Sicilian Chekhover: 4...Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Bxc6 Bxc6

Sicilian Defense, Chekhover Variation: 4...Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Bxc6 Bxc6

Definition

The Chekhover Variation is a branch of the Open Sicilian that arises after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4. When Black counters the early queen excursion with 4...Nc6, White continues 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Bxc6 Bxc6 (or 6…bxc6 in some move-orders). This sequence exchanges a pair of minor pieces and quickly clarifies the central tension, leading to pawn-structure battles rather than the typical sharp, unbalanced Sicilian melee.

Move Order

The main line is:

      1. e4 c5
      2. Nf3 d6
      3. d4 cxd4
      4. Qxd4 Nc6
      5. Bb5 Bd7
      6. Bxc6 Bxc6   (or 6…bxc6)
    

The queen on d4 temporarily occupies the center, and the bishop on b5 forces Black either to accept doubled c-pawns or to recapture with the bishop, each choice dictating a different middlegame plan.

Strategic Themes

• Simplification: Two minor pieces leave the board early, making the line attractive to players who prefer reduced complexity or who want to avoid deep Najdorf or Dragon theory.
• Pawn Structure: If Black replies 6…bxc6, the resulting c-pawn duo (c6/c5) gives Black spatial control of the center and b-file pressure but also long-term weaknesses on the dark squares.
• Queen Placement: White’s queen on d4 is centralized but slightly exposed. Timely retreat—often to e3, d3, or c4—is vital to avoid tempo-gaining attacks by …e5 or …Nf6.
• Light-Squared Strategy: After 6…Bxc6, Black’s dark-squared bishop aims at e4; White often fianchettoes the king’s bishop with g3/Bg2 or solidifies the center with c4 and Nc3.

Historical Notes

The variation is named after Soviet master and renowned end-game composer Vitaly Chekhover, who used the early 4.Qxd4 idea in the 1940s and 1950s. While never the main battlefield for World Championship matches, it has surfaced in elite play whenever a top Grandmaster wanted to steer the game away from the opponent’s pet Najdorf or Scheveningen analysis.

• Garry Kasparov occasionally adopted the 4.Qxd4 move order in rapid events to surprise computer engines during the late 1990s.
• Magnus Carlsen used the line against Alexander Grischuk in the 2014 Gashimov Memorial blitz, winning a smooth positional game.

Typical Plans

1. For White
   • Rapid development with Nc3, O-O, and sometimes f4 to seize central space.
   • Pressure on the d6-pawn after Re1 and Bf4/Bg5.
   • If Black has doubled pawns (…bxc6), target the c6-pawn via Qa4, Rd1, and c4.
2. For Black
   • Break with …e5 (hitting the queen) or …g6/…Bg7 to neutralize the center.
   • Use the half-open b-file (after …bxc6) for rook activity: …Rb8 and …Qb6.
   • Exploit the bishop pair if White hesitates with kingside development.

Illustrative Mini-Game

Notice how both sides follow their thematic plans:

White’s queen retreat to d3 kept central control, and the later f4-f5 break exploited Black’s doubled pawns and weakened kingside dark squares.

Interesting Facts

• Blitz specialists often nickname this line “the car wash,” joking that the queen gets pushed around while everything else is being cleaned off the board.
• Because Chekhover was more famous for endgame studies, players sometimes quip that the variation’s early exchanges allow you to “skip the middlegame and get straight to Chekhover’s endgames.”
• The move 4.Qxd4 violates the classical principle “Don’t bring the queen out too early,” making the variation a pedagogical example of exceptions to the rule.

When to Choose This Line

Select the Chekhover Variation if you:

• want to avoid heavy Najdorf/Dragon theory without playing an outright sideline;
• enjoy positional maneuvering and endgame-oriented structures;
• are comfortable handling an early queen in the center and the tactics it invites.