Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian
Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian
Definition
The Old Sicilian is a branch of the Sicilian Defence that begins with the moves
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4
and only then clarifies Black’s central pawn structure. In modern opening books it is often used as an umbrella term for all Sicilian systems that start with the immediate 2…Nc6 (instead of the far more popular 2…d6 or 2…e6), before Black has committed the d- or e-pawn. From the basic position after 4.Nxd4, play can branch into the Classical (…Nf6 and …d6), the Sveshnikov (…Nf6, Nc3, …e5), the Kalashnikov (…e5 without …Nf6), the Accelerated Dragon (…g6), and several rarer sidelines.
Typical Move Order
1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 Nc6 (Old Sicilian “signature” move)
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 (White opens the centre and re-occupies it with the knight)
– Black chooses a scheme on move 4 or 5.
Strategic Themes & Plans
- Flexibility for Black: By postponing …d6 or …e6, Black keeps the c8-bishop and the central pawns flexible, ready to transpose into many set-ups.
- Central Tension: White controls d5 with the knight on d4; Black frequently challenges this by …Nf6 (hitting e4) or …e5 (hitting the d4-knight).
- Piece Activity: The open c-file and half-open d-file give both sides quick piece play. Game-long battles often revolve around square complexes d5/e4 or d4/e5.
- Transpositional Jungle: A single move can steer the game toward the Sveshnikov, Classical, Accelerated Dragon, or even the Four Knights variation. Knowing “families” of ideas matters more than memorizing concrete lines.
Key Branches after 4.Nxd4
- 4…Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 (Classical) – Returns to the traditional Scheveningen/Classical Sicilian complex.
- 4…Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 (Sveshnikov) – Modern main line where Black accepts a backward d-pawn for active piece play.
- 4…e5 (Kalashnikov) – Similar to the Sveshnikov but Black inserts …e5 immediately, leaving the f-knight at g8.
- 4…g6 (Accelerated Dragon) – Fianchettoing the bishop, aiming for …Bg7 and a quick …d5 break.
- 4…Qc7 / 4…e6 (Scheveningen-style Hybrids) – Slower development, eyeing the c- and d-files.
Historical Significance
• The move 2…Nc6 appeared in early 19th-century games, well before the Najdorf (…a6) or Dragon (…d6 …g6) were invented, hence the label “Old.”
• Louis Paulsen and Carl Jaenisch analyzed it deeply in the 1850s, promoting flexible play over immediate pawn commitments.
• In the late 1970s Evgeny Sveshnikov revolutionized the line with the audacious …e5 idea, turning what many thought was strategically dubious into a sound and feared weapon.
• World Champions Garry Kasparov, Magnus Carlsen, and Viswanathan Anand have all used 2…Nc6 structures in top-level events, keeping the variation perpetually relevant.
Illustrative Game
Carlsen – Anand, World Championship, Sochi 2014 (Game 2)
[[Pgn| e4|c5| Nf3|Nc6| d4|cxd4| Nxd4|Nf6| Nc3|d6| Bg5|e6| Qd2|a6| O-O-O|Bd7| f4|Be7| Nf3|h6| Bh4|b5 ]]This game shows a typical transposition: the Old Sicilian move order led to a Classical set-up with Najdorf flavours (…a6). Carlsen’s pressure on the d6-pawn and kingside eventually netted a small but lasting edge, and he converted in the endgame to take the match lead.
Practical Tips
- For White: Be ready to meet both …e5 and …d6. After …e5, choose between the main line 6.Ndb5 or the quieter 6.Nf3. Against …g6 lines, Maroczy-Bind structures (c4) are effective.
- For Black: Decide early which set-up you want; move-order tricks can force White into less comfortable variations. Study typical pawn breaks: …d5 in the Accelerated Dragon and …f5 in Sveshnikov/Kalashnikov endgames.
- Keep in mind that many “anti-Sicilian” off-beat lines (2.c3, 3.Bb5+) do not allow an Old Sicilian transposition, so have separate answers prepared.
Trivia & Anecdotes
- The first recorded 2…Nc6 Sicilian was played by the Italian master Giambattista Lolli in 1755—over 250 years ago.
- When Sveshnikov introduced …e5, he was mocked for “weakening d5.” A decade later, his line was adopted by Kasparov and became a main-stream super-GM weapon.
- In blitz circles the entire 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 complex is jokingly called “Russian Roulette” because of the sharp, double-edged positions that can arise after the Sveshnikov.
- Computer engines rate the Old Sicilian move order highly because of its rich transpositional potential; modern tablebases confirm that Black’s position is theoretically sound in every main branch.