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Learn the Sicilian Sveshnikov

With …e5 you slam the door on White’s knight. You accept holes and get active pieces – Magnus Carlsen played it in the 2018 world championship match.

You play with Black. How you learn it with Don Chess: watch first, then play it with an arrow, then from memory – with spaced repetition until it sticks. Free, no sign-up.

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The main line

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Nd5 f5 11.Bd3 Be6 12.c3 Bg7 13.Nc2 O-O

B33 · Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation

The position after the main line

The moves explained

Why is each move played? The explanations come from the opening trainer – there you play the moves yourself afterwards.

  1. 1.e4 Occupies the centre with a pawn on e4.
  2. 1…c5 Fights for the centre from the side with the pawn on c5.
  3. 2.Nf3 Develops the knight to f3 – pieces out first, then attack.
  4. 2…Nc6 Develops the knight to c6 – pieces out first, then attack.
  5. 3.d4 Attacks the pawn on c5 – the fight for the centre begins.
  6. 3…cxd4 Takes the pawn on d4.
  7. 4.Nxd4 Takes back on d4 – material is level again.
  8. 4…Nf6 Develops the knight to f6 – pieces out first, then attack.
  9. 5.Nc3 Develops the knight to c3 – pieces out first, then attack.
  10. 5…e5 Occupies the centre with a pawn on e5.
  11. 6.Ndb5 The knight was attacked and goes to safety on b5.
  12. 6…d6 Supports the pawn on e5 – the centre stands firm.
  13. 7.Bg5 Develops the bishop to g5 – pieces out first, then attack.
  14. 7…a6 Prevention: takes important squares away from the opponent's pieces.
  15. 8.Na3 The knight was attacked and goes to safety on a3.
  16. 8…b5 Opens the way for the bishop on c8.
  17. 9.Bxf6 Takes the knight on f6.
  18. 9…gxf6 Takes back on f6 – material is level again.
  19. 10.Nd5 The knight jumps to the strong square d5 – no pawn can chase it away there.
  20. 10…f5 Attacks the pawn on e4 – the fight for the centre begins.
  21. 11.Bd3 Develops the bishop to d3 – pieces out first, then attack.
  22. 11…Be6 Develops the bishop to e6 – pieces out first, then attack.
  23. 12.c3 Gains space with the pawn on c3.
  24. 12…Bg7 Develops the bishop to g7 – pieces out first, then attack.
  25. 13.Nc2 Brings the knight to a better square (c2).
  26. 13…O-O Castles: the king is safe and the rook joins the game.

Idea and plans

The idea

1…c5 fights for d4 asymmetrically. Black usually trades a wing pawn for White’s d-pawn and gets the half-open c-file and a central pawn majority.

Plan for White

Use the space and lead in development, often attacking on the kingside (f4, g4, or Bc4/Bg5).

Plan for Black

Queenside counterplay via the c-file and …b5, and the freeing …d5 at the right moment.

Tip

The positions are sharp: knowing the typical plans matters more than memorised moves.

The 9 lines in the course

Grey: the moves shared with the main line. Bold: the move where the line leaves it.

Train the Sicilian Sveshnikov now →

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