Sicilian Defense: Closed; Anti-Sveshnikov; Kharlov-Kramnik
Sicilian Defense: Closed
Definition
The Closed Sicilian is a family of set-ups reached after 1.e4 c5 when White declines the immediate central confrontation with 2.Nf3 and 3.d4. The characteristic move order is:
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 (or 3.f4) … – White fianchettoes the king’s bishop, keeps the d-pawn at home for the moment, and plans a slower, flank-oriented attack rather than the open tactical battles of main-line Sicilians.
Typical Move Order
One of the most common sequences is:
- White adopts a “Grand Prix–style” bind with f4, Be3, Qd2, and Bh6.
- Black chooses a Dragon-like formation, illustrating the rich flexibility of Closed structures.
Usage & Strategic Ideas
- White aims for a kingside pawn storm with f4–f5, sometimes h3–g4–g5, while maintaining control over d5 and curbing Black’s queenside counterplay.
- Black counter-attacks on the queenside with …b5, …b4 and a later …d5 break when possible. A timely …f5 can blunt White’s attack.
- The set-up is especially appealing to players who prefer strategic maneuvering over early piece contact.
Historical Notes
Paul Keres occasionally employed the line in the 1950s, but it was Boris Spassky who made it fashionable during his 1969 World Championship match against Petrosian. Garry Kasparov later demonstrated its attacking potential versus Anatoly Karpov (Tilburg 1981) and again against Viswanathan Anand in Linares 1993.
Example Game
Spassky – Petrosian, World Championship (game 17), Moscow 1969:
White’s f-pawn storm broke through on move 28, forcing
Black’s resignation only seven moves later—an early advertisement for the
line on the highest stage.
Interesting Facts
- The term “Closed” does not mean the centre will stay closed forever—many games explode with d4- or f4-breaks after lengthy maneuvering.
- The opening is a favourite of correspondence and engine users because of the rich strategic subtleties and hidden tactics beneath apparently quiet play.
Anti-Sveshnikov Variation
Definition
The Anti-Sveshnikov (also called the “Chameleon” or “3.Nc3” system) is White’s attempt to sidestep the razor-sharp Sveshnikov Sicilian (…e5 setups) by playing:
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3
By inserting Nc3 before the customary 3.d4, White prevents Black’s immediate …e5 thrust under the most favourable circumstances and keeps the choice of transposing into an Open Sicilian, a Closed Sicilian, or even a Grand Prix Attack, hence the nickname “Chameleon.”
Strategic Points
- Control of the d5-square: with a knight already on c3, the thematic …e5 break gives White the resource Nf3–d4–b5 or Nf3–g1–f3–d4, making the pawn advance less appealing for Black.
- Flexibility: White can play 4.d4, 4.Bb5, 4.g3, or 4.Bc4 depending on Black’s reply, tailoring the game to his preferred style.
- Psychology: Sveshnikov devotees invest enormous preparation time; this small deviation forces them to think for themselves from the very beginning.
Typical Continuations
- 4.d4 Main Line
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 e5?! is dubious because of 6.Nf5!, when the knight lands on d6 or g7. Black instead plays 5…d6 (transposing to a Scheveningen-type set-up) or 5…e6 heading for a Four Knights. - Grand Prix Style
3…g6 4.Bb5 Bg7 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.d3 e5 7.Be3 with typical kingside pawn-storm plans. - 4.Bb5 – Rossolimo Twist
3…e6 (or …g6) 4.Bb5, combining two anti-Sicilian ideas in one move order.
Historical Significance
The line gained popularity in the late 1990s when Peter Leko and Alexei Shirov used it to frustrate Sveshnikov experts such as Sergei Rublevsky. It received renewed attention during the 2018 World Championship match when pre-match analysts speculated that Magnus Carlsen might employ it to dodge Fabiano Caruana’s deep Sveshnikov preparation.
Example Snapshot
Interesting Tidbits
- Because it can transpose into so many different Sicilian branches, ECO classifies the line simply as B30 rather than giving it a dedicated code.
- Club players often reach the position by accident, discovering only later that they have accidentally side-stepped thousands of pages of Sveshnikov theory!
Kharlov-Kramnik Line
Definition
The Kharlov-Kramnik Line is a forcing branch of the Sveshnikov Sicilian in which White exchanges on f6 early, shattering Black’s kingside pawns but granting him the bishop pair and the half-open g-file. The main tabiya arises after:
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Bxf6 gxf6 (ECO code B33/B45)
Origins of the Name
Russian Grandmaster Andrei Kharlov was one of the first to champion 9.Bxf6 in the mid-1990s. A few years later, Vladimir Kramnik adopted the same idea with Black, demonstrating that the doubled f-pawns could become an attacking asset. Their contrasting approaches—Kharlov as White, Kramnik as Black—gave rise to the joint eponym.
Strategic Themes
- Pawn Structure: Black’s f- and g-pawns are doubled, but the f-pawn controls e4 and supports …f5 breaks; the semi-open g-file offers rook activity.
- Piece Play: Black holds the bishop pair, often rerouting the dark-squared bishop to g7 via 10…Be6 and …Rg8.
- White’s Plans: Exploit the weak dark squares (d5, e4), blockade the f-pawn, and aim pieces at the isolated d6-pawn.
- Black’s Counterplay: Quick …f5 and …b4 generate initiative; endgames can favour Black thanks to the bishops and the mobile pawn majority on the kingside.
Critical Continuations
- 10.Nd5! – the most direct test
10…f5 11.Bd3 with pressure on f5/d5. Black replies 11…Be6 12.c3 Bg7, uncoiling the bishops. - 10.exf5 – trying to maintain a grip on e4.
Black responds 10…Bxf5 11.Nd5 Bg7, when his activity compensates for structural weaknesses.
Historical Game
Kramnik – Topalov, Dortmund 1999
A showcase for Black: Kramnik unleashed …f5-f4, sacrificed on g2, and
scored a spectacular win in 31 moves, proving that the doubled pawns can
fuel a direct kingside assault.
Interesting Facts
- Engine evaluations swing wildly in this line; early computers hated Black’s pawn structure, but modern neural-net engines often prefer Black’s dynamic chances.
- Many Sveshnikov players avoid 9.Bxf6 altogether with the prophylactic 8…h6, illustrating the practical impact the Kharlov-Kramnik idea has had on move orders.
- The line serves as a textbook example in endgame manuals for the power of the bishop pair versus knight plus bishop in open pawn structures.