Sicilian Defense: Open Pelikan and Sveshnikov Retreat
Sicilian Defense, Open Pelikan Variation
Definition
The Sicilian Defense, Open Pelikan Variation—generally recorded as
1. e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5—belongs to the family of
Open Sicilians (lines in which White plays the central break d2-d4).
Although the same position is now better known as the
“Sveshnikov Variation”, the name “Pelikan” honours the
Czech-Argentine master Jiří (Jorge) Pelikán, who analysed the line
extensively in the 1950s.
The move 5…e5 immediately questions the knight on d4, accepting structural
weaknesses (a backward d-pawn and a hole on d5) in return for rapid piece
activity and control of the important f4 square.
Typical Move Order
- e4 c5
- Nf3 Nc6
- d4 cxd4
- Nxd4 Nf6
- Nc3 e5
- Ndb5 d6
- Bg5 …
Strategic Themes
- Dynamic imbalance: Black gains time by hitting the d4-knight but must live with a chronically weak d5 square.
- Pawn structure: The Sicilian’s characteristic e- and d- pawns divide the board. After …e5 the d-pawn remains on d6, sometimes becoming backward and vulnerable.
- Bishop pair vs. knight outposts: White strives to plant a knight on d5, while Black often engineers …f5 or …g6 to unleash the bishops.
- King safety: Because Black’s queenside pawns advance early (…a6, …b5), opposite-side castling and sharp attacks frequently arise.
Historical Significance
Pelikan first employed the line in Argentine tournaments of the 1950s, but it was Soviet GM Evgeny Sveshnikov who modernised the system in the 1970s, using computer-like rigour long before engines were common. World Champions from Garry Kasparov to Magnus Carlsen have adopted it, cementing its reputation as one of the soundest yet most combative answers to 1.e4.
Model Games
- Kasparov – Akopian, Las Palmas 1996: Kasparov’s exchange sacrifice on d5 illustrated White’s attacking chances.
- Carlsen – Kramnik, Wijk aan Zee 2010: Carlsen calmly allowed a doubled f-pawn structure, demonstrating Black’s long-term resources.
Interesting Facts
- Because the position after 5…e5 became the main line of the Sicilian, ECO code B33 is colloquially nicknamed “Pelican Country.”
- Pelikan himself was also an accomplished chess composer; some of his endgame studies feature the same knight-versus-bishop motifs that arise in his pet opening.
- The variation received a publicity boost when it featured in Kasparov vs. Deep Blue (Game 5, 1997), though the computer chose a different sixth move.
Sveshnikov Retreat Variation (8.Na3 Line)
Definition
After the classic Sveshnikov moves
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6,
White faces a critical choice.
The Retreat Variation is defined by
8.Na3—pulling the b5-knight back instead of the more forceful
8.Nd5. This seemingly modest retreat intends to preserve the knight for a
future hop to c4 or d5 and keeps pieces on the board, steering play into
rich middlegames.
Main Line Continuation
- …b5
- 9.Bxf6 gxf6
- 10.Nd5 f5
A characteristic position arises in which Black possesses the bishop pair and a space-gaining pawn chain (…f7-f5-f4), while White relies on the outpost at d5, the c2-c4 lever, and potential pressure along the a2–g8 diagonal.
Strategic Considerations
- Piece preservation: By not exchanging on d5 immediately, White keeps more units for a long-term squeeze on the dark squares.
- Structural compromise: Black accepts doubled f-pawns after Bxf6, but gains semi-open g- and f-files for counterplay.
- Timing of c2-c4: A standard plan for White; fixing the d5 outpost and fighting for the queenside dark squares.
- King placement: Black often castles long or keeps the king in the centre, leveraging the pawn shield on f6–f5–f4; White usually castles short and aims for minority attacks on the queenside.
Historical & Practical Notes
Although 8.Na3 was known in the 1980s, it gained momentum after Peter Leko adopted it at elite level in the early 2000s. Modern engines rate the line as fully playable, and it has become a reliable “sideline-mainline” for grandmasters wishing to avoid the dense theory of 8.Nd5.
Illustrative Games
- Leko – Radjabov, Dortmund 2005: A textbook demonstration of the d5-outpost and timely c4 break leading to a positional bind.
- Giri – Caruana, Candidates 2020: Showed Black’s resources by counter-sacrificing on d5 and generating kingside play along the g-file.
Interesting Tidbits
- Some analysts call 8.Na3 the “Venetian Retreat” because GM Michele Godena (from Venice) used it successfully in Italian events.
- The move 8.Na3 is paradoxical: the knight steps to the rim (“a knight on the rim is dim”) only to re-emerge on the glorious d5 square a few moves later.
- In correspondence chess, the Retreat Variation has produced several marathons exceeding 100 moves, underscoring the line’s strategic depth.