Sozin Attack - Open Sicilian aggression
Sozin Attack
Definition
The Sozin Attack is an aggressive system for White in the Open Sicilian, characterised by the early development of the dark-squared bishop to c4, piling direct pressure on the sensitive f7-square and Black’s king position. The critical move orders are:
- Najdorf move-order: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4.
- Classical move-order: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bc4.
The line is named after the Russian master Nikolai Sozin (1894–1956), who published a series of influential articles on the set-up in the 1920s–30s. Because Bobby Fischer adopted the same attacking ideas with great success in the 1960s, English-language literature often calls it the “Fischer–Sozin Attack.”
Typical Plans & Usage
- Pressure on f7. The bishop on c4 bears down the a2–g8 diagonal, tying Black’s pieces to the defence of f7.
- Rapid development & king safety. White usually castles short, then launches a pawn storm with f2–f4–f5 or sacrifices material on e6 or f5.
- Bb3 retreat. After …e6, the bishop often drops back to b3, keeping the f7 target while avoiding tempi-gaining …d5.
- Central play. A timely e4–e5 advance can cramp Black’s pieces; Nc3–e2–d4 manoeuvres are common in slower lines.
- Black’s counterplay. The typical counter is queenside expansion with …b5, …Bb7 and …Nbd7–c5, or a central break with …d5. Correct timing is critical; one tempo can decide the game.
Strategic & Historical Significance
Before World War II, the Najdorf had not yet crystallised; Sozin’s articles showed that 6.Bc4 could introduce immediate tactical threats against the Classical Sicilian set-up. When Miguel Najdorf popularised 5…a6 in the 1940s, the bishop move remained topical, but theory smouldered until Fischer used it as a main weapon in his Candidates matches. His victories over grandmasters such as Geller, Myagmarsuren, and Byrne forced Black specialists to refine defensive resources—especially the sharp Velimirović variation (…e6, …b5, …Bb7, …Rc8 with opposite-side castling).
Illustrative Game
One of the most famous demonstrations is Fischer – Geller, Candidates (Havana) 1965:
Fischer’s spectacular 19.Nxg7+! sacrifice ripped open Black’s king position and became an instant classic in Sozin literature.
Theoretical Branches
- 6…e6 7.Bb3 b5 8.O-O Be7 – Main line. Black aims for …Bb7 and …Nbd7–c5.
- 6…g6 – Dragon-flavoured set-up, often transposing to Accelerated Dragon structures.
- 6…Qb6!? – Early queen sortie, hitting b2 and d4.
- Velimirović Attack: 6…e6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qe2 O-O 9.O-O-O, where opposite-side castling leads to violent pawn storms.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- In Soviet journals, Sozin referred to 6.Bc4 as the “new variation” even in the 1930s—proof that opening names can take decades to stick.
- Many databases tag 6.Bc4 against the Najdorf as the “Fischer Attack,” while 6.Bc4 against 5…Nc6 is called the “Sozin.” In practice the plans are identical.
- Grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk once played 6.Bc4 and 6.Be2 in consecutive rounds at Linares 1991, joking that the bishop was “a free spirit—sometimes it prefers the diagonal, sometimes the quiet life.”
- Engine evaluations fluctuate wildly in the Velimirović branch; a single move can swing Stockfish’s bar by more than a point, underscoring the razor-sharp nature of the attack.
When to Choose the Sozin
Opt for the Sozin if you:
- Enjoy direct kingside attacks and tactical complications.
- Feel comfortable in sharp, theory-heavy Sicilian positions.
- Prefer to castle short and seize the initiative quickly.
Players seeking quieter manoeuvring or long-term structural advantages might instead consider the Scheveningen with 6.Be2 or the English Attack with 6.Be3, but for pure fireworks the Sozin remains one of the most thrilling choices against the Sicilian.