Table Of ContentBeating the Sicilian 3
John and Joe Gallagher
Νυnn
Batsford Ltd, London
Β. Τ.
Pirst published 1995
© John Νυηn and Joe Gallagher 1995
ISBN Ο 7134 7844 6
Βήtίsh Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data.
Α catalogue record for this book is
available from the Βήtίsh Library.
ΑlI ήghts reserνed. Νο part of this book may be
reproduced, by any means, without Ρήοr permission
of the publisher.
Typeset by John Νυηη
and Ρήnted ίη Great Βήtaίn by
Redwood Books, Trowbridge, Wilts
for the publishers,
Β. Τ. Batsford Ltd,
4 Pitzhardinge Street,
London WIH ΟΑΗ
Α BATSPORD CHESS ΒΟΟΚ
Editoriαl Pαnel: Mark DvoretSky, John Νυηη, Ιοη Speelman
Generαl Adviser: Raymond Keene ΟΒΕ
Mαnαging Editor: Graham Burgess
Contents
Symbols 4
Introduction 5
1 Ν ajdorf Variation 7
2 Scheveningen Variation 28
3 Classica1 Variation 60
4 Pelikan Variation 95
5 The Dragon 110
6 Kan Variation 123
7 Maroczy Bind 144
8 Taimanov Variation 164
9 Sicilian Four Κnights 180
10 Lδwentha1 and Ka1ashnikov Variations 188
11 Ρίη Variation 196
12 Nimzowitsch Variatίon: 2 ... llJf6 200
13 O'Kelly Variation: 2 ... a6 206
14 Unusua1 Lines 210
Index of Variations 222
Symbols
+ Check
++ Double check
# Checkmate
;t (=i=) Slίght advantage Ιο White (Black)
± (+) Clear advantage Ιο White (Black)
+-(-+) Winning advantage Ιο White (Black)
= Level position
00 Unclear position
! Goodmove
? Badmove
!! Outstanding move
?? Blunder
!? Interesting move
?! Dubious move
Ch Championship
Cht Team championship
Team tournament
ιι
jr Junior Event
wom Women's event
rpd Rapidplay
Wch World Championship
Ζ Zonal
ΙΖ Interzona1
Ct Candidates
OL Olympiad
Cοπ Posta1 game
(D) Diagram follows
Introduction
This third edition of Beαting the Si same as ίη BTS2, although all have
ciliαn (BTS) does ηοι need a lengthy been thoroughly updated Ιο reflect
introduction, since repertoire books both developments ίη the pre-exist
are now a familiar concept. Νο one ing theory and new ideas for Black
will be surpήsed Ιο learn that the aim which have arisen ίη the interven
()f this book is Ιο provide a complete ing years. Retaining the original
repertoire for White against the Si recommendations was ηοΙ done ιο
cilian, sufficiently detailed for most minίmίse the authors' efforts, but be
players Ιο meet any line of the Si cause most players do ηοΙ have the
cilian with confidence. time Ιο change their repertoires com
As ίη BTS2, the lines we recom pletely overnight. Even grandmas
mend are well-established main ters normally change their openings
variations. Τοο many opening books incrementally, because of the con
advocate one or another sideline, siderable study required Ιο grasp
claiming ίι Ιο be ηο worse than the both the ideas behind openings and
usual variations, and offering analy the concrete variations embodying
~is which appearS convincing - υηtίl those ideas.
you actually play the line over-the The repertoire against the Dragon
hoard. Μαίη lines of the type ana has substantially changed. The main
lysed ίη this book cannot be refuted, line of the Yugoslav Attack has be
although the whims of fashion may come just Ιοο vast for most players
lead Ιο them becoming more or less Ιο study ίη depth, and anyone intend
ρορυlαι as the years go by. The lines ing ιο venture ίηΙο such tricky wa
we recommend should remain valid ters needs Ιο have an intimate
t·or yearS Ιο come (υηιΗ Beαting the knowledge of all the hidden reefs.
