Sicilian: Snyder, 2...e6 — overview
Sicilian Defense: Snyder, 2...e6
Definition
The term “Sicilian: Snyder, 2…e6” refers to a family of positions in the Sicilian Defense that begin with the moves 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6. The second-move …e6 is sometimes called the “French Variation” of the Sicilian because Black builds a light-square pawn chain reminiscent of the French Defense. When White continues with the standard 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4, a number of set-ups are possible for Black ( …Nc6, …a6, …d6, …Bb4+, etc.). The subset in which Black later allows 6. Bc4 by White is credited to the American master John Snyder and is the source of the name “Snyder Variation.”
Typical Move Order
The essential starting point is:
- 1. e4 c5
- 2. Nf3 e6 (“Sicilian, Snyder/French Variation”)
From here play most often continues:
- 3. d4 cxd4
- 4. Nxd4 Nf6
- 5. Nc3 d6
- 6. Bc4 (Snyder’s key idea—placing the bishop on the dangerous a2–g8 diagonal)
Strategic Ideas
Black’s early …e6 offers maximum flexibility:
- Fight for …d5. By supporting …d5, Black hopes to strike at the center in one move instead of two (…d6 & …d5) and sometimes even transposes to a French Defense structure.
- Transpositional weapon. Depending on how Black develops the queenside pieces, 2…e6 can slide into the Taimanov, Kan, Scheveningen, or the Classical Sicilian.
- Sidestep anti-Sicilians. The immediate …e6 cuts out 3. Bb5+ lines and discourages some systems like the Alapin (2. c3).
- Risk vs. reward of Snyder’s 6.Bc4. White places the bishop on c4 to eye f7 and provoke pawn weaknesses. Black, in return, gains time by attacking that bishop with …a6 & …b5 or …Nxe4 followed by …d5.
Plans for Both Sides
- White
- Rapid development: Bc4, Qe2, 0-0 0, and sometimes f4 & e5.
- Pressure on f7 and along the a2-g8 diagonal.
- Pawn storms (g4–g5) if Black castles kingside.
- Black
- Timely …d5 break to liberate the position.
- Counterplay with …a6 & …b5 chasing the bishop, seizing queenside space.
- Flexible king placement—castling long if the kingside becomes loose.
Historical & Notable Games
- Tal – Gipson, New York 1979
Tal used the Snyder line with 6.Bc4 to whip up a classic mating attack. - Gelfand – Shirov, Linares 1993
A heavyweight battle where Black neutralized Bc4 with accurate …b5 & …Bb7, demonstrating strategic resilience. - Carlsen – Anand, WCh Rapid 2019
Carlsen employed 2…e6 as Black, steering into a Scheveningen-style structure and eventually prevailing in the end-game.
Illustrative Miniature
The following 20-move slug-fest shows both the promise and danger of the Snyder set-up:
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The move 2…e6 was a favorite of early-20th-century French masters, but it was Snyder’s emphasis on 6.Bc4 that earned his name on the variation.
- Because Black can transpose almost at will, many elite players adopt 2…e6 as a “Swiss-army knife” when they are unsure which Sicilian they wish to play.
- Computer engines initially dismissed 6.Bc4 as dubious, but modern neural-net evaluations (e.g., Lc0) show dynamic equality, vindicating Snyder’s intuition decades later.
When to Choose the Snyder 2…e6
Select this line if you enjoy:
- Flexibility and multiple transpositional options.
- Structures similar to the French Defense but with active Sicilian piece play.
- Tactical melee positions when White opts for the aggressive 6.Bc4.
Summary
“Sicilian: Snyder, 2…e6” is an adaptable and strategically rich branch of the Sicilian Defense. Black’s second-move …e6 keeps myriad possibilities in reserve, while White’s potential 6.Bc4 injects immediate tension. Whether aiming for a robust Scheveningen shell or a sharp Snyder skirmish, the variation rewards players who understand both French-style pawn breaks and classic Sicilian counter-punching.