The Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Support Points

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Recently, I played a few practice games with a friend of mine who is a strong Master. One of these games highlights important considerations Black must make when advancing his center pawns in the Sicilian Defense. The game began with 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5?! This was a very interesting move this early in the game that has some big ramifications for both player’s plans. The beginning player might be tempted to respond to this threat on his knight by playing 5. NxN ? However, this would be a huge mistake. Black could simply retake with …b7xN and white would be down a tempo. Instead white should see the excellent new support point that has become available on d5. Note how that if white can post a minor piece on d5, black has no pawn moves that can force the white piece to a less threatening square. Recognizing this I immediately began my plan and played 5. Nb3. Black responded with the natural developing move 5…Nf6. And with the response 6. Bg5 my plan begins to take shape. I want to trade my dark squared bishop for my opponent’s knight so that I will have three possible minor pieces that I can use to try and control the d5 square compared with his two. The game continued, 6…Be7 7. BxN BxB 8. Nc3.

Let’s pause and look here at some considerations for both sides. Black has the bishop pair, but it is unclear how he will be able to activate his dark squared bishop, which is now blocked in by his pawn on e5. White’s pressure on the d5 file is also preventing Black from breaking open the center with the d5 pawn push. White will want to continue developing such that he can post a knight on the strong d5 square. If white can secure a knight in the center on the fifth rank in this position, it will be a stronger advantage than Black’s bishop pair. The key take away from this game is that when playing open Sicilian Defense positions always be mindful of the space left behind. If you want to make pawn advances, first consider what room you leave behind for your opponent to penetrate your camp.

Fischer-Sozin (B87) pt.2

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This next game is another look at the Fischer-Sozin variation with …a6 and …b5 of the Sicilian Defense played by Bruci Lopez at the USAT Playoffs. This time his opponent, FM Robby Adamson puts up a stronger showing, but still comes up short. Lopez plays virtually the same first sixteen moves for white and again demonstrates how white can build up and develop an attack against this Sicilian setup. In this game note how Black stays very cramped up and is never really able to utilize the space gained on the queenside. In both games one can see how black can never utilize the imbalances in the position for his benefit. The half open c-file is a moot point, and the space gained on the queenside did not disrupt white’s plans at all.

I think Chess Life is correct in that these games rightfully may draw some renewed interest in the Bc4 responses by white to the Najdorf Sicilian Defense. I plan on exploring some alternative ways for Black to play this position and would love to get any comment or feedback you have on this opening. Enjoy!

Fischer-Sozin with …a6 and …b5 (B87)

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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%