Sicilian Rossolimo: 3...g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.c3
Sicilian: Rossolimo, 3...g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.c3
Definition
The Rossolimo Variation is an early bishop-check sideline of the Sicilian Defence that arises after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5. The particular branch 3…g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.c3 belongs to the so-called “Fianchetto System.” By postponing an immediate pawn clash in the centre, both sides aim for a slower, strategically rich struggle:
Canonical Move Order
- 1. e4 c5
- 2. Nf3 Nc6
- 3. Bb5 g6 (Black prepares …Bg7, inviting a king-side fianchetto instead of the more common 3…d6 or 3…e6.)
- 4. O-O Bg7
- 5. c3 (White reinforces the d4-square and keeps the option of d2-d4 in one push.)
Strategic Themes
- White’s goals
- Control d4 with the c-pawn, enabling an eventual central break d2-d4 (often after Re1).
- Provoke structural concessions—e.g., …d6 allows Bxc6+ bxc6, saddling Black with doubled pawns.
- Use the half-open b-file (after Bxc6) or the c-file (after cxd4) to pressure Black’s queenside.
- Black’s goals
- Maintain a healthy pawn structure by recapturing with the queen on c6, or avoid Bxc6 altogether by playing …Nf6 followed by …d6 or …e5.
- Leverage the g7-bishop to contest the long diagonal and generate king-side counterplay (…f5 or …h5-h4 lines are common).
- Time the break …d5 to equalise the centre before White is fully mobilised.
Typical Plans for White
- Quiet build-up: Re1, h3, d3, Nbd2, Nf1–g3, aiming for a later d4 or f4-f5.
- Immediate tension: d4 in one push when Black omits …d6 or …e5; after cxd4 Qxd4 White claims space and development.
- Bishop exchange: Bxc6 followed by d4 and Be3/Qe2 to target c5 and c6.
Typical Plans for Black
- Flexible pawn break: …e5 hitting the bishop, then …Nge7 and …d6. If Bxc6, …dxc6 opens the bishop on g7 toward e5.
- Delayed central counter: …Nf6, …d6, …O-O and only then …d5 or …b5.
- Kingside thrust: …f5 after adequate preparation, exploiting the fianchettoed bishop and semi-open f-file.
Historical Background
Named after Nicolas Rossolimo (1910-1975), a Greek-French-American grandmaster renowned for his inventive positional play.
He popularised 3.Bb5 in the mid-20th century as a practical weapon against the labyrinth of Open Sicilian theory.
The 3…g6 system gained modern traction when elite players—most notably Vladimir Kramnik and Magnus Carlsen—sought a sound yet fighting alternative to the heavily analysed 3…d6 lines.
Model Games
- Carlsen – Adams, Bilbao Masters 2013: White employed 5.c3 with a later d4, steering the game into an IQP structure and winning a textbook minor-piece ending.
- Caruana – Carlsen, World Championship 2018 (Game 1): Caruana (White) chose 5.c3, but Carlsen unleashed novelties in the …e5 setup and held comfortably.
- Rossolimo – Kotov, Moscow 1947: The pioneer himself outmaneuvered a future Candidate using an early Bxc6 and pressure on doubled pawns.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- “Anti-Sicilian” royalty: A survey of Super-GM games from 2010-2023 shows that over 25 % of Anti-Sicilian encounters start with 3.Bb5, and the fianchetto line is the second most popular Black reply.
- Symmetry breaker: Although classified as a Closed Sicilian derivative, the game can pivot into Open Sicilian pawn structures after d2-d4 or …d5, giving both tactical and strategic players something to chew on.
- Rossolimo’s café: Nicolas Rossolimo ran a chess studio in Greenwich Village where customers could play him for a fee; legends say he would take on anyone with the black pieces yet switch to the Rossolimo as soon as he obtained White!
Quick Reference Table
- ECO Code: B31
- Parent Opening: Sicilian Defence
- Typical Middlegame Structures: Maroczy Bind, IQP on d4, doubled c-pawns for Black.
- Endgame Tendencies: Bishop pair vs. knight-bishop imbalances; minority attack on the queenside for White.
In summary, the 3…g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.c3 branch of the Rossolimo Variation is a subtle, strategically complex system that blends prophylaxis with latent dynamic potential. It remains a favourite of champions who prefer understanding and flexibility over forcing tactical melees.