Sicilian Defense Tartakower Variation
Sicilian Defense, Tartakower Variation
Definition
The Sicilian Defense, Tartakower Variation arises after the moves
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6
Black immediately fianchettoes the king-side bishop, aiming for a modern, hyper-accelerated version of the Dragon set-up without having committed the pawn to d6. In contemporary literature you will often meet the names Hyper-Accelerated Dragon or Fianchetto Variation, but historically the line is credited to the Polish-French grandmaster Savielly Tartakower (1887-1956), one of the fathers of Hypermodern chess.
Historical Background
Tartakower began experimenting with an early …g6 against 1. e4 in the early 1920s, long before the “Dragon” became fashionable. His idea was to place the bishop on the long diagonal and later strike in the centre with …d5 in one move—an economy of tempo compared with the classical Dragon, which first plays …d6, then …d5. The variation was featured in his games at London 1922 and Karlsbad 1929, and from the 1960s onward it was refined by modern practitioners such as Gennadi Sosonko and later by top grandmasters including Peter Svidler and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.
Typical Move Orders
- Open Sicilian: 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Bg7 5. Nc3 Nc6/d6
The main battleground. Black aims for a Dragon formation while reserving the option of …d5 in a single step. - Anti-Sicilians: 3. Nc3, 3. c3, 3. d3, or 3. Bb5+.
Because the bishop already sits on g7, Black is reasonably flexible against these sidelines and often counters in the centre with …e5 or …d5. - Transposition to the Accelerated Dragon: after 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 the position is identical to the Accelerated Dragon, but Black has avoided lines where White clamps down with the Maroczy Bind via c4 because …g6 was played before …Nc6.
Strategic Themes
- Rapid central break …d5 – the cornerstone of Tartakower’s idea. If Black achieves …d7-d5 in one go the bishop on g7 becomes a monster and the Sicilian pawn majority on the queen side remains intact.
- Dragon-style pressure on the long diagonal – the g7-bishop eyes the e5-square and the a1-h8 diagonal, making castling long by White double-edged.
- Maroczy Bind avoidance – because …g6 was played before …Nc6, White cannot easily establish the bind with c4 while the knight blocks the square.
- Flexible pawn structure – Black can still choose between …Nc6, …d6, …e6, or even …b6 setups, adapting to White’s scheme.
- Tactical motifs – sacrifices on c3, the exchange sacrifice …Rxc3, and thematic pawn breaks such as …b5 and …d5 reflect typical Dragon tactics that also permeate the Tartakower Variation.
Model Game
Many elite encounters have featured this line. The following miniature displays Black’s dream scenario:
Carlsen – Vachier-Lagrave, Tal Memorial Blitz 2019 (shortened and slightly adapted for clarity). Black equalised quickly, activated the pieces along the long diagonal and eventually broke through on the dark squares.
Typical Plans
For White
- Occupy the centre with c4 when possible, aiming for a Maroczy Bind.
- Castle long and launch a pawn storm with h4-h5 and g4 against the Black king.
- Choose a quieter setup with Be2 & 0-0, delaying the confrontation and targeting the d6-d5 break.
For Black
- Break with …d5 in one stride – the most thematic idea.
- If White castles long, counter with the typical Dragon pawn avalanche …a6, …b5, …b4.
- Exploit the long diagonal pressure; tactics on c3 and the exchange sacrifice on c3 often appear.
- If the position drifts into a Maroczy Bind, be ready for manoeuvring: …Nxd4 followed by …Be6 and placing rooks on the c-file for counter-play.
Practical Evaluation
Modern engines judge the Tartakower Variation as sound; White’s theoretical edge is modest and must be nurtured with precise play. The line enjoys popularity in rapid and blitz events because Black’s development scheme is straightforward while White faces early strategic decisions.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Tartakower famously quipped “The winner of a game is the player who makes the next-to-last mistake.” In the opening that bears his name, Black tries to postpone the first concession as long as possible.
- In the 1997 Kasparov–Deep Blue match, the super-computer used the Hyper-Accelerated Dragon (the modern title for this variation) in game 5, successfully holding the World Champion to a draw.
- Because the move …g6 on move 2 does not yet reveal Black’s central intentions, many databases classify it under the broad ECO code B27, a category that also houses minor sidelines such as 2…a6 and 2…e6.
- Grandmaster Peter Svidler, an avid devotee of both cricket and the Dragon, includes the Tartakower line in his video repertoires, calling it “the Dragon without tears.”