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

Sveshnikov Sicilian rd bd qd kd bd rd pd pd pd pd pd pd nd 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 The White knight's threat of check on d6 is a bit awkward: ...Ke7 would be unpleasant so Black would have to surrender his bishop with ...Bxd6, only to have a queen arrive on d6 and single-handedly cramp the whole Black position. She would need to go, too: ...Qe7 Qxe7 Kxe7/Nxe7, and suddenly Black's dodgy d-pawn and slow development are significant factors in the much simplified position. Far better to keep the knight out of d6 for now and then vanquish it to a3 in a move's time with 6...d6. Theory table 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 6 Main Line Ndb5d6 += ...h6 += ...Bb4 += References