Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack

Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack

Definition

The Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack is a variation of the Sicilian Defense that begins with the moves 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5. By developing the bishop to b5 instead of entering the Open Sicilian with 3. d4, White seeks quick piece activity, the possibility of doubling Black’s c-pawns, and a largely positional struggle rather than a sharp theoretical battle.

Typical Move Order

The basic tabiya arises after:

• 1. e4 c5
• 2. Nf3 Nc6
• 3. Bb5 (Rossolimo)

Black’s main replies are 3…g6 (the Fianchetto Variation, see the next section), 3…e6, and 3…d6. After 3…g6 White may choose 4. Bxc6, 4. O-O, or 4. c3, each steering the game into a different strategic channel.

Strategic Themes

1. Structural Pressure: If White exchanges on c6 and Black recaptures with the b-pawn, the doubled c-pawns become long-term targets.
2. Piece Play: Without the open central files of the main Sicilians, piece coordination and outposts (e.g., d5, e5) are critical.
3. Flexible Center: White often keeps the d-pawn at d2 for a long time, deciding later whether to strike with d4 or maintain a closed structure with d3.
4. King Safety: Both sides generally castle kingside, but opposite-side castling plans (O-O-O for White) are not uncommon if Black delays …Nf6.

Historical Notes

The line is named for two dynamic attacking players:

• Nicolas Rossolimo (1910-1975) systematically employed 3. Bb5 against the Sicilian in the 1940s and 1950s.
• Rashid Nyezhmetdinov (1912-1974) adopted and popularized the idea in the Soviet Union, adding razor-sharp tactical ideas.

Modern élite players—Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, and Wesley So among them—have used the Rossolimo as an anti-Sicilian weapon, especially in rapid and classical world-title matches where surprise value matters.

Illustrative Game

Carlsen – Giri, Wijk aan Zee 2016 (simplified moves):

Interesting Facts

• In the 2021 Candidates Tournament, the Rossolimo was the only anti-Sicilian Fabiano Caruana used with White, reflecting its modern theoretical depth.
• The variation can transpose to the Moscow (2…d6 3.Bb5+) if Black plays …d6 later, illustrating the fluidity between anti-Sicilian systems.
• Even engines like Stockfish and Leela rate 3. Bb5 near equality for Black, yet practical results at all levels favor White, showing its practical sting.

Fianchetto Variation (in the Rossolimo Attack)

Definition

The Fianchetto Variation refers specifically to Black’s reply 3…g6 in the Rossolimo Attack, aiming to place the dark-squared bishop on g7. The full sequence is 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6.

Typical Continuations

1. 4. Bxc6 dxc6 (or …bxc6) 5. d3 Bg7 6. h3. White accepts the structural concession immediately.
2. 4. O-O Bg7 5. c3 Nf6 6. Re1, keeping tension and sometimes retreating the bishop to f1 or g2 later.
3. 4. c3 Bg7 5. d4, converting into an Open Sicilian with a tempo up, at the cost of clarifying Black’s setup.

Strategic Ideas

• Black’s Plan
  • Control the long diagonal a1–h8 with the fianchettoed bishop.
  • Place pawns on e6 and d6 (or e5 and d6) to create a Maróczy-type grip on d4.
  • Undouble the c-pawns later with …c5-c4-c3 pawn sacrifice ideas, or by recapturing with the queen after …Qxc6.
• White’s Plan
  • Target the c-pawn chain with moves like c3, d4, and Qc2.
  • Use the half-open b-file (after Bxc6 bxc6) for rook pressure.
  • Exploit the light-squared weaknesses created by …g6 if Black hesitates to play …e6.

Historical & Practical Significance

The Fianchetto Variation gained momentum in the 1990s when grandsmasters such as Boris Gelfand and Sergei Tiviakov demonstrated its resilience. It is currently one of the main weapons for Sicilian specialists who wish to keep a rich, maneuvering game without entering Open Sicilian theory.

Magnus Carlsen employed 3…g6 successfully as Black against Vishy Anand in Stavanger 2019, neutralizing White’s initiative and later winning an end- game with the bishop pair.

Sample Line

One common positional line:

Interesting Facts

• If White delays Bxc6, the bishop occasionally retreats to f1 after provoking …g6, achieving a form of the King’s Indian Attack with the black pawn already committed to c5.
• In correspondence chess, engines often prefer 4. c3, but over-the-board players gravitate toward the simpler 4. Bxc6 because of the clear strategic targets.
• The variation can transpose to an Accéléré Dragon structure if Black later plays …d6 and …Nf6, blending two famous Sicilian systems.