Chess Sicilian Defence

An Introduction to the
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Compiled by Steven Craig Miller

Copyright © 2003 Steven Craig Miller
Copying and distribution of this article is permitted for noncommercial purposes.

An Introduction to the Sicilian Defense complied by Steven Craig Miller

Table of Contents
Introduction
Part I: Open Sicilians
a. The Scheveningen Variation
b. The Najdorf Variation
c. The Classical Variation
d. The Dragon Variation
e. The Accelerated Dragon
f. The Sveshnikov Variation
g. Löwenthal Variation
h. The Four Knights Variation
i. The Kalashnikov Variation
j. The Taimanov Variation
k. The Kan Variation
Part II: Other Sicilian Systems
l. The c3 Sicilain
m. The Morra Gambit
n. The Closed Sicilian
o. The Bb5 Systems
p. The Grand Prix Attack

Introduction
The Sicilian Defense is the most popular chess opening of all time. Almost a quarter of all games played are Sicilians.
While the majority of scholastic games at the beginning level are symmetrical king pawn openings (1. e4 e5), at higher levels the most popular answer to 1. e4 is 1. … c5. Part I: Open Sicilians
In an ‘Open Sicilian’ position, in which
White plays 2. Nf3 followed by 3. d4,
White has an advantage in development, while Black has a structural advantage with an extra central pawn.

Page 2

a. The Scheveningen Variation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

e4
Nf3
d4
Nxd4
Nc3

c5 d6 (or e6) cxd4 Nf6 e6 (or d6)

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(Scheveningen is pronounced something like: Shaw-ven-again).
(1) Classical Scheveningen
(2) Modern Scheveningen
(3) English Attack
(4) Keres Attack
(5) Fischer Attack

a1. Classical Scheveningen
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Be2
0-0
f4
Be3
a4

a6
Be7
0-0
Nc6
Qc7

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