Scheveningen Variation — Sicilian Defense
Scheveningen
Definition
The term Scheveningen most commonly refers to the
Scheveningen Variation of the Sicilian Defence, a highly respected
system for Black arising after the moves
1. e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6. The defining
feature is the compact “little center” of black pawns on d6 and e6. By
extension, the word “Scheveningen” is also used to describe the resulting
pawn structure (…d6/…e6 vs. White’s pawn on e4) no matter how it is reached.
Typical Move-Order Paths
- Pure Scheveningen:
…d6and…e6inserted immediately, as in the diagram above. - Najdorf move-order:
5…a6 6.Be2 e6or similar. - Taimanov/Kan transpositions: Black plays
…e6first, then…d6later.
Strategic Ideas
The Scheveningen is loved by practitioners for its flexibility:
- Central Resilience. The pawns on d6 and e6 blunt the power of the e4-pawn, keep the d-file closed, and prepare …e5 or …d5 breaks at the right moment.
- Piece Activity. Black’s minor pieces head for natural squares: …Nf6, …Nc6 (or …Nbd7), …Be7, …Bb7 (after …b5) or …Bg7 (after …g6).
- Counterplay on the Queenside. The thematic plan is …a6–…b5–…Bb7, sometimes followed by …b4 to disturb the c3-knight.
- White’s Keres/English Attacks. Because Black’s
king side is initially undeveloped, White often tries an early
6.g4(Keres Attack) or the “English Attack” setupf3, g4, Be3, Qd2, O-O-O, g5. These lead to sharp races where every tempo matters. - Pawn Breaks. Typical freeing moves for Black are …d5 (when prepared) or …e5; for White, f5 or e5.
Historical Significance
The variation is named after the seaside district of Scheveningen in The Hague, Netherlands. During the celebrated 1923 Scheveningen team tournament, several Dutch players (notably Daniël Noteboom) adopted the …d6/…e6 setup with great success, and the name stuck.
Its golden age began in the 1970s when Soviet analysts, led by Lev Polugaevsky and Garry Kasparov, refined it into a full-fledged weapon capable of meeting every attacking scheme. Bobby Fischer also played the structure several times—most memorably in his win as Black in game 11 of the 1972 World Championship against Boris Spassky.
Illustrative Game
Kasparov – Anand, Tilburg 1991
This spectacular miniature displays the dangers facing Black when he mishandles the kingside while White throws pawns forward. After 37.Qh7# Anand was checkmated on move 37.
Modern Usage
The pure Scheveningen move-order (delaying …a6) is less fashionable today
because of the ultra-sharp Keres Attack 6.g4. Top players
therefore reach the structure via Najdorf or Taimanov orders, keeping
White guessing. Nevertheless, at club level the line remains a workhorse
because it teaches:
- How to handle a flexible pawn center.
- Typical Sicilian piece coordination.
- The art of timing pawn breaks versus direct attacks.
Interesting Tidbits
- The Dutch grandmaster Jan Hein Donner famously quipped, “If you want to beat the Scheveningen, you must first beat its theory,” highlighting the depth of preparation required.
- In the 1993 PCA World Championship, Nigel Short surprised Kasparov with an off-beat line against the Scheveningen in game 3; Kasparov, unfazed, unleashed a positional exchange sacrifice and won anyway.
- The setup shares DNA with the Hedgehog; if Black places the queen on b8, the rooks on c8 and d8, and keeps the pawns on a6, b6, d6, and e6, the position often is a Hedgehog—but the name “Scheveningen” is reserved for the original Sicilian context.
Take-Home Points
- The Scheveningen = pawns on d6 and e6 vs. White’s e4 pawn.
- It provides a sound but dynamic platform for counterplay.
- Beware of the Keres Attack (6.g4) and English Attack setups.
- Understanding typical plans (…d5, …e5, …b5) is more important than memorizing every line.