Siciliαn 41) and readers may be Therefore, we have switched from 9
confident that the effort ρυΙ ίηΙο .ic4 Ιο 9 0-0-0 d5 1Ο 'ii'e 1, a promίs
studying them will earn a long-term ing but relatίvely undeveloped line.
reward. The Kan and Maroczy Bind chap
We would like Ιο use the rest of ters include many new finesses, but
this introductίon Ιο descήbe the the broad outline remains little
changes ίη the proposed repertoire. changed.
The lines given against the Na Against the Taimanov, we have
jdorf, Scheveningen, Classical and abandoned BTS2's 5 tίJb5, both be
Pelikan variations are broadly the cause recent practical results have
6 Introduction
been disappointing for White, and Perhaps the greatest change since
because the stodgy positions which BTS2 has been the rise of the Ka
result don't fit ίη very well with the lashnikov variation, the οηlΥ really
style οί the rest οί the repertoire. new Black system Ιο have been de
The cunent recommendation οί 5 veloped ίη the Sicilian for the past 15
lbc3 'fIc7 6 f4 has had a knock-on years. Ιι may be that the popularity
effect, ίη that lines also need Ιο be of this line has now passed its peak,
provided against 5 ... d6 and 5 ... a6. but ίι is still relatively common and
This new material is also covered deserves careful attention. Chapter
ίη Chapter 8, and those who have Ι Ο has the details.
earlier editions of BTS are recom The remaining chapters consti
mended Ιο study this chapter care tute the Odds and Ends οί the Sicil
fully, ίη order ηοΙ Ιο be left stranded ian. Maybe they are ηοΙ really so
high and dry if Black does ηοΙ play bad, but the tide οί fashion has
5 ... 'fIc7. turned fιrmly against them and new
The Sicilian Four Κnights experi ideas are few and far between. Per
enced a bit of a revival a few years haps the one exception is the line 1
ago, which resulted ίη some new e4 c5 2 lbf3 g6, covered ίη Chapter
developments. Although ίι has now 14, whίch is often used for transposi
faded again ίηιο semί-obscurity, tional purposes; although still a littIe
readers should be aware that thίs unusual, ίι appears Ιο be increasing
chapter has altered subsιantially. ίη popularity.
JohnNunn
London
J oe Gallagher
NeuchΔtel
1
ΝajdοrfVaήatίοn
Of a11 the lίnes ίη the Sicilίan which replies most commonly encountered
Black can adopt, the Najdorfhas de ίη practice. The main division is be
veloped the largest body of theory. tween those lines involving an early
Whole books have been written οη ... e5 and those ίη which Black delays
mere sub-variations of the Najdorf, this move or omits ίι entirely. We
for example the Polugaevsky νΜί will postpone consideration of the
ation and the infamous Poisoned former lίnes until Games 3 and 4,
Pawn. The Najdorf starts with the and concentrate first οη the alterna
moves 1 e4 c5 2 ~f3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 tives ιο ... e5.
~xd4 ~f6 5 ~c3 a6. Black's first
aim is to play ... e5 without allowing Game 1
the reply .i.b5+, while the secon J. Polgar - Pliester
dary ροίηΙ is Ιο prepare queenside Aruba 1992
expansion by ... b5. Some ofWhite's
systems against the Najdorf are spe Ι e4 cS
cifica11y aimed at preventing ... e5, 2 ~f3 d6
while others allow Black to play this 3 d4 cxd4
move ίη the hope of exploiting the 4 lDxd4 lί)f6
backward d-pawn later. Devising a 5 lbc3 a6
counter which is viable ίη tourna 6 f4(D)
ment play, while at the same time ne
cessitating relatively slίght book
knowledge, has proved especially
hard. These days the five major sys Β
tems against the Najdorf, 6 .tg5, 6
.i.e2, 6 .i.c4, 6 .te3 and 6 f4 seem Ιο
occur with about equal frequency. As
ίη BTS2 we have opted for 6 f4, a
system which offers good attacking
chances while retaining an element
of solίdity. Another advantage of 6 f4
is that as ίι has ηοΙ been popular for
as long as some of the other moves 6 f4 is a flexible move; White
there is ηοΙ quite as much Ιο learn. gives little away regarding his piece
Ιη Games 1 to 4 we investigate the deployment, and waits for Black's
8 NαjdorfVariαtion
reply before deciding where Ιο ρυι 1989) 9 ..• e5 10 lbb3 exf4 11 .ixf4
his bishops. lbes 12 ~xe5 dxe5 and now:
6 ..• lbbd7 3al) 13 g5 hxg5 14 hxg5 1:txhl
This move is designed Ιο reserve 15 'ifxhl lbg4 16 lbd5 is given as
the ορΙίοn of playing ... e5 under unclear by Kasparov.
