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1.Opening

Sicilian Sveshnikov

You play BlackB33DynamicAdvanced

Black accepts a hole on d5 and a damaged kingside for activity and the bishop pair. Magnus Carlsen's weapon.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 …

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Main Line: position after 10 moves1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a
Main Line: position after 10 moves
2.Ideas

What the opening is about

Key ideas

  1. ...e5 kicks the d4 knight right away and gains space.
  2. ...a6 and ...b5 leave White's knight stranded on a3.
  3. After ...gxf6, the ...f5 break smashes White's center.
3.Main line

Main line · 20 moves

Main Line

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Your moves Opponent
No. White Black1
e4White grabs the center.
c5The Sicilian: fight for d4 from the side.
2
Nf3White develops and prepares d4.
Nc6Develops and adds control of d4 and e5.
3
d4White opens the center.
cxd4Trade a flank pawn for a center pawn.
After 3…cxd4
After 3…cxd4
No. White Black4
Nxd4White recaptures with a centralized knight.
Nf6Develops with an attack on e4.
5
Nc3White defends e4 and develops.
e5The Sveshnikov: kick the knight and grab space, accepting a hole on d5.
6
Ndb5The knight jumps forward, eyeing the d6 hole.
d6Covers d6 so the knight can't land there.
After 6…d6
After 6…d6
No. White Black7
Bg5Pins the f6 knight — one of d5's defenders.
a6Kicks the b5 knight.
8
Na3The knight has to go to the rim, where it's out of play.
b5Stops Nc4 so the a3 knight stays stuck, and gains queenside space.
9
Bxf6White removes a defender of d5.
gxf6Black accepts doubled pawns in return for the bishop pair and extra central control.
After 9…gxf6
After 9…gxf6
No. White Black10
Nd5The knight lands on its dream square.
f5Breaks up White's center and opens the g-file and the g7 bishop's diagonal.
After 10…f5
After 10…f5
4.Play

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5.More

More defenses against 1.e4