Sicilian Defense Open Scheveningen Matanovic Attack

Sicilian Defense

Definition

The Sicilian Defense is the opening that begins with the moves 1. e4 c5. Black immediately contests the centre from the flank instead of mirroring White’s pawn on e4 with …e5. This single tempo difference produces an asymmetrical pawn structure that is famous for generating rich, double-edged middlegames.

How it is used in chess

• Popularity: It is the most frequently played reply to 1. e4 from club level all the way to world-championship matches.
• Flexibility: Black can steer the game into a variety of set-ups (Najdorf, Dragon, Sveshnikov, Taimanov, Scheveningen, etc.).
• Imbalance: The early …c5 keeps a central pawn in reserve (…e6 or …e5 later) and usually yields a queenside pawn majority versus White’s kingside majority, leading to mutual attacking chances.

Strategic / historical significance

• 19th century pioneers included Louis Paulsen and Carl Jaenisch.
• The opening’s modern boom dates from the mid-20 th century, when it was championed by World Champions Tigran Petrosian, Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov.
• A large body of theory—more than any other opening—makes the Sicilian a permanent laboratory for new ideas.

Example line

1. e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 (Najdorf Variation – note the flexible pawn structure and unbalanced piece placement).

Interesting facts

• The opening is so influential that entire families of variations (e.g., “Anti-Sicilians”) exist solely to sidestep it.
• Kasparov used the Sicilian almost exclusively as Black in the 1984, 1985 and 1990 World Championship matches, scoring critical wins in must-win situations.
• In computer chess the Sicilian remains the most common response to 1. e4 even at depths well beyond human calculation.

Open Sicilian

Definition

The term “Open Sicilian” denotes any Sicilian position reached after the sequence 1. e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6/…e6/…Nc6 (or similar) 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4. White’s d-pawn is exchanged, leaving open lines for both sides and setting the stage for the sharpest theoretical battles.

Why players choose it

1. Central Presence: White’s knight on d4 and pawn on e4 claim the centre, forcing Black to justify the early …c5.
2. Piece Activity: Open files (especially the c- and d-files) appear immediately, enabling rapid development.
3. Theoretical Depth: Because of its complexity, strong players prepare Open-Sicilian lines well in advance to surprise opponents.

Main defensive set-ups for Black

• Najdorf (…a6)
• Dragon (…g6 & bishop on g7)
• Sveshnikov (…e5 with a knight on f6)
• Taimanov/Kan (…e6 and …a6/…Qc7)
• Scheveningen (…e6 & …d6 without …a6)

Illustrative game

Kasparov – Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 1999, is an iconic Open Sicilian (Najdorf) ending in the celebrated queen sacrifice 24.Rxd4!!.

Trivia

At elite level, roughly 75 % of all Sicilians with 1. e4 c5 transpose into an Open Sicilian; the remaining 25 % comprise the so-called Anti-Sicilians such as the Alapin (2.c3) or the Moscow Variation (3.Bb5+).

Scheveningen Variation (Sicilian)

Definition

The Scheveningen is a set-up—rather than a fixed move order—in the Open Sicilian characterized by the black pawns on d6 and e6, knights on f6 and c6, and no early …a6 or …g6. A typical starting position arises after 1. e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6.

Strategic ideas

• Flexible centre: Black supports …d6–d5 or …e6–e5 at the right moment without weakening the queenside.
• King safety: The dark-square bishop usually sits on e7; Black’s king castles quickly, while the half-open c-file serves for counter-play.
• Pawn levers: White typically chooses between kingside pawn storms (Keres Attack 6.g4) or a slower build-up (Matanovic Attack 6.Be2).

Historical background

The variation is named after the Dutch seaside district of Scheveningen, host of a strong tournament in 1923 where the structure was extensively tested. It became fashionable after Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov and Jan Timman used it repeatedly in the 1970s–80s.

Classic encounter

Karpov – Andersson, Milan 1975. Karpov’s precise queenside expansion (a4, Nb3, Be3) showed how to squeeze the Scheveningen without resorting to an all-out pawn storm.

Interesting nuggets

• The Scheveningen can also be reached through the Najdorf by delaying …a6 (the “Najdorf without …a6”).
• After Kasparov lost a famous game to Karpov (Tilburg 1981) in the Keres Attack, he briefly dropped the pure Scheveningen in favour of the Najdorf to include the pawn on a6 as extra luft for the queen’s bishop.

Matanovic Attack (Scheveningen)

Definition

The Matanovic Attack—also called the Classical Variation—arises in the Sicilian Scheveningen after the quiet developing move 6.Be2 (instead of sharper tries such as 6.g4 or 6.f4). The stem line is:

1. e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be2.

Core ideas for White

• Flexible development: White castles kingside quickly and keeps options open for f2–f4, g2–g4 or even a central pawn storm with f4–e5.
• Control of d5: By not committing the f-pawn too early, White can meet …d6-d5 with exd5 and maintain a central grip.
• Piece pressure: Knights often head for b3 and d4-f3-g5 squares, while the dark-square bishop may reposition to g2 via f3 and g2 in some lines.

Plans for Black

1. …a6 & …b5: Transposing to a Najdorf-style queenside expansion.
2. …d5 break: If Black can safely achieve …d6-d5 he usually equalises.
3. Minor-piece exchanges: Trading dark-square bishops (…Be7–g5 or …Bf8–e7–g5) reduces White’s attacking prospects.

Name & historical note

The variation is named after Serbian grandmaster Aleksandar Matanović, co-author of the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO). He employed 6.Be2 in the 1950s–60s as a practical weapon against the then-new Scheveningen set-up.

Representative game

Matanović – Smyslov, Moscow 1967
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be2 a6 7.O-O Be7 8.f4 White slowly built a kingside initiative and converted in a long end-game.

Did you know?

• While less fashionable than the razor-sharp Keres Attack, the Matanovic line remains popular at club level because it avoids massive theory while still retaining attacking chances.
• Grandmasters Vladimir Kramnik and Anish Giri have both used the Matanovic move order to sidestep opponent preparation in the computer era.