Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. Nf3/2...e6/3. d4/3...cxd4/4. Nxd4/4...Nc6/5. Nb5/5...d6/6. c4

Szén variation B45 Szén variation 6. c4 White sets up the Maroczy bind structure to control d5. Between their c and e pawns, and having induced Black to play d6 and restrict their own dark square bishop, they hope to keep Black's position cramped, hampering their development, and that this will make up for the loss of tempo White incurred in moving their knight multiple times in the opening. If 6...a6 straight away, Black kicks White's knight and they are forced to move it again: usually to c3. Black usually plays 6...Nf6 first, threatening Nxe4 with the idea of inducing 7. N1c3, followed by 7...a6 to kick the knight to 8. Na3 where it is on the rim and therefore grim, but from where it overprotect the c4 pawn and doesn't obstruct the White queen's support of d5. Theory table References See also Sicilian Defence The Sicilian Taimanov Pavlidis Antonios Quality Chess UK 2019 978 1 78483-058 8 Glasgow