Sicilian: Rossolimo, 3...g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.Re1 Nf6 6.c3 O-O 7.d4

Sicilian: Rossolimo, 3...g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.Re1 Nf6 6.c3 O-O 7.d4

Definition

The line begins with the moves 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. c3 O-O 7. d4. It is a branch of the Rossolimo Variation (3.Bb5) of the Sicilian Defence. White forgoes the open-Sicilian pawn thrust 3.d4, instead pinning early hopes on positional pressure, quick development, and control of the dark squares. The specific sequence with …g6, …Bg7, …Nf6, and …O-O steers the game into flexible, strategic channels that differ markedly from the sharper 3…d6 or 3…e6 Rossolimo sub-variations.

Main Move Order

The full tabiya can be summarized as:

1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 g6
4. O-O Bg7
5. Re1 Nf6
6. c3 O-O
7. d4 …

After 7.d4 White finally strikes in the center. Typical continuations are 7…cxd4 8.cxd4 d5 or 7…Qb6 8.Na3. The resulting middlegames frequently involve an isolated queen’s pawn (IQP) for one side or the other, two-bishop vs. bishop-knight imbalances, and rich maneuvering play.

Strategic Ideas

• White’s Plans
  • Use the pawn on e4 plus Re1 to support d4, gaining central space.
  • Maintain the bishop on b5 to annoy the knight on c6 or trade it for structural gains (doubling Black’s c-pawns).
  • Exploit the long diagonal a1-h8 once the c3-d4 pawn duo opens lines.
  • Sometimes shift the queen to a4 or b3, eyeing Black’s weakened dark squares.
• Black’s Plans
  • Fianchetto pressure on e4 and later c3 with …Bg7.
  • Timely …d5 breaks, especially after …cxd4, to free the game.
  • Preserve the bishop pair and aim for dynamic counterplay on the half-open c-file.

Historical & Practical Significance

The Rossolimo (named after Russian-French GM Nicolas Rossolimo, 1910-1975) became a fashionable anti-Sicilian weapon in the computer era because it avoids the ocean of Najdorf theory. The 3…g6 line rose sharply in popularity after Magnus Carlsen started employing it in 2013-2014, trusting its solidity and the bishop pair. Top-level encounters such as Caruana–Carlsen, Sinquefield Cup 2014, and Nakamura–Carlsen, London 2015, featured this exact 7.d4 system.

Illustrative Game

Fabiano Caruana – Magnus Carlsen, Sinquefield Cup 2014


Carlsen’s 9…d5 central break equalized, but Caruana’s precise handling of the IQP structure eventually earned him a famous win during his historic 7-0 start.

Typical Motifs & Tactical Themes

• c3-d4 pawn lever – creates an IQP or isolated pawn for Black on d5 after exchanges.
• Bxc6 – exchanging on c6 at the right moment can ruin Black’s queenside structure.
• Dark-square domination – if Black’s fianchetto bishop is traded or mis-placed, squares like d5, f6, and h6 become holes.
• Break …d5! – Black must not delay this freeing move too long; otherwise White’s space becomes suffocating.

Common Transpositions

The move order flexibility means the line can also arise via 3…d6 4.Bxc6+ bxc6 5.O-O g6 6.Re1, or even from a Moscow Variation (3.Bb5+) if Black blocks with …Nc6 instead of …Bd7. Players should therefore learn plans more than exact sequences.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• When Nicolas Rossolimo introduced 3.Bb5 in the 1950s, it was considered “quiet.” Today it is one of the most heavily analyzed anti-Sicilians.
• Magnus Carlsen once described the fianchetto line as “easy to play for Black” during post-game commentary—yet he has lost several high-profile games with it!
• The move 5.Re1 (instead of the earlier 4.Bxc6 or 4.c3) was popularized by English GM Michael Adams in the 1990s as a way to keep all options open.

Why Study This Line?

For White, it provides a strategically rich alternative to the main-line Open Sicilians without being theory-heavy. For Black, it offers a solid, hypermodern setup where understanding of central pawn breaks is more critical than memorization. The resulting middlegames teach important lessons about the bishop pair, IQP play, and the timing of pawn breaks.

Quick Reference Diagram

Position after 7.d4 (White to move next):