Sicilian Defense

• At a glance

  Sicilian Defense

  64 games, 49.2%: ChessNetwork's Najdorf, played without detours. No recurring move disputed by Stockfish, but one branch of the English Attack and the Kan where he scores little.

  16 cards, one idea each. Swipe to move on.

• The big idea

  Your games: 142× · you score 49%

  Against 1.e4, ChessNetwork plays 1…c5, then almost always 2…d6 and the Najdorf: 5…a6, played 29 times out of 29.

• The big idea

  Your games: 6× · you score 83%

  Black keeps the choice between …e5 and …e6 until White's plan is clear, and ChessNetwork picks …e5 against the English Attack as well as against 6.h3.

• The big idea

  Your games: 8× · you score 38%

  64 games, 49.2%, above his score with Black (45.3%).

• The big idea

  Your games: 8× · you score 38%

  The dossier flags no recurring move that Stockfish disputes: the lost points come from two places, the 7.Nb3 Be6 line of the English Attack (38% over 8 games) and the Kan, 2…e6, which gives him 25% over 8 games.

• The big idea

  Your games: 8× · you score 38%

  The thread of the course: after …e5, the d5 square belongs to White. Black's whole game is to cover it with pieces, or to make its occupation harmless.

• Principle

  …a6 first, the plan later

  Your games: 29× · you score 52%

  The Najdorf takes b5 away from White's pieces and waits: …e5 against Be3 or h3, …e6 or …Nc6 against Bg5.

• Principle

  After …e5, cover d5

  Your games: 8× · you score 38%

  The e5 pawn chases the d4 knight but gives up d5. The e6 bishop and the f6 knight hold it.

• Principle

  Against f3, slow down g4

  Your games: 4× · you score 38%

  In the English Attack, g4 would chase the f6 knight, the defender of d5. …h5 stops it.

• Principle

  The queen on c7 blocks the bishop's route

  Your games: 5× · you score 80%

  When the knight drops back to f3, …Qc7 covers c4: the f1 bishop can no longer aim at f7.

• Imbalance

  A center pawn for a c-pawn

  Your games: 29× · you score 52%

  After …cxd4, Black has two center pawns against one. In return, White is ahead in development.

• Imbalance

  The hole on d5

  Your games: 12× · you score 54%

  After …e5, no Black pawn controls d5 anymore. In return, Black has d4 and a share of the center.

• Imbalance

  Kings on opposite sides

  Your games: 8× · you score 38%

  Against the English Attack, White castles queenside: each side pushes its pawns toward the enemy king.

• The trade-off

  What you gain

  • A consistent Najdorf: …a6 then …e5 against almost everything.
  • No recurring move that Stockfish disputes.
  • Against 6.h3, 83% in 6 games.
• The trade-off

  What you give up

  • The 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 line gives him 43% in 7 games.
  • The Kan, 2…e6, costs him: 25% over 8 games.
  • Against 3.c3, 38% in 4 games.
• That's all

  Your turn

  These ideas only stick once you play the moves. The chapters make you find the right ones.

  Start chapter 1

Card 1 of 16: Sicilian Defense

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