Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. Nf3/2...e6/3. d4/3...cxd4/4. Nxd4/4...Nc6/5. Nb5
| Szén variation | |
|---|---|
|
a b c d e f g h 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 a b c d e f g h | |
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) | |
| Moves: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nb5 | |
| ECO code: B45 | |
| Parent: Taimanov | |
5. Nb5 · Szén variation
[edit | edit source]With 5. Nb5 White moves to exploit Black's dark square weaknesses. When Black played 2...e6, they left a hole on the d6 square.
White has two attackers on d6 and Black only one defender, the bishop, so 5...a6? allows 6. Nd6+ Bxd6 7. Qxd6 ∓. Black gets the bishop pair and their Queen is all up in White's business.
5...d6 is the only way for Black to add a defender, allowing the black queen to see d6. White can then follow with 6. c4 or 6. Bf4. White will have to spend some tempo retreating their knight to somewhere safer, before or after it is kicked by a6. White chooses either knights on a3 and c3, or c3 and d2.
5...Nf6 is an alternative: Black postpones White playing Nd6 by threatening their e4 pawn. After 6. Nc3 to defend it, Black can then choose to play 7...d6 after all, or 7...Bb4, pinning the knight, instead, then 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. Nxc3 d5.
Theory table
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References
[edit | edit source]See also
[edit | edit source]
- Pavlidis, Antonios (2019). The Sicilian Taimanov. Glasgow: Quality Chess UK. ISBN 978 1 78483-058 8.
- Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.
With 2...g6:
With other 2nd moves for Black: