Sicilian Rossolimo: 3...g6 4.Bxc6
Sicilian: Rossolimo, 3...g6 4.Bxc6
Definition
The sequence 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.Bxc6 is a branch of the Rossolimo Variation of the Sicilian Defence. After White’s third-move bishop check on b5, Black fianchettoes the king’s bishop with 3…g6 instead of the more classical 3…d6 or 3…e6. White replies by exchanging on c6, doubling Black’s c-pawns and inflicting a modest but long-term structural weakness.
Typical Move Order
The most common entry path:
- e4 c5
- Nf3 Nc6
- Bb5 g6
- Bxc6 dxc6
- d3 Bg7
- h3 e5 (or 6…Nf6, 6…Qc7, etc.)
Strategic Ideas
- Structural Damage: The trade on c6 leaves Black with doubled and potentially weak c-pawns (c6 & c5) and no compensating central pawn majority.
- Bishop Pair vs. Structure: Black gains the bishop pair; White gets a simpler pawn structure and clear targets.
- Dark-Square Strategy: Because Black adopts a Dragon-style fianchetto, the dark-squared bishop is important. White often tries to restrict it with moves such as Nd2-c4, Be3, Qd2 and sometimes Bh6.
- Flexible Centers: White can choose between a quiet d3–Re1-e5 plan, c3 & d4 breaks, or queenside pressure with a4 and Na3-c4.
- Black Counterplay: Black relies on the two bishops, breaks with …e5 or …f5, and quick castling to generate kingside activity.
Historical Background
Nikolai Rossolimo (1910-1975), a grandmaster of Russian-French-American heritage, popularised 3.Bb5 against the Sicilian in the 1950s. The fianchetto reply 3…g6 was tested by strong players as early as the 1960s, but it achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s when grandmasters such as Boris Gelfand and Peter Svidler began using it regularly. Today it is a staple in the repertoires of dynamic Sicilian practitioners (e.g., Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Anish Giri).
Illustrative Games
-
Carlsen – Vachier-Lagrave, GCT Zagreb 2019
A textbook demonstration of White’s structural pressure: Carlsen slowly maneuvered Nd2-c4 and won the c-pawn. -
Nakamura – Giri, Wijk aan Zee 2014
Black showed thematic counterplay with …f5 and kingside expansion, eventually equalising. -
Rossolimo – Kotov, Moscow 1956
One of the earliest high-level uses by the line’s namesake, though Kotov chose 3…d6, Rossolimo’s fourth move Bxc6 idea foreshadowed today’s main lines.
Example Position
The following mini-game up to move 8 shows typical development:
Practical Tips
- For White
- Avoid premature central breaks; first restrain the bishop on g7.
- Target c5/c6 with pieces: Qa4, Be3, Ra5 (a fashionable idea).
- Do not fear the bishop pair in open positions; keep the center closed until you are ready.
- For Black
- Consider immediate …e5 to seize space and release the c8-bishop.
- Use the half-open b-file after …cxb4 lines if White plays c3 & d4.
- If exchanging on b5, recapture with the a-pawn only when it helps your rook; otherwise prefer …bxc6 to keep the center flexible.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Grandmaster Peter Svidler once called 3…g6 “a Dragon player’s antidote to the Rossolimo” because it allows familiar setups while dodging the mainline Open Sicilian.
- The ECO codes lump every 3…g6 Rossolimo under B51, but many databases further sub-index 4.Bxc6 as B51.2.
- In the online blitz scene, 3…g6 has a notably higher win-rate for Black at shorter time controls, according to Chess.com master statistics compiled in 2023.
- A common beginner’s trap: 5…Bg7 6.O-O e5 7.Nbd2 Ne7 8.Nc4 Qc7 9.Be3 b6? 10.Nfxe5! wins a pawn because 10…Bxe5? 11.Nxe5 Qxe5 12.d4 forks queen & bishop.
Key Takeaways
- The Bxc6 exchange dictates the entire middlegame: play revolves around doubled pawns vs. bishop pair.
- Plans are often more important than concrete theory; piece placement and pawn breaks (…e5, …f5 for Black; c3-d4 or e4-e5 for White) decide the struggle.
- Modern engines evaluate the position as roughly equal, yet both sides retain rich winning chances—one reason the variation is popular at every level.