Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. d4/3...cxd4/4. Nxd4/4...e5/5. Nb5

Kalashnikov Variation rd bd qd kd bd nd rd pd pd pd pd pd pd nd nl pd pl pl pl pl pl pl pl rl nl bl ql kl bl rl Kalashnikov Variation Nb5 threatens Nd6+, where after trades the queen will be in a good position. This is why Black often plays 5...d6, where Black defends d6 with the bishop and the queen. The knight is, however, quite exposed, and is often kicked with a6, and as the b1 knight comes to c3 later on, Black threatens a fork of the knights with b5, and as when the c3 knight comes to the safe square d5 the e4 pawn is hanging, Bg5 is often played as well to pin the knight, and the bishop is sometimes traded. Theory table 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5Sicilian Defence 567Pelikán and Sveshnikov Variations... d6N1c3 Nf6Bg5 a6=Löwenthal Variation... a6Nd6+ Bxd6Qxd6 Qf6=