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Rossolimo Variation: Fun to Play, Hard to Beat

  • MikeRoesell
  • | Jul 26, 2009
  • | 3831 views
  • | 11 comments

     Hi in my previous articles on the Sveshnikov many raised the issue of the Rossolimo and how it has had good results against the Old Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6).  Since I received your comments I have looked into the variation and it has grown on me very much.  I have had several awesome games with it, but you won’t see any of them in this article (they aren’t that good).

     The main ideas of the Rossolimo are rapid development and seizing the initiative.  I have seen several games by Rossolimo himself and have come to admire this variation of the Sicilian.  When Rossolimo originally started playing 3.Bb5 he wanted to castle as early as move four and then go on the attack. I stumbled on the game Fischer-Spassky 1992 in my research and I want to share this wonderful game.  This game illustrates the ideas of development and grabbing the tempo. 


Well let’s start this awesome game. 

    Think that you will be World Champ one day? Let's test your mettle with where Bobby goes next.  I'll give you a hint. (!)
     From this position White has a solid attack going thanks to the initiative that he picked up with the move b4, sacing the pawn.  And behind that move is Black's underdevelopment that has been hurting Spassky all game.
     Black is really hurting here and Fischer isn't afraid to continue the torture
    
"Th-th-th-that's all folks!"
  
     Thanks for the read. As per usual please leave any feedback or comments about the article including errors.(I'm not Fischer. lol).  I would also like you to ask any questions that you have and I'll do my best to answer them or find someone to answer them. 

Comments


  • 18 months ago

    lefthandsketch

    Check out this three part article on the Rossolimo with 3...g6

     

    http://brooklyn64.com/category/openings/sicilian-defense/3-bb5/

  • 3 years ago

    MikeRoesell

    If what you want is a weapon against the 2...Nc6 sicilian then this is your variation.  If you hit a 2...d6 sicilian you may want to take a look at my article on the checkhover variation for white against the d6 sicilian. 

  • 3 years ago

    wilson1990

    nice read i normaly have problems playing against sicilian as i dont know it very well hopefully this line will be a winner for me =)

  • 3 years ago

    gsorita

    thanks for the review

  • 3 years ago

    Jpatrick

    Black must know how to handle 3.Bb5 or he will get positions that are very difficult to play.

    The plans that seem to work best involve ...g6, ...Bg7, and at times, it becomes necessary to blockade the dark squares with ...f6.  If you did not know this from studying games, you'd probably never find this plan over the board.

    With exchanges on c6, I prefer to recapture ...dxc6, and try to use the semi-open d file for counterplay.

    If, as in this game, White offers a Pawn via b4, Black probably does best not to try and hold on to it, but rather use the time to finish development.  In this game as Black, I would have played 8...b3!? Play might continue 9.cxb3 Ne7 10.Bb2 d6 11.d4 f6!? with chances for both players.

  • 3 years ago

    Gerik

    An excellent article. thank you very much for posting.

  • 3 years ago

    MikeRoesell

    Personally I like the move because it allows White to break Black's pawn structure. Also I'm not really good enough to tell but, in my opinion it is a playable alternative that forces black's move rather than reacting to a6 or waiting with 0-0. But that's my opinion.  Kramnik has commented somewhere that this move is good for white, but i don't remember where that was.

  • 3 years ago

    cphmmlb

    very nice game

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