Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. d4/3...cxd4/4. Nxd4

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< Chess Opening Theory‎ | 1. e4‎ | 1...c5‎ | 2. Nf3‎ | 2...Nc6‎ | 3. d4‎ | 3...cxd4
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Open Sicilian with 2...Nc6
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 8
7 a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7 7
6 a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6 6
5 a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 5
4 a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4 4
3 a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 3
2 a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2 2
1 a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1 1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4

Open Sicilian with 2...Nc6[edit | edit source]

Here White is moving a piece that is already developed, so he is playing an opening move that does not help his development. He is capturing a pawn, however it is anticipated that Black can capture Whites pawn when White played 3.d4. In return for neglecting development White is getting a centrally located knight, and Black neglected development when he made two moves with the same pawn.

A good point here is it is bad for Black to trade knights on d4, and it also bad for White to trade knights on c6. If Black plays 4. ... Nxd4 followed by 5. Qxd4 White will have better control of the center and Black cannot easily chase away the White queen because the Knight that was on b8 has been traded. Also if White plays 5.Nxc6 then black can play 5. ...bxc6 which will strengthen Blacks center and prepares for the d7-d5 push.

Theory table[edit | edit source]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4

4 5 6 7
Main Line ...
Nf6
Nc3
d6
Bg5
e6
Qd2
Be7
+=
Taimanov Variation ...
e6
Nc3
Nf6
Ndb5
Bb4
a3
Bxc3+
+=
Kalashnikov Variation ...
e5
Nb5
d6
N1c3
Nf6
Bg5
a6
+=
Accelerated Dragon ...
g6
c4
Nf6
Nc3
d6
Be3
Ng4
+=
Nimzovich Variation ...
d5
exd5
Qxd5
Be3
e6
Nc3
Bb4
+=
Flohr Variation ...
Qc7
Nc3
e6
f4 +=
Godiva Variation ...
Qb6
Nb3
Qb4+
Nc3
Nf6
Bd3
Ne5
a3
Qb6
Be3
Qd8
Be2
d6
f4
Neg4
Bd4
e5
fxe5
dxe5
Bb5+
Bd7
Bxd7+
Qxd7
Bc5
0-0-0
+=
...
a5
Nc3
e5
Ndb5
d6
Be3
Nf6
Be2
Be7
0-0
0-0
f4
b6
Qd2
+=

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References[edit | edit source]