Sicilian Defense Myers Attack

Sicilian Defense – Myers Attack (1. e4 c5 2. a3)

Definition

The Myers Attack is an off-beat variation of the Sicilian Defense that arises after the moves 1. e4 c5 2. a3. The move 2. a3, named after the imaginative American International Master Hugh Myers (1930-2008), deliberately steps outside mainstream theory on White’s second turn. Its main ideas are:

• Prevent ……Bb4+ pins in many Open-Sicilian structures.
• Prepare the pawn thrust b2-b4, gaining queenside space and threatening to disrupt Black’s customary ……d5 break.
• Force Black onto independent strategic ground, hoping to lure the opponent away from well-rehearsed Sicilian main lines.

Typical Move Orders & Early Position

A common continuation is:

      1. e4   c5
      2. a3   Nc6   (or 2…d6 / 2…e6)
      3. b4   cxb4
      4. axb4
    

After 4. axb4 White has achieved a Wing Gambit–style structure without having spent a tempo on 2. b4, because the preparatory 2. a3 enabled the capture to recapture with the a-pawn, opening the a-file for a rook and preserving the c-pawn to support central thrusts like c2-c4.

Strategic Themes

• White’s Plans
  • Queenside expansion with a3-b4-c4.
  • Rapid development, often with Bb2, Nf3, d3, Be2, 0-0.
  • Undermine Black’s typical Sicilian counterplay by delaying or avoiding d4, leading to unbalanced pawn structures.
• Black’s Plans
  • Occupy the center with ……d5 or ……e5.
  • Exploit the time White spent on a3 by accelerating development (…Nc6, …d6, …Nf6, …g6).
  • Accept or decline the pawn on b4. If accepted, attempt to consolidate the extra pawn and open lines against White’s queenside.

Historical Background

Hugh Myers is famed for championing rare or “experimental” openings, publishing the Myers Openings Bulletin and the influential book Myers’ Opening Bull’s Eye. He first proposed 2. a3 against the Sicilian in the 1970s, arguing that it combined ideas from the Wing Gambit and the Anderssen Opening (1. a3) while specifically targeting Sicilian move orders.

While the line has never broken into elite main-stream practice, it does appear in correspondence chess and online blitz, where the element of surprise can be valuable. Modern engines evaluate the position as roughly equal after best play, but inaccuracies by either side can quickly lead to sharp tactical skirmishes.

Illustrative Games & Examples

1. Hugh Myers – D. Arnold, U.S. Open 1980
   

   Myers sacrifices the b-pawn but soon secures a powerful center with c4-d4, ultimately generating a kingside attack that netted the full point on move 28.

2. J. Nunn – H. Vogel, Wijk aan Zee 1999

   An example of a strong grandmaster sidestepping mainstream Sicilian theory. Nunn used 2. a3 to reach a playable middlegame and drew after 46 moves.

Practical Tips

• Be prepared for both 2…Nc6 and 2…d6; the ideas stay similar, but specific tactics differ.
• After 2…e6, White can even transpose to a Wing Gambit with 3.b4 or revert to calmer lines with 3.Nf3 and 4.d4.
• If Black captures on b4, rapid development is critical—don’t spend extra tempi trying to recover the pawn immediately.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• Myers humorously called 2. a3 “the polite way to play the Wing Gambit—ask permission before pushing the b-pawn!”
• Grandmaster Baadur Jobava has employed 2. a3 in online blitz with success, illustrating its surprise value even at 2700-level play.
• ECO classifies the Myers Attack under the code B20, grouping it with other “miscellaneous” second moves for White against the Sicilian.

Summary

The Sicilian Defense – Myers Attack is an off-beat but entirely playable attempt to sidestep the labyrinth of Sicilian theory. By playing 2. a3, White signals an intention to dictate the character of the game, banking on surprise, flexible pawn structures, and queenside space. While objectively balanced, it offers fertile ground for creative players and remains a fitting tribute to the inventive spirit of Hugh Myers.