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Anti-Sicilian - The Rossolimo variation

Anti-Sicilian - The Rossolimo variation

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A few weeks ago I came across an interesting article about The Rossolimo variation in Sicilian. I want to share this article here and I hope to hear the opinion of players who have experience with this variation.

The Rossolimo variation
"Because of Black's success in the Open Sicilian - and the huge amount of theory involved in maintaining a mainline Open Sicilian repertoire - many players have turned to White's alternatives on move 2 or 3, the so-called Anti-Sicilians. Although never as popular as the Open Sicilian among grandmasters, and historically considered less critical, these sidelines have always been popular at the club and amateur level, and are a viable option for any player lacking the time or motivation to learn dozens of theoretical lines in each of Black's Open Sicilian options. The most popular Anti-Sicilians all have their adherents among grandmasters and some have even been regularly adopted by World Champions. If you play the Sicilian as Black, especially at club level, you will frequently encounter these attempts to avoid the main lines, and so anyone looking to take up the Sicilian should prepare to spend as much time studying these lines as their favourite Open Sicilian.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6

3. Bb5 The Rossolimo variation has become almost as popular as the Open Sicilians in recent years, as a means of avoiding the Sveshnikov variation after 2... Nc6. Many grandmasters will play Bb5 against this move order, while playing the Open Sicilian elsewhere.3... g6This is the modern way to handle the Black side, allowing White to capture on c6. Black has a large number of alternatives here, including:

3... e6 4. O-O 
4. Bxc6 is also possible in this line, with similar play to the 3...g6 line. 
4... Nge7 5. c3 a6 6. Ba4b5 7. Bc2 Bb7 8. Re1 White is ready to expand in the centre with d4.
Attempting to avoid damage to the pawn structure with 3... Nd4 is considered dubious, as after 4. Nxd4 cxd4 5. O-O White is well ahead in development and ready to take over the centre with c3 and cxd4 or ...bxc3 Nxc3.

4. Bxc6 Although Rossolimo's original idea revolved around quick development and active piece play - and White can still play this way by castling here - this exchange is the most common way to play the position nowadays.4... dxc6

4... bxc6 is also possible, intending to use the open b-file in conjunction with the g7 bishop to pressure White's queenside. After 5. O-O Bg7 6. Re1 White is aiming for c3 and d4.

5. d3

5. h3 can be played here instead of move 6.

5... Bg7 6. h3 White rules out ...Bg4 in order to develop his knight to c3 rather than d2.6... Nf6 7. Nc3 Nd7

Black defends c5 and prepares ...e5 to increase his control over d4. The immediate 7... O-O is playable, but allows White to quickly exchange off the g7 bishop, after 8. Be3 b6 9. Qd2 intending Bh6. White also has the possibility of castling queenside here, and launching a kingside pawn storm.

8. Be3 e5 9. Qd2 h6

The purpose of this move is to prevent Bh6 exchanging the g7 bishop, for example, after 9... Qe7 10. Bh6

10. O-O Qe7 White's main plan here is to play f4, usually after Nh2, to open the f-file. He also has the option of queenside play, with a3 and b4. Black can play on the queenside with his mass of pawns there, and arrange the advance c4 to weaken White's d3 pawn, which sits on a half-open file. Alternately, he can wait for White to commit to kingside play with f4, and castle queenside himself.

Here are some games to demonstrate chances for both sides in the Rossolimo.

Adams vs Philippe, French Team Championship, Paris 2004

Black resigns.
Ponomariov vs Kramnik, Linares 2003

White resigns.