Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. d4/3...cxd4/4. Nxd4/4...Nf6/5. Nc3/5...e5/6. Ndb5/6...d6

Sveshnikov Sicilian rd bd qd kd bd rd pd pd pd pd pd nd pd nd nl pd pl nl pl pl pl pl pl pl rl bl ql kl bl rl Sveshnikov Sicilian Moves:1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 A little fact that is often forgotten by Sveshnikov players: the d5 square is genuinely weak and likely to remain so. Black's activity doesn't come easy but as compensation for taking on that weakness - an important distinction. White therefore has a logical mini-plan: occupy d5, preferably with a knight, preferably one that can't be instantly captured. The immediate Nd5 has its followers, as the e-pawn is clearly immune from capture due to Nbc7+. This line was chosen four times by Fabiano Caruana in the World Chess Championship 2018 match against Magnus Carlsen. After Black plays 7...Nxd5, the nice outpost vanishes after 8.exd5 (8.Qxd5 a6 9. Nc3 Be6 is miserable - capturing on d5 with the queen is usually a sign that something's gone wrong). One plan for black is to play 8...Nb8 with ...Nd7 and ...f5 to follow. In their match, Carlsen also tried 8...Ne7 9.c4 Ng6. White more often pins down the f6 knight with Bg5 - it's important to see this move as a means of increasing control of d5, rather than just pinning a knight out of boredom. Theory table 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7 8 9 10 11 Bg5a6 Na3b5 Bxf6gxf6 Nd5f5 Bd3Be6 += Nd5Nxd5 exd5Nb8! c4a6 Nc3Bf5 = a4a6 Na3Be7 Be3Be6 = Sicilian Defence References