Sicilian Rossolimo: 3...e6 4.O-O

Sicilian Defense: Rossolimo Variation, 3…e6 4.O-O

Definition

The line 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.O-O is a branch of the Rossolimo Variation of the Sicilian Defense. By placing the bishop on b5 White sidesteps the Open Sicilian (3.d4) and immediately exerts positional pressure on the c6-knight and the d7-square. Black’s reply 3…e6 prepares …Nge7 or …d7-d6, keeps the a7–g1 diagonal closed against potential Bxc6+, and aims for a flexible, semi-closed structure. White’s quick 4.O-O forgoes the immediate capture on c6 and instead emphasizes rapid development and kingside safety.

Typical Move Order

The main tabiya arises after:

• 1. e4 c5
• 2. Nf3 Nc6
• 3. Bb5 e6
• 4. O-O

From here the most common continuations are:

• 4…Nge7 5.Re1 a6 6.Bf1 d5 — a thematic central break.
• 4…Nf6 5.Nc3 Nd4 6.e5 Nxb5 7.Nxb5 Nd5, steering toward a complex middlegame.
• 4…g6 5.Re1 Bg7 6.Bxc6 dxc6 aiming for a fianchetto set-up.

Strategic Ideas

• White’s Plans
  • Maintain the bishop pair by retreating Bb5-a4-c2 if necessary.
  • Target the d5-square; moves such as c2-c3 and d2-d4 (often prepared) lay claim to the center.
  • Use Re1, c3, d4 to transpose into favorable Maroczy-style structures without allowing …d5 under ideal circumstances for Black.
• Black’s Plans
  • Strike at the center with …d5 or …f5 depending on piece placement.
  • Exploit the half-open c-file and potential bishop pair after …Bxc3.
  • Choose set-ups with …g6 or …Nge7 that keep the position flexible and avoid conceding structural weaknesses.

Historical Context

The Rossolimo Variation is named after the French-American Grandmaster Nicolas Rossolimo (1910-1975), an imaginative tactician who frequently employed 3.Bb5 against the Sicilian. The sub-line 3…e6 became popular in the 1990s when top players—most notably Vladimir Kramnik—sought a solid but unbalancing antidote to anti-Sicilian systems. Today, elite grandmasters such as Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, and Ding Liren use the 3…e6 complex regularly, making it one of the most theoretically resilient responses.

Illustrative Game

An instructive example of the 3…e6 4.O-O line is the rapid encounter between Magnus Carlsen and Sergey Karjakin, London Chess Classic 2012:

[[Pgn| e4|c5|Nf3|Nc6|Bb5|e6|O-O|Nge7|Re1|a6|Bf1|d5|exd5|exd5|d4|cxd4|Nxd4|Nxd4|Qxd4|Be6| Nc3|Nc6|Qa4|Be7|Be3|O-O|Rad1|Bc5|Bxc5|Re8|Qf4|h6|h4|Qa5|Re3|Kh7|Bd3+|Kg8|Rg3| ]}

Carlsen leveraged a small space advantage and the latent power of his light-squared bishop to nurse a pressure edge that eventually turned into a full point.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• Rossolimo’s own score with 3.Bb5 was +8 =5 -0 against titled opposition—an early sign of the line’s practical sting.
• In a 2020 online blitz match, Hikaru Nakamura defeated Wesley So with the rare sideline 4…g5!?, showing the creative potential for both sides once the basic tabiya is reached.
• The move 4.O-O keeps theory light; by contrast, 4.Bxc6 often ushers in highly analyzed doubled-pawn structures. Many top players alternate the two to avoid preparation.

Summary

The Sicilian Rossolimo with 3…e6 4.O-O offers both players a rich, strategic battlefield with balanced chances. White enjoys easy development and durable positional trumps, while Black retains a solid structure and multiple pawn-break options. Its mixture of soundness and dynamism ensures it will remain a staple of grandmaster practice and club play alike.