Sicilian Open: 2...d6 5.Nc3 Bd7 6.Bg5

Sicilian: Open

Definition

The Open Sicilian is the family of positions that arise after the sequence:

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 … 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4.

White exchanges the d-pawn for Black’s c-pawn, opens the centre, and places a knight on d4. Any Sicilian line in which White does not play 3.d4 (e.g., the Closed or Alapin) is by contrast a Closed or Anti-Sicilian.

Usage in Play

• White seeks rapid development, central space, and kingside initiative.
• Black accepts an isolated a-pawn and half-open c-file in return for a sturdy pawn on d6 (or e6) and counter-play along the c- and d-files.
• The Open Sicilian branches into many celebrated systems: Najdorf, Sveshnikov, Dragon, Classical, Scheveningen, Taimanov, and Kalashnikov, among others.

Strategic & Historical Significance

Because both sides unbalance the position early, the Open Sicilian has been the battleground for nearly every World Championship match involving 1.e4 since the 1950s. Bobby Fischer famously declared, “Openings are where I sharpen the axe; the Sicilian is my whetstone.”

Typical themes include:

1. Minority attack vs. kingside assault. White often castles long and storms the g- and h-pawns; Black counters on the c- and a-files.
2. Piece vs. pawn imbalances. An extra central pawn for Black can matter in the end-game if he survives the middlegame attack.
3. Rich tactical content. Many of the most famous combinations in chess literature—such as Tal’s rook sacrifices on c3—occurred in Open Sicilians.

Illustrative Mini-Game

Interesting Facts

• The move 1…c5 dates back to 1594 (Giulio Cesare Polerio), but it was Louis Paulsen’s 19th-century analyses that first popularised the Open Sicilian structure.
• In modern databases, roughly one out of every four games that begins 1.e4 ends up in an Open Sicilian.
• In 1997 Kasparov chose the Open Sicilian against IBM’s Deep Blue, believing its complexity would favour human intuition; the computer nevertheless prevailed in game 6.

2…d6 (in the Sicilian Defence)

Definition

The move 2…d6 occurs after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6. It supports the c5-pawn, controls the e5-square, and clears the d7-square for a knight or bishop.

Role & Typical Follow-ups

• Prepares …Nf6 without allowing e4-e5.
• Makes …e6 or …g6 possible, leading to different set-ups:
  • …a6 → Najdorf
  • …g6 → Dragon
  • …e6 → Scheveningen / Classical
• Maintains a flexible pawn chain (e7–d6–c5) that can later expand with …d5 or …e5.

Historical Perspective

Buenos Aires 1939 saw Miguel Najdorf employ the 2…d6 Sicilian with great success, paving the way for his eponymous line. By the 1950s 2…d6 had become the main reply for ambitious Sicilian players, used by Fischer, Kasparov, and modern stars such as Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi.

Example Game Snapshot

Fischer – Spassky, World Championship 1972 (Game 13):

Interesting Nuggets

• The pawn on d6 often survives deep into the end-game; grandmaster John Nunn joked that it is “the Sicilian player’s oldest friend.”
• Engines initially preferred 2…e6 (the French-flavoured Taimanov). Today, after countless neural-network iterations, 2…d6 has re-emerged as mathematically resilient at every time control.

5.Nc3 Bd7 6.Bg5 (Richter–Rauzer Preview)

Definition

This move order belongs to the Classical Sicilian and ushers in the Richter–Rauzer Attack:

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bd7 6. Bg5.

White pins the f6-knight, increases central pressure, and hints at long-side castling and a kingside pawn storm.

Plans & Ideas

• For White
  • Maintain the pin and follow with Qd2, 0-0-0, and f2-f4-f5.
  • Sacrifice on f6 or e6 is often in the air to shatter Black’s structure.
• For Black
  • Break the pin via …h6 & …g5 or …e6 & …Be7.
  • Counter-attack in the centre with …d5, or on the queenside with …a6 & …b5.

Historical Highlights

• Richter (German master, 1930s) introduced the early Bg5 idea; Rauzer (Soviet theoretician) developed its aggressive continuations.
• Kasparov revived 6.Bg5 in the late 1980s, scoring crucial wins against Karpov.
• It remains a staple in top-level repertoires; Caruana and Nepomniachtchi both used it in Candidates events.

Model Position

Interesting Tidbits

• The line is so theory-heavy that grandmasters sometimes spend an entire rest-day preparing a single novelty for move 18 or 19.
• Anand’s famous “Immortal from Wijk” (2004) featured a rook sacrifice on d5 in this very system, stunning Topalov.
• Engines evaluate the starting position after 6.Bg5 as roughly equal, yet practical results slightly favour White under 2400 level—testament to its attacking potential.