Van Geet Opening: Sicilian Two Knights Variation
Van Geet Opening (1. Nc3)
Definition
The Van Geet Opening is defined by the first move 1. Nc3 from White. By developing the queen’s knight to c3, White deliberately postpones central pawn advances to keep the position flexible and to invite Black to reveal their intentions first.
Typical Move-Order & Early Plans
Common continuations include:
- 1. Nc3 d5 2. e4 (transposing to a Centre Counter Gambit-style position)
- 1. Nc3 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 (now resembling a Vienna Game)
- 1. Nc3 c5 2. e4 (Sicilian set-ups where White has saved a tempo on Nf3)
The knight on c3 eyes both d5 and e4, supports an eventual d2–d4 break, and avoids early commitment of the c-pawn.
Strategic Significance
- Flexibility: White can transpose into several mainstream openings (French, Pirc, Scandinavian, Sicilian, etc.).
- Psychological Weapon: Many players know standard theory after 1. e4 or 1. d4 far better than after 1. Nc3.
- Space for Creativity: Both sides leave established theory quickly, so middlegame understanding often prevails over memorization.
Historical Notes
The opening is named after the Dutch master Daniël van Geet, who championed 1. Nc3 in the mid-20th century. Earlier, it was occasionally tried by the likes of Alekhine and Réti, but Van Geet used it so persistently that his name became permanently attached.
Illustrative Game
In this corridor of novelty, White’s early flexibility nets a comfortable central presence and rapid development.
Fun Facts
- Tim Krabbé, creator of the renowned “Chess Curiosities” site, once annotated an entire tournament he played with only 1. Nc3.
- In correspondence chess, 1. Nc3 is statistically one of the top-scoring first moves, largely because of its surprise value.
Sicilian Defense
Definition
The Sicilian Defense arises after 1. e4 c5, in which Black immediately contests the center from the flank rather than mirroring White’s pawn on e5. It is the most popular and successful response to 1. e4 at every level—from club play to world-championship matches.
Main Branches
- Open Sicilians: 2. Nf3 followed by 3. d4 (Najdorf, Dragon, Scheveningen, Classical, Sveshnikov, etc.).
- Closed Sicilians: 2. Nc3 without an early d4 push.
- Anti-Sicilians: Early sidelines such as 3. Bb5+ (Moscow/Rossolimo), 2. c3 (Alapin), or 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ (Canal-Sokolsky).
Strategic Themes
- Imbalance: Black trades a central d-pawn for a wing c-pawn, aiming for counterplay on the queenside.
- Asymmetry: Leads to unbalanced pawn structures that often produce rich, tactical middlegames.
- King Safety: White typically castles kingside quickly, whereas Black delays castling to expand on the queenside or wait for the optimal moment.
Historic Significance
Although first recorded in the 16th century (Polerio), it soared in popularity after Bobby Fischer’s famous dictum “1. … c5! – Best by test.” Fischer, Kasparov, Anand, and Carlsen have all used the Sicilian regularly at the highest level.
Model Game
Kasparov employed the Najdorf Sicilian in his legendary win versus Veselin Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 1999, culminating in a dazzling queen sacrifice.
Interesting Tidbits
- According to MegaBase statistics, roughly one-third of all decisive GM games after 1. e4 feature the Sicilian.
- The Dragon Variation is nicknamed for the resemblance between Black’s kingside pawn structure and the constellation Draco.
Sicilian Defense: Two Knights Variation (1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3)
Definition
The Two Knights Variation of the Sicilian arises when White develops both knights before committing the d-pawn: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3. It is sometimes called the “Knight Attack” or simply “Sicilian Two Knights.”
Key Ideas for White
- Flexibility: White retains the option to play d2–d4 (Open Sicilian) or f2–f4 (Grand Prix-style) depending on Black’s setup.
- Control of d5: Early knights stake claim to the d5 outpost, potentially preventing …d5 breaks.
- Potential Transpositions: Can morph into Classical, Sveshnikov, or Four Knights lines after …e6 / …e5.
Typical Responses for Black
- 3…e6 aiming for a Scheveningen or Classical setup.
- 3…d6 keeping Najdorf/Fischer-Sozin ideas alive.
- 3…g6 switching to a Dragon-esque structure.
- 3…e5 the so-called “Adams Variation,” grabbing space but weakening d5.
Theoretical Snapshot
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 Be7 5. d3 d6, both sides enjoy solid yet unbalanced positions. White often castles kingside and readies Nd5; Black prepares …Nf6, …Be6, and queenside expansion with …a6–…b5.
Historical & Practical Value
Once a rare sideline, the Two Knights received theoretical vindication after Igor Glek and Sergei Tiviakov used it successfully in the 1990s. Magnus Carlsen has employed it as well, notably versus Wojtaszek, Wijk aan Zee 2015, steering the game into a long, maneuvering endgame he eventually won.
Sample Game: Carlsen – Wojtaszek, Tata Steel 2015
Carlsen leveraged the d5 square and kingside space to grind out a 72-move win.
Fun Facts
- A popular blitz gambit is 3…Nf6 4. e5 Ng4 5. Bc4, known colloquially online as the “jerboa attack”—tricky but theoretically suspect.
- The ECO code for the Two Knights is B30, shared with several Anti-Sicilian setups, making literature slightly scattered.