Sicilian Kan Variation, Wing Attack & Spraggett Attack

Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation

Definition & Typical Move-order

The Kan (pronounced “Kahn”) is a flexible branch of the Sicilian Defense characterised by the moves …e6 and …a6 without an early …Nc6: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6. Black replies 2…a6 and only then …e6 just as often, so positions can be reached by more than one move-order.

Strategic Ideas

Piece Flexibility – by delaying …Nc6 and …d6 Black keeps the light-squared bishop and both knights uncommitted, ready to adopt a Paulsen-type setup or transpose to a Scheveningen.
Queenside Expansion – …a6 prepares …b5, gaining space and fianchettoing the bishop on b7 or developing it to b4.
Central Counter – after …Qc7, …Nf6 and …d6 or …d5 Black strikes in the centre at a moment of his own choosing.
White’s Choices – 5.Nc3, 5.Bd3, 5.c4 (Maróczy Bind), and 5.Be2 lead to very different pawn-structures; the Kan player must be versatile.

Historical Notes

Named after the Soviet master Ilya Kan (1909-1978), who employed the structure throughout the 1930s and 1940s. World Champion Tigran Petrosian used it as a solid alternative to his beloved Classical Sicilian, and in modern times specialists include Alexey Dreev, Alex Yermolinsky and Evgeny Sveshnikov’s son Vladimir. It is catalogued in ECO as B42–B43.

Illustrative Example

Spraggett – Yermolinsky, Montréal 1991 (shortened):

[[Pgn| e4|c5|Nf3|e6|d4|cxd4|Nxd4|a6|Nc3|Qc7|Bd3|Nf6|0-0|b5|Qe2|Bb7|Re1|d6|a4|b4|Nd5|exd5|exd5 ]]

Black’s …Qc7/…d6/…b5 triad equalised comfortably; after trading the centre he took over on the queenside.

Interesting Facts

The Kan can transpose into the Taimanov, Paulsen or even Scheveningen; Kan aficionados pride themselves on deciding when to show their hand.
Because of its modest appearance it is a frequent “second opening” for Najdorf specialists when they wish to avoid heavy theory.
Grandmaster John Nunn once joked that “…a6 is the Sicilian player’s way of saying ‘let’s keep our options open’.”

Wing Attack (Sicilian Wing Gambit)

Definition & Starting Position

The Wing Attack, most commonly the Sicilian Wing Gambit, arises after 1. e4 c5 2. b4!? White sacrifices the b-pawn to divert Black’s c-pawn, opening lines on the queenside and seizing central space with c2-c3 or d2-d4. The ideas are similar in the French (4.b4) or Caro-Kann (2.b4) but the Sicilian version is the best known.

Strategic Concepts

Deflection: After …cxb4 White hopes the c-file is half-open and the c-pawn no longer restrains d4.
Rapid Development: Pieces aim for the centre while Black spends time protecting the extra pawn.
Open a- and b-Files: The follow-up a2-a3 (or even Ra1 – a2 if the pawn remains on a3) gives rook activity denied to more “classical” Sicilians.

Historical & Practical Significance

Howard Staunton played 2.b4 in the 1840s; Frank Marshall revived it at New York 1924. In modern play it is a surprise weapon—GM Baadur Jobava, GM Hikaru Nakamura (online blitz) and IM Marc Esserman keep it in their arsenals. The eco code is B20.

Model Line

[[Pgn| e4|c5|b4|cxb4|a3|d5|exd5|Qxd5|Nf3|Nf6|c4 ]]

White regains central space and the queen on d5 can become a target. Exact play is essential for Black.

Interesting Tidbits

The name “Wing” refers to the fact that White advances a flank pawn (on the wing) before doing anything else.
In simultaneous exhibitions, José Raúl Capablanca often met the Sicilian with 2.b4, reasoning that amateurs might cling to the extra pawn instead of completing development.
The same motif against the French Advance (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.b4!?) is sometimes called the Franco-Spraggett Gambit, linking it to our next term.

Spraggett Attack (vs. Pirc/Modern)

Definition & Move-order

The Spraggett Attack is a direct kingside system for White against the Pirc (and Modern) Defence. The critical starting moves are 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 Bg7 5. Qd2 O-O 6. O-O-O. White follows with f2-f3, g2-g4 and h2-h4, launching a pawn storm toward the black king. The set-up is closely related to the “150 Attack,” but is named after Canadian GM Kevin Spraggett, who used it with great success during the 1980s.

Main Plans

Pawn Storm: Pawns advance on the kingside (h4–h5, g4–g5, f3–f4) while the own king is safely castled long.
Dark-square Control: The queen on d2 and bishop on e3 eye h6 and g7; trades on h6 can rip open Black’s cover.
Flexible Centre: White may play Nf3–e2–g3 for extra kingside bite or c2-c3 & Kb1 for added safety.
Black’s Counterplay: …c6/…b5 or …e5 hit the centre and queenside; timing is critical.

Historical Highlights

Kevin Spraggett introduced the line in top-level play at Wijk aan Zee 1985, scoring 3½/4 with it that year. His upset of GM Jan Timman (Amsterdam 1984) made the variation headline news and it rapidly appeared in correspondence chess, where accurate king safety is paramount. The spraggettesque set-up is now standard fare in repertoires of attacking players such as Richard Rapport and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.

Sample Game Fragment

[[Pgn| e4|d6|d4|Nf6|Nc3|g6|Be3|Bg7|Qd2|O-O|O-O-O|c6|f3|b5|g4|Nbd7|h4 ]]

Already on move 16 White threatened h4-h5 and g4-g5. Spraggett scored a crushing win after Black’s inaccurate …b4.

Interesting Facts

The nickname “150 Attack” is British club slang—players rated “about 150” (≈1800 Elo) could handle the straightforward plan— while “Spraggett Attack” credits the GM who proved its soundness.
Computer engines initially disliked White’s early pawn moves, yet modern neural-network engines give the line full approval when the opposite-side pawn storms erupt.
Because the same piece placement works against both the Pirc and the Modern (1…g6), it is a practical repertoire choice for tournament players.