What is the best route to the Sveshnikov ?
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Oct 25, 2019
0
#2
Both move orders are playable of course. Apparently the main concern is avoiding certain Anti-Sicilians, however you can’t avoid ALL of them. Against 2...e6 white can play 3. c3 (Delayed Alapin), 3. b3 and 3. d3 (transferring to the King’s Indian Attack), all of which lead to equal middlegames with plenty of play and little theory, as does the Rossolimo and any other Anti-Sicilian. I suggest playing each Anti-Sicilian a few times before deciding which to avoid.
Sorry if I'm a little off-topic: But I've read that with the accelerated dragon you have to remember many lines.
Does that also apply to the Sveshnikov? I didn't read that quite literally yet. But I already read that the Sveshnikov is complex.
May 10, 2021
0
#4
The sicilian four knights seem to be in good shape at the moment. For a long time a critical line was suppose to be 6NxN b7xN 7e5 Nd5 8Ne4 but black has a lot of playable options like
8...Qc7 9f4 Rb8 .In a lot of the testing lines with c4 10c4 Bb4ch 11Ke2 the king heads up floating in the centre. Another typical line with Ke2 is shown here http://www.qualitychess.co.uk:81/blog/?s=sicilian+four+knights I don't see many club players enjoying playing such positions as white.
After 6Nd-b5 d6 etc black has avoided the trendy line with Nd5.
In the recent candidates in trying to get a game Caruana tried 6a3 and even 6Qd3 but didn't acheive very much.
In the last classical world championship match Carlsen apparently judged that the classical route with 2...Nc6 was the better choice and he did not fear the Rossolimo Bb5. Caruana tried the Rossolimo, got nothing at all from it and then shifted to the Sveshnikov with Nd5, getting nothing either.
In the last candidates tournament at Yekaterinenburg the path with 2...e6 was preferred, presumably to avoid the line with Nd5.
We have two ways to reach the Sveshnikov (I am excluding routes via Kalashnikov and maybe Taimanov).
1. The "official" move order for the Sveshnikov.
2. Via the Sicilian 4-knights move order.
Pros and cons ?
I have an old book written by GM Michael Rohde: 'Play the Sveshnikov!' where he recommends the Sicilian 4-knights move order :
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6! (Rohdes exclam mark.) 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6.Ndb5 d6 7. Bf4 e5 8.Bg5
This move order takes one more move to reach the Sveshnikov . GM Rhode writes :
"The practical result of this is that white can not reach some of the anti-sveshnikov lines ,while the "learning curve " for players wanting to employ this sharp defense is greatly reduced".
White can not play the Rossolimo variation (1.e4 c5 2. Nc6 Bb5) vs the Sicilian 4-knights move order.
On the other hand white has the chance to chose to play vs the Sicilian 4-knights instead, or rather black must be prepared to play the Sicilian 4-knights .
Accordning to GM Roman Dzindzichasvilli and GM Lev Alburt black must be ready to face the Rossolimo in approximately 23 % of all his games if he chooses the "official" Sveshnikov move order.
What is your opinion ? What move order would you chose and why ? I guess it goes down to whether you prefer to play vs the Rossolimo or the Sicilian 4-knights. And of course if you prefer to avoid some other side variations of the Sveshnikov sicilian you have to meet if you chose the "official" move order.