Sicilian Defense

• At a glance

  Sicilian Defense

  41 games, 57.3%: against the Sicilian, ChessNetwork plays 2.Nf3 and picks his line from Black's second move. Bg5 against the Najdorf, 3.Bb5+ and a4 elsewhere, and one weak spot: the Taimanov.

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

• The big idea

  Your games: 50× · you score 58%

  Against 1…c5, ChessNetwork plays 2.Nf3, then 3.d4 and the Open Sicilian, or 3.Bb5+ against 2…d6. Against the Najdorf, he chooses 6.Bg5, the most direct line.

• The big idea

  Your games: 10× · you score 65%

  Against 3.Bb5+, he often pushes a4 to fix the queenside.

• The big idea

  Your games: 8× · you score 31%

  41 games, 57.3%, above his score with White (50.8%). The dossier flags no recurring move that Stockfish disputes. The weak spot is the Taimanov: after 2…e6, he scores 31% over 8 games.

• The big idea

  The thread of the course: in each line, a square or a structure to grab before Black gets organized.

• The big idea

  f3 and queenside castling against the Najdorf, a4 and a5 against …a6, the knight on a4 against the Taimanov.

• Principle

  Against the Najdorf, Bg5 and queenside castling

  Your games: 4× · you score 62%

  6.Bg5 aims at f6, then f3 or Qd2 prepare queenside castling and the kingside pawn storm.

• Principle

  a4 before Black plays …b5

  Your games: 7× · you score 79%

  Against 3.Bb5+, the a4 pawn slows Black's queenside expansion and keeps the bishop's square.

• Principle

  The bishop comes back to c4

  After …g6 and …Bg7, the b5 bishop drops back to c4: it aims at f7 and the d5 square.

• Principle

  Against the Taimanov, aim at b6

  After Nxc6 bxc6, the knight on a4 aims at b6, a square no Black pawn covers anymore.

• Imbalance

  Development against structure

  Your games: 11× · you score 55%

  After d4 and Nxd4, White is ahead in development. Black has an extra center pawn.

• Imbalance

  Bishop against knight

  Against 3.Bb5+, the trade on d7 gives Black the two bishops; White keeps the lead and a healthy structure.

• Imbalance

  Kings on opposite sides

  Against the Najdorf with Bg5, White castles queenside: each side pushes its pawns toward the enemy king.

• The trade-off

  What you gain

  • Against 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.a4, 79% in 7 games.
  • A direct line against the Najdorf, 6.Bg5.
  • No recurring move that Stockfish disputes.
• The trade-off

  What you give up

  • The Taimanov, 2…e6, gives him 31% over 8 games.
  • Against 3.Bb5+ Nd7, 33% in 3 games.
  • 6.Bg5 demands precise theory.
• 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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