Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. d4/3...cxd4/4. Nxd4/4...Nf6/5. Nc3/5...d6

Classical Sicilian
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) r1bqkb1r/pp2pppp/2np1n2/8/3NP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKB1R w
Moves: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6

Classical Sicilian

5...d6

Black's move 5...d6 protects the recently developed knight from being attacked. A pawn move is thus in order, since both knights are developed to good squares, and the Bishop on c8 now has the option, but not the obligation, to develop to a good square once white makes their intentions known.

Of all the responses for white, Bg5 is perhaps the best, and should be expected from a strong opponent. It pins the king knight, prepares for queenside castling, and it is the prelude to the Richter-Rauzer Attack (named after Vsevolod Alfredovich Rauser).

Theory table

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6

	6	7	8
Richter-Rauzer	Bg5 e6	Qd2 a6	O-O-O Bd7	+=
Sozin	Bc4 e6	Be3 Be7	Qe2 O-O	=
Boleslavsky	Be2 e5	Nb3 ...	=
	f3 e5	=
	Be3 Ng4	=

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References

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.