How To Crush The Sicilian In 3 Check: 4. d5 Part 5 (5. Nh6)

Plans and ideas:

• Push your pawn to e5 to support Nd6+ in the future.
• Play c3 after 5. Nh6 with the idea to play d4 next without allowing a check.
• Wait to check on d6 until you are provoked or when White is threatening to castle next move to avoid the check. The idea is to get Black to waste a move.
• Put your light squared Bishop on d3 where it will be pointing aggressively towards the Kingside.
• If Black castles Queenside then always sacrifice your Bishop on a6 to destroy Black's defense around their King. Follow up the sacrifice with Qd3 or Qe2.
• You can usually afford to sacrifice multiple pieces for a 2nd check or to maintain the initiative in this opening due to the vulnerability of Black's King. You should have enough resources in reserve to get a third check.
• Always focus on creating threats towards Black's King. The initiative is very important so try to avoid playing passive moves whenever possible.
   

This first game is one of my favorite 3 Check games because it's a good example of how you can sometimes sacrifice a large amount of material even when you don't get any immediate checks. I ended up sacrificing both Bishops and a Rook to keep the initiative and to remove the defenders around Black's King. Note how every move that I played after move 11 was a threat.