4]
árdb1kgn4] à0pdpdp0p]
à0pdsdp0p] ß dndpdwd]
ß dn0sdsd] Þdwdwdwdw]
ÞdNdw0wdw] Ý dsHPdwd]
Ý dsdPdwd] Üdwdwdwdw]
Üdwdwdwdw] ÛP)Pds)P)]
ÛP)Pds)P)] Ú$NGQIBdR]
Ú$NGQIBdR] wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw
wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw
(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
árds1s4kd] 8. Na3 …
àdpdsdp0p] w________w
ßpdn0bhsd] árdb1kgs4]
Þdsdw0wdw] àdpdsdp0p]
Ý dPdPdwd] ßpdn0phwd]
ÜdwHwdwdw] Þdwdwdwdw]
ÛP)NdB)P)] Ý dPdPdwd]
Úds$QdRIS] ÜHwHwdwdw]
wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw ÛP)sds)P)]
Ú$sGQIBdR]
wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw
An Introduction to the Sicilian Defense complied by Steven Craig Miller Page 11
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
árdb1kds4] 8. c4
àdsdpgp0p] w________w
ßpdndpdwd] árhbdkgs4]
Þdpdwdwdw] àdp1sdp0p]
Ý dsdPdwd] ßpds0phwd]
ÜdwHwGwdw] Þdwdwdwdw]
ÛP)P!B)P)] Ý dPHPdwd]
Ú$sdsdRIs] ÜdwdBdwdw]
wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw ÛP)sdQ)P)]
Ú$sGsdRIs]
j3. Paulsen Taimanov wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw
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 árhb1kgn4]
8. exd6 Qxd6 à0pdp0p0p]
9. 0-0 Be6 ß d d d d]
w________w Þdwdwdwdw]
árdsdkgs4] Ý dsdPdwd]
à0pds0p0p] ÜdwHwdwdw]
ß hn1bdwd] ÛP)sds)P)]
Þdwdwdwdw] Ú$sGQIBHR]
Ý ds0sdwd] wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw
ÜdB)wdNdw]
ÛP)sds)P)] 4. … Nc6
Ú$NGQdRIs] 5. Nf3 d6
wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw 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 árdb1s4kd]
4. d4 Nf6 à0pdsgp0p]
5. Nf3 e6 ß dn0whwd]
6. Be3 cxd4 Þdwdw0wdw]
7. cxd4 Nc6 Ý dBdPdwd]
8. Nc3 Qd6 ÜdwHwdNdP]
9. a3 Be7 ÛP)sdQ)Pd]
10. Bd3 0-0 Ú$sGRdsIs]
11. 0-0 … wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw
w________w
árdbds4kd] n. The Closed Sicilian
à0pdsgp0p]
ß dn1phwd] 1. e4 c5
Þdwdwdwdw] 2. Nc3 Nc6
Ý ds)sdwd] 3. g3 g6
Ü)wHBGNdw] 4. Bg2 Bg7
Ûs)sds)P)] 5. d3 d6
Ú$sdQdRIs] 6. Be3 Rb8
wÁÂÃÄÅÆÇÈw 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