2 Comments
The July edition of Chess Life has some great coverage of the USAT Playoffs this month. A few games in particular struck my eye as excellent illustrations of how to the play the Fischer-Sozin (B87) variation of the Sicilian Defense. The games I want to analyze are by FM Bruci Lopez (2455), the strongest player in the playoffs. Lopez plays this opening twice with White and both times provides a textbook illustration of how White should use the initiative to build up an attack. Chess Life comments on Lopez’s success, “This game might attract new adherents to the Bc4 systems.”
This statement proves very interesting and has prompted my interest in this opening. According to Chessgames.com this version of the Sicilian Defense has waned in popularity since the 70’s. Lopez’s results are fairly impressive given the overall record for this opening:
White wins 34.2%
Black wins 36.0%
Draws 29.8%
2 Comments
The Sicilian Defense variations can be classified as being either open or closed systems. The open lines occur after the moves 2. Nf3 and 3. d4 by white. These three moves result in the c – file opening for black and the d – file for white after the ensuing pawn exchange. These open positions are often rather unbalanced and therefore result in extremely complex middlegames.
The Classical variation of the open Sicilian Defense is recognized by the move 5…Nc6 after the set-up: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 (which can be reached with multiple move orders). With this move Black delays any decision on the development of his dark bishop and brings his knight out to its most natural square.
In this position white has a number of ideas available. The common continuation is the Richter-Rauzer Attack where white plays 6. Bg5. This aggressive move prevents Black from the playing for the Dragon set-up with g7 by forcing Black to respond to the potential capture BxN. Black can respond with the simple 6…e6 which strengthens his center, prevents the immediate doubling of pawns, and makes the e7 square available for his dark bishop. White can continue with Qd2 and then 0-0-0. This plan, introduced by Vsevolod Rauzer, exerts tremendous pressure by White on the half open D-file. This pressure usually forces Black to double pawns on the f-file after BxN because of White’s pressure on the backward d-pawn. The resultant position after this exchange would still be fairly even with each side having different advantages. Black has retained both bishops but will need to figure out how to get them both in the action. White on the other hand has forced Black to double pawns and will often play f4 in an attempt to figure out a way to further weaken Black’s pawn structure.
2 Comments
The Najdorf variation of the Sicilian Defense is one of the most popular versions of the Sicilian Defense. This line was named after the Polish-Argentinian GM Miguel Najdorf, but owes its popularity to the late great Bobby Fischer. Both Fischer and Kasparov have played and created many Najdorf lines. One of the most popular being the Poisoned Pawn variation which Fischer utilized with great success.
The defining move in the Najdorf is 5. … a6 which comes after: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3
This move has multiple purposes. First it prevents white from beginning the Keres Attack with g4. It also denies white’s bishop access to the b5 square. Had white been allowed Bb5, then he would probably end up being able to trade of this bishop for a knight or black’s light squared bishop. This situation would slightly favor white as he could then play to block in Black’s dark bishop and place a knight on d5.
After the move 5. … a6 there are a number of possible continuations. Most of these involve the following ideas for black: An early b5 advance, Bb7, Nd7 (sometimes followed by Nb6), Qc7 or Qb6 (as in the Poisoned Pawn variation), e6 or e5, Be7. Black often tries to utilize the central thrust d5 as well, breaking up white’s center.
An excellent example of this particular line of the Sicilian Defense is the infamous Fischer vs. Tal, at the 1959 Candidates Tournament which can be found here
This page is wiki editable click
here to edit this page.