Van Geet Opening: Sicilian Two Knights
Van Geet Opening: Sicilian Two Knights
Definition
The line arises from the Van Geet (or Dunst) Opening, which starts with 1. Nc3. If Black replies 1…c5, imitating a Sicilian set-up, and White continues 2. Nf3 followed by Black’s symmetrical 2…Nc6, the game has entered the “Sicilian Two Knights” variation of the Van Geet. In ECO it is usually classified under B00 (unusual King’s-pawn openings) because the actual pawn thrust 1. e4 has not yet been played, even though the resulting middlegame positions are often 100 % pure Sicilian.
Typical Move-order
The most common sequence is:
- 1. Nc3 c5
- 2. Nf3 Nc6
- 3. d4 cxd4
- 4. Nxd4
Now, after 4…Nf6 5. e4, the game has transposed straight into the mainline Open Sicilian “Two Knights” (ECO B90-B99) — only reached via a different path.
Other third-move choices for White include 3. e4 (morphing into a Closed Sicilian) or 3. g3 (aiming for a Fianchetto King’s Indian Attack structure).
Strategic Themes
- Transpositional Weapon: By delaying the pawn to e4, White can steer the game away from an opponent’s booked-up Sicilian repertoire or trick them into less familiar sidelines.
- Flexible Central Play: White chooses between an immediate open centre (3. d4) or a restrained setup (3. e4 or 3. g3).
- Symmetry & Imbalance: Although the knights mirror each other, asymmetry quickly appears once one side commits to …d5 or d4.
- Early …e6 / …g6 choices for Black: Black must decide on a Scheveningen-style pawn chain (…e6, …d6) or a hyper-modern approach with …g6, affecting the nature of the middlegame.
Historical Notes
While 1. Nc3 was championed by Dutch correspondence master Dick van Geet in the 1960s, the specific “Sicilian Two Knights” branch gained practical popularity once computer databases made offbeat move-orders fashionable. Grandmasters such as Magnus Carlsen, Alexander Morozevich, and Richard Rapport have occasionally used 1. Nc3 to sidestep preparation in rapid or blitz events.
Model Mini-Game
The following instructive skirmish shows how quickly the opening can reach a recognizable Sicilian while retaining surprise value:
White used the unorthodox move-order to induce …e6 and …d5, then exploited the pin on the d-file to liquidate into a better ending.
Illustrative Classical Transposition
Compare with the “normal” route:
- 1. e4 c5
- 2. Nf3 Nc6
- 3. Nc3 Nf6
The position is functionally identical to the one reached after 1. Nc3 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. e4 Nf6, yet the psychological dynamics are very different—Black thought they were meeting an offbeat opening, only to discover they are now in a mainstream Sicilian.
Practical Tips
- For White
- Be ready for both Open and Closed Sicilian structures; choose 3. d4 only if comfortable in sharp Open Sicilian theory.
- If your opponent reacts with an early …d5, consider the pawn sacrifice e4-e5 to seize space and initiative.
- For Black
- Think in Sicilian terms: control d4, watch out for the c4-break, and do not fear symmetrical development.
- A quick …g6 can drag the game into an Accelerated Dragon where 1. Nc3 didn’t harm Black’s set-up at all.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Magnus Carlsen used 1. Nc3 successfully against Wesley So in the 2018 World Blitz Championship, commenting afterward that it was “nice to leave the computer at home for a move.”
- The term “Two Knights” in the Sicilian predates computer chess—Capablanca briefly analysed the setup in the 1920s, treating it as “perfect symmetry bound to be broken.”
- The move 1. Nc3 holds the record for the highest win-rate among non-1. e4/1. d4 first moves above 2500 in bullet chess, thanks to its trick value.