Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. Nf3/2...d6/3. d4/3...cxd4/4. Nxd4/4...Nf6/5. Nc3

Open Sicilian with ...d6 B54 Sicilian defence → 2...d6 → 4...Nf6 5. Nc3 White defends their e-pawn while developing a piece. Time has come for Black to make an important strategic choice. The four main variations are: 5...Nc6, developing their forces, is the classical Sicilian. 5...e6, the Scheveningen variation, prepares to develop the bishop to e7 and castle. This produces a solid pawn structure but Black's queen's bishop is shut in, for the moment at least. 5...g6, the dragon variation, prepares to develop the bishop to g7 instead, where it puts pressure on the long diagonal. 5...a6, the Najdorf variation, starts to take the control of the queen's side. Other options include the ambitious 5...e5, preparing ...Be7 without losing control of the c8-h3 diagonal, and 5...Bd7, the Kupreichik variation. Theory table . 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 5 6 7 8 Najdorf variation ... a6 +/= Sicilian Scheveningen ...e6 +/= Dragon variation ...g6 Be3Bg7 f3O-O Qd2Nc6 +/- Classical variation ...Nc6 Bg5e6 Qd2Be7 O-O-OO-O +/- Venice attack ...e5 Bb5+Nbd7 Nf5a6 +/- Sicilian Defence References fi:Shakkiaapinen/Peli/1. e4/1...c5/2. Rf3/2...d6/3. d4/3...cxd4/4. Rxd4/4...Rf6/5. Rc3