more favourable circumstances if 3a2) 13 .ih3 looks more testing
White should develop his pieces Ιο Ιο me. Now 13 ... g5 loses Ιο 14 :η
unsuitable squares. 6 ••• 'fIJc7 is cov .ie7 15lbd5 and 13 ... .ie6 14 g5 is
ered ίn Game 2, but there are other at least slightly better for White.
playable moves: 13 ... h5 should be met by 14 :dl! (14
1) 6 ••• lbc6 7 lbxc6 bxc6 8 e5 g5 .ixh3 15 gxf6 .ig4 16 fxg7
lbd7 (8 ... dxe5 9 'ifxd8+ ΦΧd8 10 .ixg7 17 'ifg3 ο-ο is ΟΚ for Black)
fxe5lbd5 11 ~d2 is good for White) followed by g5. This leaves the cήti
9 .ic4!? dxe5 100-0 e6 11 f5.ic5+ cal line as 13 ••• .ib4 14 g5 (D) and
12 ΦhΙ and White has good attack now:
ing chances.
2) 6 •.• g6 7 .id3 and after a sub
sequent ... 'ifc7 or ... lbbd7 there will
probably be a transposition ίηΙο lines
considered ίη Game 2.
3) 6 ••• e6 (after this White may
transpose ίnΙο various lines of the
Scheveningen, but since these lines
do ηοΙ form part of the repertoire rec
ommended ίη this book, we suggest
an independent a1ternative which
promises good chances for White) 7
'fIJf3 (White's advantage over similar 3a21) 14• .. .ixc3+ (14 ... JLxh3 is
lines is that his bishops are ηοΙ com met by 15 gxf6!) 15 'ifxc3 (15 bxc3
mitted, so he can force through g4- lbg8100ks ΟΚ for Black) 15 ... lbxe4
g5 very quickly) and now: (15 ... hxg5 16:d1 ! is very strong)
3a) 7 .•• lbbd7 8 g4 h6 (8 ... e5 9 16 'ifxe5+ 'ife7 and the big question
lbf5!? and now 9 ... exf4?! 10 .ixf4 is whether White can get away with
lbe5 11 .ixe5 dxe5 12 g5 lbd7 13 the cheeky 17 'ifxg7. Ι believe he
.ic4 gives White a tremendous at can, although strong nerves are re
tack, whίlst 9 ... g610 g5 gxf5 11 exf5 quired. Here is a sample variation:
leaves Black under heavy pressure) 17 ... lbg3+ (17 ... :f8 18 .ixc8 fa
9 h4 (9 .ie2 1t'b6 10 lbb3 1t'c7 11 vours White after 18 ... :xc8 19 0-0-0
'ifg2 :b8 12 .ie3 b5 13 g5 hxg5 14 or 18 ...l bg3+ 19 Φf2lbe4+ 20 ~f3!
fxg5lbh5 15 g6lbe5 was distinctly :Ιχc8 21 :hel) 18 Φd2 'ife2+ 19
unclear ίη Short-Kasparov, Belgrade Φc3! 'ife3+ (19 ... lbe4+ 20 Φd4!)
