Chess: Understanding the Sicilian Richter-Rauzer Part I

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Nc6
6 Bg5 e6 7 Qd2 Be7 8 0-0-0 0-0 9 f4 Nxd4
10 Qxd4 Qa5 11 Bc4 Bd7 12 e5 dxe5 13 fxe5
13 ... Bc6 14 Bd2 Nd7 15 Nd5 Qd8 16 Nxe7+
16 ... Qxe7 17 Rhe1 Rac8 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 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
Understanding the Sicilian Defense (Sozin Variation)
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/01/chess-understanding-sicilian-defense_30.html
Understanding the Sicilian Defense
(Sveshnikov Variation)
http://chesscoach1950.blogspot.com/2006/06/chess-understanding-sicilian-defense.html

1 e4



Controlling d5 plus f5, and, opening up a diagonal for
the Queen and f1 bishop.

1 ... c5



The d4 and b4 squares are now under the pawn's
influence. Additionally, the Queen gets breathing
space along the a5-d8 diagonal.

2 Nf3



White prepares for 3 d4 so as to challenge Black's hold
on that square.

2 ... d6



Shielding e5 from a prospective e4-e5 advance.
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 trading 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



In return, White gains a developmental lead,
the half open d-file and an edge in space.

4 ... Nf6



White's e4 pawn now needs protection, and so White
responds with:

5 Nc3



5 ... Nc6



Contending for d4 and keeping a tab on e5/b4/a5.

6 Bg5



Initiating the Richter-Rauzer Variation of the
Sicilian Defense.

This move threatens 7 Bxf6 in order to:
(i) Disrupt Black's pawn structure following
7 ... exf6/gxf6.
(ii) Eliminate the knight's d5 influence and
subsequently leave White with a firmer grip
on that square.

6 ... e6



(i) Prevents (i) above by allowing 7 ... Qxf6.
(ii) Thwarts White's ambition to dominate d5.
(iii) Facilitates the development of the f8 bishop
to e7.

6 ... Bd7
6 ... a6
6 ... Qb6
6 ... Qa5
6 ... g6
6 ... h6
6 ... e5
6 ... Ng4

7 Qd2



Making way for queenside castling and also covering
the g5 bishop.

7 Qd3
7 Bb5
7 Be2
7 Bc4
7 Ndb5
7 g3
7 f4
7 Nxc6
7 Nb3

7 ... Be7



Now the f6 knight is no longer pinned.

7 ... a6
7 ... h6
7 ... Qb6
7 ... Nxd4
7 ... Bd7

8 0-0-0



The Queen and rook team up to take advantage of
the half open d-file.

8 f4
8 Nb3
8 Be2
8 Bxf6

8 ... 0-0



King safety is always a priority!

8 ... Nxd4
8 ... a6
8 ... Bd7
8 ... h6

9 f4



It's all about enabling e4-e5!
Incidentally, the g5 bishop gets
additional cover.

[ 9 Bxf6 Bxf6 10 Nxc6 bxc 11 Qxd6 Qb6 12 Qg3 Rb8
13 e5 ( 13 b3 Bxc3 14 Qxc3 Qxf2) 13 ... Qxb2+
14 Kd2 Be7 15 Rb1 Qxc3+ 16 Qxc3 Rxb1]
[ 9 Ndb5 Qa5 10 Bxf6 Bxf6 11 Nxd6 Rd8 12 f4 e5]

9 Nb3
9 f3
9 h4
9 Kb1
9 Be2
9 Ndb5
9 Qe1
9 Bxf6
9 Nxc6

9 ... Nxd4



Black releases the d4 tension before embarking on
any ventures.

[ 9 ... d5 10 e5 Nd7 11 Bxe7 Qxe7 12 Kb1 Nb6
13 Be2 Bd7 14 h4 Rac8 15 h5 h6 16 g4]

9 ... h6
9 ... d5
9 ... e5
9 ... Bd7
9 ... Qa5
9 ... a6
9 ... Qb6

10 Qxd4



This recapture empowers the Queen because she now
influences more squares on the board.

10 ... Qa5



Black also gives her ladyship access to more terrain.
She has a sweeping view of the fifth rank, but more
importantly, she's stationed close to the enemy King.

10 ... h6
10 ... a6
10 ... Bd7

11 Bc4



Checking out the a2-g8 diagonal, and, covering a2
from a potential ... Qxa2.

[ 11 Kb1 Rd8 12 Bc4 Bd7 13 Bb3 Bc6 14 Rhe1 h6
15 Bh4 Qh5 16 Bg3 d5]

11 Kb1
11 e5
11 Qd2
11 Bb5
11 Be2
11 Bd3
11 Qd3

11 ... Bd7



(i) Developing the bishop along a4-e8
(ii) Evacuating c8 for the a8 rook.

[ 11 ... Rd8 12 Rhf1 Bd7 13 f5]

11 ... h6
11 ... b5
11 ... Rd8
11 ... a6
11 ... e5

12 e5



[ 12 Rhf1 Bc6]

12 Rd3
12 Bb3
12 Rhe1
12 Kb1
12 Bxf6
12 Nb1

12 ... dxe5



13 fxe5



13 Qxe5

13 ... Bc6



Black is unafraid of 14 exf6 because of 14 ... Qxg5+.
The bishop evades the d-file pressure and assumes
a more active and secure post.

14 Bd2



Threatening 15 exf6.

[ 14 Bxf6?! gxf]
[ 14 h4 Rfd8 15 Qf4 Nh5 16 Qg4 Bxg5+ 17 Qxg5 g6]

14 h4
14 Bxf6
14 Qf4

14 ... Nd7



Defense through offense! The e5 pawn is now attacked
twice but protected only once.

14 ... Bc5
14 ... Rad8

15 Nd5



Returning the favor by shielding the e5 pawn from
the Queen and simultaneously exposing her to the
d2 bishop's fire. The knight also threatens to
capture the e7 bishop.

15 ... Qd8



Avoiding capture and protecting the bishop.

15 ... Qc5

16 Nxe7+



16 ... Qxe7



17 Rhe1



17 h4

17 ... Rac8



Taking advantage of the half open c-file to
indirectly attack White's king.

17 ... Nb6
17 ... Qc5
17 ... Rfc8
17 ... Rfe8
17 ... b5

By ChessCoach@care2.com

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