Sicilian: Closed, 2...Nc6 3.Bb5
Sicilian: Closed, 2...Nc6 3.Bb5
Definition
The line 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bb5 is a branch of the Closed Sicilian in which White deploys the king’s-bishop to b5 on move three, pinning Black’s knight on c6 and exerting indirect pressure on the key central square d5. It is sometimes called the “Rossolimo with Nc3” or, in older sources, the “Manhattan” or “Williams” Variation. Compared with the more common Rossolimo (where White’s knight stands on f3) this system keeps the f-pawn free for the thematic Closed-Sicilian thrust f2–f4 while still retaining the positional nuisance of the pin on c6.
Typical move order and starting position
A canonical sequence is:
After 3…Bb5, play usually continues with one of four replies:
- 3…g6 – Black combines a kingside fianchetto with …Bg7, echoing the Dragon.
- 3…Nd4 – an immediate attempt to drive the bishop and clarify the centre.
- 3…e6 – preparing …Nge7 and …a6 while controlling d5.
- 3…a6 – challenging the bishop directly, though it concedes the structural concession of doubled c-pawns if 4. Bxc6.
Strategic themes for White
- Pressure on d5: The pin on c6 makes …d7–d5 harder, buying White time to expand with f2–f4 or d2–d3.
- Flexible pawn structure: With the knight on c3 instead of f3, White can steer into either a typical Closed Sicilian kingside attack (f4–f5, Qe1–h4, Bh6, etc.) or a slower manoeuvring game with g2–g3 and Bg2.
- Bishop pair trade-off: If White plays Bxc6, the doubled c-pawns may become long-term weaknesses, but surrendering the dark-squared bishop slightly weakens White’s own dark squares (d4, f4, h4).
Strategic themes for Black
- Central break …d5: Achieving …d5 in one go (often after …e6) equalises immediately.
- Queenside majority: After Bxc6 dxc6, Black often gains dynamic chances on the d- and c-files, especially if White castles queenside.
- Piece activity over structure: Black can accept doubled c-pawns if it yields the bishop pair and frees play on the dark squares.
Model game
Aronian – Giri, Wijk aan Zee 2016
White exchanged on c6 early, then executed the classic Closed-Sicilian
kingside pawn storm: f2–f4, h2–h4–h5. Despite the doubled c-pawns,
Black obtained counterplay on the dark squares and the half-open d-file,
illustrating the dynamic balance of the variation.
Historical notes
- The move 3.Bb5 was used as early as the 1920s by New-York masters, hence the nickname “Manhattan Variation”. It remained a sideline until Magnus Carlsen adopted it several times between 2013 and 2020 to sidestep mainstream Sicilian theory.
- Sergey Karjakin employed the line in the 2015 World Cup, scoring a crucial win with 4.g3 against Onischuk.
Typical plans at a glance
- White:
- Bxc6 followed by d2–d3, Be3, Qd2, long castling, and a kingside pawn storm (f4, g4, h4).
- Maintaining the bishop with 4.Bxc6? is optional; keeping it on b5 can delay Black’s …d5 even longer.
- Maneuvering Nge2–g3–f5 when Black plays …g6.
- Black:
- Early …Nd4 to force Bxc6 or retreat.
- Fianchetto setup …g6, …Bg7, …d6, …e5 followed by …Nge7 and minority attack with …b5.
- If doubled c-pawns arise, putting rooks on c8 and d8 to exploit open lines.
Interesting facts and anecdotes
- The move order 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 avoids the ubiquitous Najdorf, Scheveningen and Sveshnikov repertoires that appear after 2.Nf3, making 3.Bb5 a favourite of “anti-theory” specialists.
- Although dubbed “Closed”, many resulting positions open quickly: statistics show an above-average number of pawn breaks (f4–f5 or …d5) occurring before move 15.
- Because the line is flexible, both sides often burn copious clock time deciding on structural commitments; in elite play, 3.Bb5 has produced more time-trouble blunders than the main-line Rossolimo according to a 2022 database survey.
Why study this variation?
For club players, 3.Bb5 offers a practical, low-maintenance weapon against Sicilian specialists. It short-circuits much of the Najdorf/Dragon/Richter-Rauzer theory while retaining rich middlegame complexity. Meanwhile, Black can adopt universal plans (…g6 or …e6 & …d5) transferable to other Sicilian systems, making the line an excellent laboratory for sharpening one’s understanding of pawn structures and dark-square strategy.