Chess Opening Secrets Revealed*: Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Defense (Sozin Variation) Part I

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Nc6
6 Bc4 e6 7 0-0 Be7 8 Be3 0-0 9 Bb3 a6 10 f4 Nxd4
11 Bxd4 b5 12 e5 dxe5 13 fxe5 Nd7 14 Ne4 Bb7
15 Nd6 Bxd6 16 exd6 Line

Also available:
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Defense
(Najdorf Variation) Part I
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/01/chess-understanding-sicilian-defense.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Najdorf Part II
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-sicili_115316520058364198.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Najdorf Part III
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-sicilian-najdorf.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Najdorf Part IV
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-sicilian-najdorf_17.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Najdorf Part V
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-sicilian-defense_23.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Defense
(Accelerated Fianchetto)
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/07/chess-understanding-sicilian-defense.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Defense
(Keres Attack) Part I
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/06/chess-understanding-sicilian.html
Chess: Understanding the Smith Morra Gambit
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/06/chess-understanding-smith-morra-gambit.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Richter
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/06/chess-understanding-sicilian-richter.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Defense
(Sveshnikov Variation)
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/06/chess-understanding-sicilian-defense.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Dragon
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/01/chess-understanding-sicilian-dragon.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Defense
(Löwenthal Variation)
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/08/chess-understanding-sicilian-defense_23.html
Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Defense
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/08/chess-understanding-sicilian-defense_22.html

1 e4

Controls d5 and f5 plus opens up a diagonal for
the Queen and f1 bishop.

1 ... c5

The d4 and b4 squares are covered and a5-d8
becomes available to the Queen.

2 Nf3

Development and preparation for d4. White wants
to challenge Black's hold on that square.

2 ... d6

Shielding e5 from a prospective e4-e5.
Please remember, the acquisition of e5
is a critical theme for the defense.
This move also opens up a diagonal for
the c8 bishop.

3 d4

3 ... cxd4

By exchanging his c-pawn for White's d-pawn,
Black guarantees pressure down the half open
c-file and chances to mold his central pawn
majority into a strong center.

4 Nxd4

And White gets a developmental lead,
an edge in space and the half open d-file.

4 ... Nf6

Mobilization with attack.

5 Nc3

Protecting the e4 pawn.

5 ... Nc6

The e5 and d4 squares come into the knight's view.

6 Bc4

Initiating the Sozin Variation of the
Sicilian Defense.

The bishop hopes to see action along
the a2-g8 diagonal. It also enables
rapid kingside castling.

6 ... e6

Killing too many birds with one stone:

(i) Facilitates development of f8 bishop to e7
(ii) Neutralizes White's control of d5 and f5
(iii) Limits scope of c4 bishop.
(iv) Enables an eventual d5 break

From now on, Whites needs to be on the
lookout for ... Nxe4. The idea is to execute
a d5 break, after White recaptures on e4
with Nxe4. Thus, not only does Black win
his material back, but he also frees his
game.

6 ... Qb6
6 ... Bd7
6 ... e5
6 ... Na5
6 ... g6
6 ... a6
6 ... Qc7
6 ... Qa5

7 0-0

Since Black's King is still in the center of the board,
White is not yet seriously worried about ... Nxe4.

7 Be3
7 Bb3
7 a3
7 Bg5
7 Nb3

7 ... Be7

7 ... a6

8 Be3

Reinforcing the d4 knight's position and completing
queenside development.

8 Bb3
8 a3
8 Kh1
8 Re1

8 ... 0-0

9 Bb3

Avoiding the ... Nxe4 combination, now that the Black
King is away from the center. Dubious is 9 f4 because
of 9 ... d5 10 exd5 exd5 11 Be2 Re8, with a small
advantage to Black.

9 Kh1
9 Qe2
9 f3
9 f4
9 a4

9 ... a6

Some queenside action is in the air!

Other options are:

(A) 9 ... Na5

Attacking the b3 bishop.

10 f4

Preparing for e4-e5.

10 ... b6

Making way for the c8 bishop.

10 ... Qc7
10 ... a6
10 ... Bd7
10 ... Nxb3

11 e5

11 Qd3

11 ... Ne8

11 ... Nd7 allows 12 Bxe6 followed by 13 Nxe6.

11 ... dxe5

12 Qg4

The queen eyes g7 and e6.

12 f5

12 ... Nxb3

Before the bishop becomes a menace.

13 axb3 Bb7

14 Rad1

(B) 9 ... Bd7

10 Qe2

Making room on d1 for the a1 rook.

10 f4
10 Ndb5

10 ... Nxd4

Vacating c6 for the d7 bishop

10 ... Qa5

11 Bxd4 Bc6

The bishop has better scope on this square.

12 Rad1 Qa5

Eliminating all possibility of contact with the d1 rook
and assuming a more active position. Please observe
how the Queen has a sweeping view of the fifth rank.

13 f4

13 ... e5

Fighting for e5!

14 fxe5

14 Be3

14 ... dxe5

15 Be3

(C) 9 ... Nxd4

10 Bxd4 b5

10 ... Bd7
10 ... b6

11 Nxb5

11 a3

11 ... Ba6

12 c4 Bxb5

13 cxb5 Nxe4

14 Qg4

14 ... Nf6

15 Qe2

Back to

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Nc6
6 Bc4 e6 7 0-0 Be7 8 Be3 0-0 9 Bb3 a6

10 f4

Preparing for an e4-e5 advance.

10 a4

10 ... Nxd4

Blacks wants to advance 10 ... b5, but that would leave
the c6 knight exposed to 11 Nxc6. So, he trades it off
before initiating queenside action.

10 ... Qc7
10 ... Na5
10 ... Bd7
10 ... d5

11 Bxd4 b5

12 e5

Answering Black's queenside demonstration with
a strike in the center!

12 Qf5
12 Qe1

Fischer-Spassky, match (4) ran as follows:

12 a3

12 ... Bb7

13 Qd3

13 ... a5!

14 e5

14 ... dxe5

15 fxe5

15 ... Nd7

16 Nxb5 Nc5

With compensation for Black.

Back to

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Nc6
6 Bc4 e6 7 0-0 Be7 8 Be3 0-0 9 Bb3 a6 10 f4 Nxd4
11 Bxd4 b5 12 e5

12 ... dxe5