Sicilian Defense Mengarini Variation
Sicilian Defense – Mengarini Variation
Definition
The Mengarini Variation is an off-beat line of the Sicilian Defense that begins with the startling pawn move
1. e4 c5 2. a3
Instead of the customary development of a knight or bishop, White spends a tempo on the obscure pawn advance a3. The move is named after the Italian composer and amateur master Ing. Mario Mengarini (1894-1976), who employed it in correspondence play and analysis during the mid-20th century.
Basic Idea
- Pre-emptive space: By playing a3, White prepares an immediate queenside expansion with b4, gaining space and chasing away a future black piece on c5.
- Sidestepping theory: The move instantly pulls the game out of mainstream Sicilian theory (Najdorf, Dragon, Scheveningen, etc.), forcing both players to rely on original thinking.
- Positional deterrent: a3 denies Black the possibility of …Bb4 (pinning a knight on c3) in many future positions.
Typical Move Orders
Because 2.a3 is so rare, Black has great flexibility. A few common replies:
- 2…d6 – Transposing toward Najdorf-type structures, but without …Bb4 in the air.
- 2…Nc6 – Keeping all options open; White often continues 3.Nc3 or 3.b4.
- 2…e6 – A Scheveningen-flavored setup, after which 3.Nf3 follows normal development.
- 2…g6 – Entering Dragon-style territory, where a quick b4 can be irritating.
Strategic Themes
- Queenside expansion: After 3.b4, White often fianchettoes the bishop to b2, contesting the long diagonal and exerting pressure on the e5 square.
- Center vs. wing: Because White has spent a tempo on a flank pawn, Black may strike in the center with …d5 or …d6/…e6. Timing is critical for both sides.
- Transpositions: If White later plays Nf3-d4 and c2-c4, the game can morph into a Maroczy-Bind structure—yet with the added benefit that Black’s …Bb4 resource is absent.
Example Line
In this illustrative skirmish:
- White sacrifices the a1 rook but gains rapid development and an open b-file.
- Black snatches material but faces problems completing development and safeguarding the king.
While not forced, this line showcases the unbalanced, tactical nature typical of the Mengarini.
Historical and Practical Significance
The variation has never been a mainstay of elite grandmaster practice, yet it serves several valuable functions:
- Surprise Weapon: Because theory is sparse, players such as GM Baadur Jobava and IM Marc Esserman have occasionally sprung 2.a3 to unnerve theoretically-prepared opponents.
- Correspondence Legacy: Mengarini’s original analyses appeared in Italian periodicals; his lines were later revisited in The Complete Chess Addict by Fox & James, giving the move new life among adventurous club players.
- Youth Training: Coaches sometimes recommend 2.a3 to juniors as an exercise in “playing chess, not memorizing moves.”
Notable Games
- Jobava – Dubov, European Team Ch. 2013: 1.e4 c5 2.a3 g6 3.b4 Bg7 4.Nc3! Jobava uncorked a resourceful pawn sacrifice and eventually won in a flurry of tactics.
- Hammer – Hauge, Norwegian Ch. 2018: Illustrates a quiet positional approach with early c3 and d4, steering the game toward a reversed Alapin.
- Mengarini (corr.) – Various, 1950-1965: Several correspondence encounters highlight the inventor’s fondness for rook sacrifices on a1 and thematic pawn storms.
Evaluation
The Mengarini is objectively considered slightly dubious—modern engines give Black a comfortable ≈ +0.3 to +0.5 after accurate play. Nevertheless, its practical value lies in psychological shock and unfamiliar positions. Against an unprepared opponent, that single lost tempo can be outweighed by initiative and imagination.
Interesting Tidbits
- Cousin Openings: 2.a3 is occasionally seen in the French (1.e4 e6 2.a3!?) and the Caro-Kann (1.e4 c6 2.a3!?), where it serves analogous aims.
- “Rétí Echo”: The idea of a3 followed by b4 recalls Richard Rétí’s flank strategies, but transposed to an open-game context.
- Memory Aid: Some coaches joke, “A3 means ‘Avoid theory in move 3’.”
When to Use It
Choose the Mengarini Variation if you:
- Enjoy steering the game into uncharted territory.
- Are comfortable accepting a small theoretical disadvantage in exchange for psychological edge.
- Possess a creative, tactical style that turns extra space on the queenside into attacking chances.
In contrast, avoid it in must-win scenarios against accurate theoreticians who thrive on structural superiority.