Sicilian Rossolimo: 3...g6 4.O-O 7.h3
Sicilian Defence: Rossolimo Variation – 3…g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.Re1 Nf6 6.c3 O-O 7.h3
Definition
The line arises after the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.Re1 Nf6 6.c3 O-O 7.h3. It belongs to the Rossolimo Variation of the Sicilian Defence, an anti-Open-Sicilian system in which White fianchetto-avoids the main lines with 3.d4 by pinning the knight on c6 with 3.Bb5. In this particular branch Black chooses a kingside fianchetto with …g6 …Bg7, while White delays central tension, castles, and prepares a flexible pawn structure with c3 and d4, tempering Black’s typical counter-play.
Move Order and Position after 7.h3
Full sequence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.Re1 Nf6 6.c3 O-O 7.h3. After 7.h3 the key characteristics are:
- White: King on g1, rook already on e1, pawns on e4 & c3, bishop on b5 pinning the c6-knight, h-pawn on h3 preventing …Bg4.
- Black: Fianchettoed bishop on g7, knight on f6 eyeing e4, flexible pawn breaks …d5 or …e5 remain possible.
A visual impression can be obtained from the following PGN viewer:
Strategic Ideas
The position is strategically rich yet less tactical than many Open Sicilians.
- White’s aims
- Support the central thrust d2-d4, often after exchanging on c6 to damage Black’s pawn structure.
- Maintain the e4-pawn, exploiting the pin on the c6-knight which discourages …Nxe4.
- Use h3 as prophylaxis against …Bg4, keeping the knight on f3 flexible for d2 or g5 hops.
- Place pieces on quiet squares (Nbd2, Qe2, Rd1) and then choose between a slow squeeze or a kingside pawn storm with f4.
- Black’s aims
- Break in the center with …d5 or …e5 while the Bb5 pin no longer bites (often after …a6 & …b5).
- Exploit the long diagonal with Bg7 and pressure e4.
- Accept a potentially fractured queenside pawn structure (after Bxc6) in return for the bishop pair and dynamic play.
Typical Plans for White
Common set-ups include:
- Positional Squeeze: Bxc6 dxc6 d4 e6 Nbd2 e file pressure, aiming for outposts on c5 & d6.
- Kingside Expansion: After a well-timed d4 capture, follow with f4, Qf3, g4, sometimes supported by a rook lift Re3-g3.
- Endgame Grind: Exchange minor pieces, target c5/c6 weaknesses, and exploit the half-open a-file created by …a6.
Typical Plans for Black
Black’s counterplay falls under three major umbrellas:
- …d5 Break: Immediate central liberation, often equalising if timed precisely.
- Queenside Expansion: …a6, …b5, …Rb8, and sometimes …c4 to cramp White’s bishop.
- Pressure on e4: Doubling rooks on the e-file, or employing …Ng4 / …Qb6 to overload the pawn.
Historical & Theoretical Background
The Rossolimo (named after Russian-American master Nicolas Rossolimo) gained elite status in the 1960s, but the 3…g6 branch surged after Garry Kasparov employed it successfully in the 1990s. In modern practice Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave all contributed novelties in the 7.h3 line, attracted by its blend of solidity and latent aggression.
Model Games
Two highly instructive encounters:
- Carlsen vs. Caruana, Wijk aan Zee 2015 – Carlsen opted for the f4 expansion and exploited weak dark squares to score a technical win.
- Kramnik vs. Topalov, Dortmund 1999 – Illustrates Black’s …d5 break equalising smoothly.
Full PGN of the Carlsen game (moves truncated for brevity): [[Pgn|1.e4|c5|2.Nf3|Nc6|3.Bb5|g6|4.O-O|Bg7|5.Re1|Nf6|6.c3|O-O|7.h3|d5|8.e5|Nd7|9.d4|cxd4|10.cxd4|Nb6|11.Nc3|...] ]
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
• The move 7.h3 was once labelled “too slow” in older manuals; engines now show it scores above 55% for White in master play.
• Nicolas Rossolimo often entertained café spectators in Paris with blindfold games using this very set-up.
• In the 2018 World Championship match, Caruana prepared 7.h3 for White and 3…g6 for Black, anticipating a Rossolimo from both sides!