List of Sicilian Lines
Here is a list of the major variations of Sicilian Defence, some minor variations, the moves which define them, some move order issues, and a sentence about each.
Accelerated Dragon 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cd4 4 Nd4 g6. In contradistinction to the Dragon proper, Black should not lash out in the Accelerated Dragon.
Dragon 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cd4 4 Nd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 g6. Bobby Fischer famously said, the key to beating the Dragon is to castle long, pry open the h-file, sacrifice, sacrifice, and mate.
Najdorf 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cd4 4 Nd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6. I find it amazing how a little forward flick of a pawn at the edge of the board unleashes such a theoretical monster.
Scheveningen 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cd4 4 Nd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6. The Keres Attack dampens enthusiasm for this variation.
Taimanov 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cd4 4 Nd4 Nc6. Of historical note: Mark Taimanov's original conception was 5 Nc3 a6 6 Be2 Nge7 but this is found wanting because of 6 Nc6 bc6 7 Bd3.
The Taimanov Variation deserves further detail:
Taimanov-Bastrikov 5 Nc3 Qc7. Taimanov's original conception needed this refinement.
Taimanov, Szen 5 Nb5 d6. To break out of Hedgehog-Maroczy Bind positions requires proper timing from Black.
Kan 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cd4 4 Nd4 a6. Originating with Wilfried Paulsen, the Kan denies entry points to enemy knights.
Lazy 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cd4 4 Nd4 Bc5. Lazy studiers use this idea to avoid theory.
Kveinys 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cd4 4 Nd4 Qb6. Pressure will mount on the dark squares as ...Bc5 looms menacingly.
Ga-Pa 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cd4 4 Nd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Qb6. Swedish players explored another incarnation of the early queen move.
Four Knights 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cd4 4 Nd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6. The Four Knights is rare because it is inferior.
Lowenthal 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cd4 4 Nd4 e5 5 Nb5 a6. White invites the knight forward with 6 Nd6 Bd6 7 Qd6 only to greet the queen rudely 7...Qf6!
Kalashnikov 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cd4 4 Nd4 e5 5 Nb5 d6. The Kalashnikov falls short of other open variations in quality—and no one can find Mr Kalashnikov's games.
Sveshnikov 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cd4 4 Nd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e5. How many cigarettes were consumed while this brilliant variation was honed into the most recent addition to the open Sicilian arsenal?
Classical 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cd4 4 Nd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6. Normally this amorphous formation calls for ...e6, but in the case of 6 Be2, Black can allow the Boleslavsky Hole 6...e5!
Grivas 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cd4 4 Nd4 Qb6. Efstratios Grivas published a book assessing this unrelenting attack on d4.
c3 Alapin 1 e4 c5 2 c3. White calmly suggests that Black overreached with his c-pawn, and White is reasonable to do so.
Moscow 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 Bb5. White seeks a moderate edge with a check to disrupt Black's development.
Rossolimo 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5. Do look into the colorful life of Nicolas Rossolimo.
Closed 1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 g3 g6 4 Bg2 Bg7 5 d3 d6. Such diverse and dignified personalities as Vassily Smyslov, Boris Spassky, and Erik the founder have used this.
Anti-Sveshnikov 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 e5 4 Bc4. White players who avoid the Sveshnikov can exploit d5 in other ways.
Grand Prix 1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 f4. With this accurate move order, White attacks on the kingside.
Checkhover 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cd4 4 Qd4. White can opt for a Maroczy Bind.
Suba move order (by the Black player) 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 Nf6 4 Nc3 cd4 5 Nd4. This discourages the Checkhover.
Smith-Morra 1 e4 c5 2 d4 cd4 3 c3 dc3 4 Nc3. Black's opinion of the Smith-Morra does not matter; only his defense matters.
Morphy's move order 1 e4 c5 2 d4 cd4 3 Nf3 e6 4 Nd4. Paul Morphy mopped up on d4 in delayed fashion, but it is perfectly equivalent to an open variation.
Chameleon 1 e4 c5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 Nge2. White retains the power to play an open variation with d4.
Keres 1 e4 c5 2 Ne2. In 1943 and 1944, Paul Keres won many games with this early commitment to a Chameleon.
Bowlder 1 e4 c5 2 Bc4. Ubiquitous at lower levels and in the forums, 2 Bc4 should find White retreating his piece soon.
Sicilian (overview) 1 e4 c5. The aggressive open variations form the heart of the thicket of lines available.
Hello, I was wondering if someone could post an overview of the characteristics of the different Sicilian variations (both main line and anti-Sicilian).
e.g. Sicilian Variation one
This variation tends to involve a more immediate and aggressive attack from Black on White's queenside. etc. etc. ...
Some specific variations I am curious about include:
Najdorf
Scheveningen
Dragon
Taimanov
Sveshnikov
Classical
Accelerated Dragon
Closed
Alapin
Rossolimo/Moscow systems