Boleslawski variant

	a	b	c	d	e	f	G	H
8th									8th
7th									7th
6th									6th
5									5
4th									4th
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	G	H

Basic position of the Boleslawski variant

In chess , the Boleslawski variant is a variant of the Sicilian Defense , an opening in the game of chess. It is named after the Soviet grandmaster and chess theorist Isaak Boleslawski and is created after the moves

1. e2-e4 c7-c5 2. Ng1-f3 d7-d6 3. d2-d4 c5xd4 4. Nf3xd4 Ng8-f6 5. Nb1-c3 Nb8-c6 6. Bf1-e2 e7-e5

It is similar to the Be2 variant in the Najdorf system . With his last move Black attacks the knight on d4 and gains space in the center . Louis Paulsen had already played this way in the 1880s .

7. Nd4-f3

After 7. Nd4 – b3 Bf8 – e7 8. 0–0 0–0 9. Kg1 – h1 a7 – a5 (plans a5 – a4) 10. a2 – a4 Nc6 – b4 the black knight would have found a good outpost .

7.… h7 – h6 prevents the knight from being tied after Bc1 – g5 , which is possible after 7.… Bf8 – e7. After the exchange Bg5xf6 Be7xf6 the knight can move on c3 to d5 and is good there. 7.… Bf8 – e7 is playable, however.

8. 0-0 Bf8-e7 9. Rf1-e1

With this move, White wants to prevent the d6 – d5 free hit. That's why he's putting pressure on the e5-pawn. The plan is to use Be2 – f1 to open up the view of the tower again. If Black plays d6 – d5 after preparation, after e4xd5 Black's e5 pawn hangs.

9.… 0–0 10. h2 – h3 prevents Bc8 – g4, which would tie the knight to f3.

10.… Bc8 – e6 covers the d5-square and prepares the move d6 – d5.

11. Be2 – f1 Prevents d6 – d5.

In the further course a fight for the d5-square often develops. If Black can play d6 – d5, he is mostly good. Sometimes White plays Nc3 – d5, which leads to completely different pawn structures after Nf6xd5 e4xd5 . The games are usually calm and positional, which is why they are preferred by strategically oriented players.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ John Emms: Sicilian Secrets . Everyman Chess, 2004, pp. 118-120.