Sicilian Defense: Open Scheveningen & Delayed Keres Attack
Sicilian Defense
Definition
The Sicilian Defense arises after the moves 1. e4 c5. Black immediately fights for the center with a flank pawn, creating an asymmetrical pawn structure that leads to rich, double-edged positions.
How it is Used in Chess
- Most popular reply to 1.e4 at every rating level.
- Favored by players who seek winning chances as Black rather than direct equality.
- Forms an entire family of systems (Najdorf, Dragon, Scheveningen, Sveshnikov, &c.).
Strategic & Historical Significance
The opening first gained traction in the mid-19th century (Louis Paulsen). It became mainstream after World War II thanks to the efforts of Bobby Fischer, Mikhail Tal, and later Garry Kasparov. The Sicilian’s imbalance—central space for White versus an extra queenside pawn for Black—offers mutual chances and has shaped modern opening theory more than any other defense to 1.e4.
Example Position
After 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 (the Najdorf), the battlefield is set for long-term middlegame plans on opposite wings.
Interesting Facts
- Growth chart: shows the steady rise of the Sicilian in online blitz.
- In the 1997 Kasparov–Deep Blue match, Kasparov chose the Sicilian in Game 1 and won a brilliant attacking game.
- The ECO code range B20–B99 is devoted entirely to Sicilians—nearly 1/6 of the whole ECO volume.
Open Sicilian
Definition
The term “Open Sicilian” refers to the sequence 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 (d6/Nc6/e6) 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4. White opens the c- and d-files, while Black retains the semi-open c-file and structural flexibility.
How it is Used in Chess
- White employs rapid development and central control.
- Black decides on a system (Najdorf, Classical, Dragon, etc.) by their 4th–6th moves.
- The resulting positions are “open” in the sense that pawn chains are minimal and piece activity is high.
Strategic & Historical Significance
The Open Sicilian constitutes roughly 80 % of high-level Sicilian games. It has produced countless theoretical debates, computer‐aided novelties, and World-Championship-level battles (e.g., Carlsen–Caruana 2018, Game 10).
Typical Plans
- White: f2–f4, fianchettoing the kingside bishop, or English Attack setups (f3, g4, Be3, Qd2, 0-0-0).
- Black: counterplay on the c-file (…Rc8, …Qc7), minority attack with …b5, or central breaks …d5 / …e5.
Example Game
Fischer – Taimanov, Candidates 1971 (Game 6)
The Open Sicilian led to Fischer’s celebrated exchange sacrifice 19.Rxc6!!, a cornerstone of Sicilian lore.
Interesting Anecdote
Garry Kasparov once quipped that the Open Sicilian “teaches you more about dynamic chess in one year than five years of classical French & Caro-Kann combined.”
Scheveningen (Sicilian Scheveningen)
Definition
The Scheveningen is a pawn structure characterized by Black pawns on d6 and e6 within the Open Sicilian. A common move order is 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6.
How it is Used in Chess
- Black delays …a6 (unlike the Najdorf) and keeps the queenside flexible.
- The d6–e6 “small center” gives Black compactness and tactical breaks with …d5.
- White chooses between quiet development (Be2, 0-0) and sharp pawn storms (f2–f4 or g2–g4).
Strategic & Historical Significance
Named after the Dutch seaside town that hosted the 1923 Scheveningen tournament, where this setup was frequently used. It became fashionable in the 1980s through the games of Garry Kasparov and Lev Polugaevsky.
Common Tactical Themes
- Exchange sacrifice …Rxc3 to shatter White’s queenside.
- Classical Knight leap Nb5–d6+ targeting the dark squares.
- Pawn storms g4–g5 (Keres Attack) or f4–f5 from White; …b5–b4 counterplay from Black.
Famous Example
Kasparov – Anand, PCA WCh 1995, Game 13 featured a model Scheveningen where Kasparov’s positional exchange sac overpowered Black’s structure.
Interesting Facts
- The structure can be reached via Najdorf, Classical, or Taimanov move orders, giving both sides transpositional options.
- An old Soviet joke calls the pawn duo d6-e6 “the little hedgehog” before the Hedgehog system acquired its modern meaning.
Delayed Keres Attack
Definition
The Delayed Keres Attack is a variation against the Scheveningen in which White postpones the aggressive pawn thrust g2–g4 by one or two moves. A typical move order is:
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be2 a6 7.g4!?
How it is Used in Chess
- White keeps Black guessing; committing to Be2 first may discourage certain …h6/…g6 setups from Black.
- After 7.g4, ideas mirror the original Keres Attack (early pawn storm, g4–g5, h4), but development is slightly steadier.
- Black can react with 7…h6, 7…Nc6, or transpose to Najdorf-style lines.
Strategic & Historical Significance
The classic Keres Attack (6.g4) was introduced by Estonian GM Paul Keres in the 1940s. As theory progressed, top players found that inserting 6.Be2 or 6.h3 before g4 reduced Black’s counter-options—hence the “Delayed” tag. The line gained attention after:
Karpov – Salov, Linares 1991, where Karpov elegantly converted a space advantage stemming from the delayed pawn lunge.
Illustrative Mini-PGN
, highlighting the critical g-pawn advance.Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Engines initially frowned on early g-pawns, but modern NNUE evaluations often show a small edge for White.
- Paul Keres reportedly devised the idea during a train ride, sketching analysis on a newspaper margin.
- Despite its sharp look, many Delayed Keres lines transpose to comparatively quiet positional struggles if Black declines complications.