Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. Nf3/2...d6/3. d4/3...cxd4/4. Qxd4

Chekhover variation B53 Sicilian defence → Open Sicilian with 2...d6 → 3...cxd4 4. Qxd4 · Chekhover variation White recaptures on d4 with their queen. This is an irregular continuation that avoids the main line Open Sicilians. Usually it is considered unprincipled to develop one's queen early because it can be a target affording the enemy valuable tempo. However, here White argues that their queen is hard for Black to exploit because they have played ...d6. After 4...Nc6, attacking the queen, White pins and trades off the knight with 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Bxc6. Then, the usual continuation is 6...Bxc6 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Bg5 e6 9. O-O-O Be7 10. Rhe1 O-O. 4...a6 prepares ...Nc6 to gain time on the queen by cutting out the response Bb5. One line is 5. c4 Nc6 6. Qd2; another line is to trade the queens off with 5. Be3 Nc6 6. Qb6 Qxb6 7. Bxb6. History The earliest recorded appearance of this opening was in the third unofficial chess Olympiad, in Munich in 1936.Uulberg v Kremer. Chessgames.com Vitaly Chekhover (1908―1965) was a Soviet chess player from St. Petersburg, who played this variation in 1938.Chekhover v Lisitsin, 1938. Chessgames.com Theory table 4...Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Bg5 e6 9. O-O-O Be7 10. Rhe1 O-O Chekhover variation 4...a6 5. c4 Nc6 6. Qd2 g6 7. b3 Bg7 8. Bb2 Bxb2 9. Qxb2 Nf6 4. ... ... 5. Be3 Nc6 6. Qb6 Qxb6 7. Bxb6 Nf6 8. Nc3 Bg4 9. Be2 Rc8 10. O-O-O g6 (queen trade line) References See also Sicilian Defence, Chekhover Variation fi:Shakkiaapinen/Peli/1. e4/1...c5/2. Rf3/2...d6/3. d4/3...cxd4