Sicilian Defense Nyezhmetdinov Rossolimo Attack
Sicilian Defense
Definition
The Sicilian Defense is a family of chess openings that begins after the moves 1. e4 c5. Black immediately contests control of the d4–square from the flank rather than mirroring White’s central pawn. The move …c5 defines the position as “Sicilian,” regardless of how play continues.
Typical Move Order & Main Branches
From the starting position 1.e4 c5, thousands of distinct variations arise. The most frequently encountered continuations include:
- 2.Nf3 d6 (Najdorf, Dragon, Classical, Scheveningen lines)
- 2.Nf3 Nc6 (Classical, Sveshnikov, Accelerated Dragon, Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack)
- 2.Nf3 e6 (Taimanov, Kan, Paulsen setups)
- 2.c3 (Alapin Variation)
- 2.d4 cxd4 3.Nf3 (Smith-Morra Gambit) or 3.Qxd4 (Chekhover)
Strategic Themes
- Asymmetry & Imbalance – Unlike 1…e5, Black does not mirror White, producing unbalanced pawn structures and rich middlegame play.
- Central Counter-Punch – Black delays developing the king’s bishop to keep options flexible, often striking with …d5 later.
- Queenside Majority – Black’s c- and e-pawns versus White’s d- and e-pawns create opposite-wing pawn majorities, leading to minority attacks and pawn breaks.
- Open c-file – After …cxd4, both sides frequently contest the half-open c-file with rooks.
Historical Significance
The name “Sicilian” first appeared in Il Giuoco degli Scacchi Moderno (1813) by the Italian priest Pietro Carrera, who was born in Sicily. Early adopters included Louis-Charles Mahé de la Bourdonnais (1830s) and Adolf Anderssen (1850s), but the opening gained true prominence after World War II through the games of Miguel Najdorf, Lev Polugaevsky, Bent Larsen, and Bobby Fischer. Today it is the most popular reply to 1.e4 at every rating level.
Illustrative Example
The diagram (Najdorf Variation) shows a typical Sicilian struggle: Black uses …a6 and …b5 to expand on the queenside while White builds pressure on the king-side dark squares.
Famous Games
- Fischer – Spassky, Game 6, World Championship 1972 – Fischer stunned the chess world by adopting the Sozin Attack and winning brilliantly.
- Kasparov – Anand, PCA Championship 1995, Game 10 – A model Najdorf where Kasparov’s exchange sacrifice on c3 became an opening textbook classic.
Interesting Facts
- Grandmasters joke that learning the Sicilian repertoire requires “three lifetimes”—one for theory, one for tactics, and one for endgames!
- The database MegaBase lists over 300,000 master games featuring the Sicilian, more than any other single opening.
- In computer chess, engines rate the Sicilian as Black’s highest-scoring response to 1.e4.
Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack
Definition
The Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack is a system against the Sicilian Defense that arises after
1. e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
White immediately pins the c6-knight, discouraging …d5 and steering play away from the heavily analyzed Open Sicilian. The variation is named after Russian tactical genius Rashid Nezhmetdinov and the Russian-French grandmaster Nicolas Rossolimo, both early specialists.
Main Move Orders
The position after 3.Bb5 typically continues:
- 3…g6 – “Nyezhmetdinov” flavour; Black fianchettoes, aiming for …Bg7 and …e5.
- 3…e6 – The “Moscow Variation,” closely related.
- 3…d6 or 3…Qc7 – More modest; Black keeps options open.
Strategic Ideas for White
- Piece Play over Pawns – By avoiding d4, White emphasizes piece activity and harmonious development.
- Structural Targets – The doubled c-pawns that can follow Bxc6 often become long-term weaknesses.
- Flexible Center – White can choose between c3 & d4 (transposing to Alapin-like structures) or rapid kingside play with Bxc6, d3, Re1, and e5.
Strategic Ideas for Black
- Bishop Pair – Accepting doubled pawns grants Black the two bishops, which may dominate once the position opens.
- Central Breaks – Timely …d5 or …f5 counter-strikes challenge White’s spatial edge.
- Queenside Majority – After …cxd4 and recaptures, Black can advance the a- and b-pawns to generate counterplay.
Historical Background
Nicolas Rossolimo employed 3.Bb5 with great success in the 1950s, defeating luminaries such as Gligorić and Najdorf. Later, Rashid Nezhmetdinov enriched the line with spectacular attacking games (e.g., his win over Polugaevsky, 1958). In the 21st century, Magnus Carlsen, Viswanathan Anand, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and Hikaru Nakamura have all used the system at the highest level, reviving interest among club players who wish to sidestep the Najdorf and Sveshnikov.
Illustrative Game
Carlsen – Anand, World Championship 2014, Game 2 (Sochi)
Carlsen neutralized Black’s bishops, clamped on dark squares, and steadily outplayed Anand in the endgame, showcasing the line’s strategic depth.
Typical Tactical Motif
The exchange sequence Bxc6 dxc6 Nxe5! (when the e5-pawn is under-defended) frequently appears in Rossolimo games, punishing early …e5 setups.
Interesting Facts
- The Rossolimo is so popular in blitz that some grandmasters jokingly call it “the anti-Najdorf vaccine.”
- AlphaZero’s match games against Stockfish featured several Rossolimo setups, boosting the line’s theoretical credibility.
- Because the bishop often retreats to f1 after Bxc6, amateur players dub the maneuver “pin-and-run.”