Sicilian Kan: 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Bd3 Nf6

Sicilian Defence: Kan Variation, 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Bd3 Nf6

Definition

The sequence of moves 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Bd3 Nf6 is a branch of the Kan (or Paulsen) System of the Sicilian Defence. It appears in modern opening manuals under ECO codes B42–B43. By delaying …Nc6 or …d6, Black preserves a flexible pawn structure and a wide choice of set-ups while putting immediate pressure on the e4-pawn with …Qc7 and …Nf6.

Typical Move Order

One commonly quoted starting position arises after:

      1. e4   c5
      2. Nf3  e6
      3. d4   cxd4
      4. Nxd4 a6
      5. Nc3  Qc7
      6. Bd3  Nf6
    

Main Ideas & Strategic Themes

• Flexibility for Black
  • …a6 keeps the b5-square available for a bishop or pawn advance.
  • …Qc7 controls e5, discouraging an immediate e4–e5 push and eyeing the c-file.
  • …Nf6 hits e4 and encourages White to decide early how to defend that pawn (Nc3, Qe2, f4, or 0-0).
• White’s Central Ambition
  • With Bd3, White reinforces e4, gains options for f2–f4–f5, and can quickly castle.
  • Plans often involve Qe2, Kh1, f4 and a kingside space gain, or a slower setup with Be3, f3, Qd2, and long castling.
• Queenside Counterplay versus Kingside Pressure
  • Black usually breaks with …b5, …Bb7 and sometimes …d5.
  • White strives for a direct attack before Black’s counterplay matures.
• Piece Placement
  • Black keeps the c8-bishop flexible: it may go to b7 after …b5 or to e7/d6 after …d6.
  • White often reroutes the knight from d4 to b3 or e2, avoiding doubles on c3.

Historical Background

The Kan System is named after Latvian-Russian master Ilya Kan (1909-1978), who championed it in the mid-20th century. Grandmaster Sergey Tiviakov later became its most recognizable modern expert, scoring an impressive lifetime performance with the line (including a long unbeaten streak with the Sicilian Kan in classical play). The specific 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Bd3 Nf6 tabiya gained popularity during the 1990s, when players such as Michael Adams, Boris Gelfand, and Peter Leko deployed it as Black to avoid the heavily analyzed Najdorf and Scheveningen main lines.

Plans for Both Sides

1. White
   • Short castling, then f2-f4-f5 to cramp Black’s minor pieces.
   • Deploy the dark-squared bishop via e3 or g5 to provoke weaknesses.
   • Occasionally execute a Yugoslav-style thrust with g4 if Black delays …d6.
2. Black
   • …d6 and …Nbd7, solidifying e5 and preparing …b5.
   • …b5 followed by …Bb7 to target the e4-pawn along the long diagonal.
   • If White overextends, timely central breaks with …d5 can liberate Black’s game.

Example Continuation

A very common continuation illustrating both sides’ plans is:

Here White prepares f4–f5, while Black has achieved the thematic …b5 and can follow with …Bb7 or …d5 depending on circumstances.

Notable Games

• Sergey Tiviakov – Vasily Ivanchuk, Wijk aan Zee 1996 (Tiviakov demonstrated the robustness of Black’s setup, achieving equality and later winning in a long rook ending.)
• Anish Giri – Magnus Carlsen, Shamkir 2015 (Carlsen adopted the Kan against one of the world’s leading theoreticians, steering the game toward a double-edged middlegame that eventually fizzled into a draw.)
• Fabiano Caruana – Boris Gelfand, Candidates Tournament 2013 (Gelfand equalized comfortably with Black and even pressed for a win, showcasing the line’s viability at the highest level.)

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• The Kan is sometimes jokingly called the "Petite Najdorf" because Black still plays …a6 but avoids Najdorf-style sharpness, opting for flexibility instead.
• Grandmaster Sergey Tiviakov once boasted that he had gone nearly 300 games without losing in the Sicilian Kan across all time controls, making it one of the most successful personal opening repertoires ever recorded.
• Because Black keeps the c-pawn on c5 (unlike many French Defence positions), the Kan allows Black to fight for the d4-square later with …d5, creating French-like pawn structures without the traditional French light-squared bishop problems.

Summary

The Sicilian Kan with 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Bd3 Nf6 is an adaptable weapon for Black. It avoids some of the heaviest Najdorf theory, keeps pawn structures fluid, and gives both sides rich middlegame possibilities. White, in turn, must choose between aggressive kingside expansion (f4–f5) and more positional schemes involving Be3–Qd2–0-0-0. Mastering the tabiya involves understanding transpositional nuances, typical pawn breaks, and the timing of …b5 and …d5.