Sicilian: Richter-Rauzer, Margate, 7...Bd7
Sicilian: Richter-Rauzer, Margate, 7…Bd7
Definition
The Margate Variation of the Richter-Rauzer Attack is a branch of the Sicilian Defence that arises after the moves:
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Bd7.
Black’s 7…Bd7 (instead of the more forcing 7…Be7 or 7…a6) calmly reinforces the knight on c6, prepares …Rc8 or …Be7, and keeps the long-term option of …h6 and …g5 to challenge the pin on the f6-knight.
Historical Background
The line is nicknamed “Margate” because World Champion Alexander Alekhine employed 7…Bd7 during the 1937 Margate tournament in England. His adoption of this quieter system at a top event gave it immediate credibility, distinguishing it from sharper Richter-Rauzer sidelines.
Typical Move Order
- 1. e4 c5
- 2. Nf3 d6
- 3. d4 cxd4
- 4. Nxd4 Nf6
- 5. Nc3 Nc6
- 6. Bg5 e6
- 7. Qd2 Bd7
- 8. O-O-O a6 (most common) 9. f4 b5 …
Strategic Ideas
- Flexibility for Black: By holding back …Be7, Black can decide later whether to castle kingside, queenside, or even keep the king in the centre.
- Counter-pin Possibilities: If White plays 8.f4 or 8.f3, Black can answer …h6 and …g5, gaining space on the kingside and challenging the bishop on g5.
- Piece Harmonisation: The bishop on d7 vacates c8 for a rook after …Rc8, supporting thematic …Na5 or …Ne5 strikes at c4 and d3.
- Transpositional Weapon: After 8.O-O-O the game can transpose to Scheveningen or Classical Sicilian structures if Black later plays …Be7, …Qc7, and …O-O.
Illustrative Games
- Aitken – Alekhine, Margate 1937 – Alekhine unveiled 7…Bd7, castled queenside, and launched a successful pawn storm on the kingside.
- Anand – Ivanchuk, Linares 1997 – Ivanchuk’s timely …h6, …g5, and …Ne5 seized the initiative against White’s early f2-f4/g2-g4 expansion.
- Nepomniachtchi – Vachier-Lagrave, Candidates 2021 – MVL kept his king in the centre until move 17, demonstrating the system’s dynamic potential at elite level.
Mini-PGN Snapshot
Explore the opening’s first moves yourself:
Common Continuations
- 8.O-O-O a6 9.f4 b5 10.Bxf6 gxf6 – Black accepts a shattered kingside structure for the bishop pair and central control.
- 8.f4 Be7 9.O-O-O h6 10.Bh4 g5 – The “anti-pin” plan, grabbing space and forcing White’s bishop to retreat.
- 8.O-O-O Be7 9.f4 Nxd4 10.Qxd4 Bc6 – A positional line where Black exchanges the f6-knight and reroutes the dark-squared bishop to c6.
Why Choose 7…Bd7?
For Black: It avoids the razor-sharp main line 7…Be7 8.O-O-O and the heavily analysed 8…h6 9.Be3 Ng4. By keeping theory lighter, it can be an attractive surprise weapon.
For White: Understanding Black’s plans in the Margate Variation helps Richter-Rauzer specialists maintain pressure without drifting into equal positions.
Interesting Facts
- The name “Richter-Rauzer” honours German master Kurt Richter and Lithuanian master Vsevolods Rauzer, who pioneered 6.Bg5 in the 1930s.
- World Champions Alekhine, Kasparov, and Carlsen have all experimented with 7…Bd7 at various points, often as a surprise weapon.
- The quiet-looking bishop move has transpositional value: if White delays castling, Black can even play …Qa5, steering the game into Dragon-style positions.