Scheveningen 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 Scheveninger variant after 5.… e7 – e6

The Scheveningen variant is a system of the Sicilian Defense , an opening in the game of chess . In the ECO codes , the Scheveningen variant is classified under the keys B80 to B89.

It arises after the moves ( see also: chess notation ):

1. e2 – e4 c7 – c5 2. Ng1 – f3 d7 – d6 (e7 – e6) 3. d2 – d4 c5xd4 4. Nf3xd4 Ng8 – f6 5. Nb1 – c3 e7 – e6 (d7 – d6)

Naming

The name of the opening goes back to the tournament game between Géza Maróczy and Max Euwe , which was held in 1923 in the Dutch seaside resort of Scheveningen .

Ideas and ways of playing

The “small center ” with e6 and d6 is characteristic. Black builds up flexibly and seeks the game on the queenside via the half-open c-file and, if necessary, with the pawn moves a7 – a6 and b7 – b5. Or he becomes active in the center after developing his pieces with Bf8 – e7, 0–0, Nb8 – c6 (or Nb8 – d7) (with d6 – d5 or e6 – e5). White can try to block the advance d6 – d5, e.g. B. by controlling the d5 square with Bf1 – c4 or attacking the knight on f6 with Bc1 – g5. 6.… Bf8 – e7! but here is the most accurate against these two otherwise highly interesting white moves.

variants

• 6. g2 – g4, the Keres attack
• 6. Bf1 – e2
• 6. g2-g3
• 6. f2-f4
• 6. Bf1 – c4, the Fischer variant (see Sosin variant )
• 6. f2 – f3, the English attack and
• 6. Bc1 – e3, which should also initiate the system of the English attack with Be3, Qd2, f3, g4.

6. Bc1 – g5 finds the immediate and exact answer Bf8 – e7! plus 7… h7 – h6. 7. Qd1 – d2 covers Bg5. 7.… h7 – h6 changes that, because 8. Bg5 – h4 fails on Nf6xe4 .

The classic structure of white in this variant is Bf1 – e2, 0–0, f2 – f4, Kg1 – h1 with the intention of Qd1 – e1 – g3. Sb8 – c6 could be answered with Lc1 – e3 and a7 – a6 with a2 – a4.

Keres attack

	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

6. g2 – g4 the Keres attack

6. g2 – g4 initiates the Keres attack, the toughest test for Scheveningen. The sequel is named after the Estonian Grand Master Paul Keres . White takes advantage of the fact that 5.… e7 – e6 obstructs the bishop's view of g4 on c8. With g4 – g5 he wants to drive the knight on f6 off his good square and also gain space on the kingside.

Since the Keres attack is very dangerous for Black, some players prefer to choose the Najdorf variant and pass from there to Scheveningen after 6. Be2 or 6. Be3 with 6.… e7 – e6. This sequence of moves was z. B. popular with Garry Kasparov .

6.… Nb8 – c6

With 6.… Nb8 – c6 ignores White's attack and counts on rapid development and a counterattack.

7. g4-g5 Nf6-d7 8. Bc1-e3

8. Ndb5 Nb6 9. Bf4 Ne5 Black can avoid by 6.… a7 – a6 instead of 6.… Nb8 – c6

Bf8 – e7 9. h2 – h4 0–0 Black castles on the side on which White attacks. According to theory, this position can just about be maintained.

6.… h7 – h6

	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

Position after 6.… h7 – h6 and 10.… Nh5 – f6.

The move 6.… h7 – h6 is Black's most common reply and hinders the immediate 7. g4 – g5. 6.… d6 – d5? would follow the principle of countering a wing attack with a counterstrike in the center. However, the loss of speed turns out to be decisive (Black has drawn the d-pawn twice) and White can gain an advantage.

7. h2 – h4 prepares the advance g4 – g5 again.

7.… Nb8 – c6 8. Rh1 – g1 Now g4 – g5 is possible. Immediate 8. g4 – g5? fails on 8.… h6xg5 9. h4xg5, which after 9.… Rh8xh1 10. g5xf6 loses the rook, but only wins the knight.

8.… h6 – h5! Allows the knight to move Nf6 – g4 after g4 – g5

9. g4xh5 White changes his plans and opens the g- file .

9.… Nf6xh5 10. Bc1 – g5 Nh5 – f6

White now has a rook on the half-open g-file and an active bishop on g5. He plans to continue on the kingside after long castling. Therefore short castling is no longer an option for Black. He also plans to castle long or sometimes not at all. In contrast to White, who has an isolated h-pawn, Black has no structural weaknesses, which gives him an advantage in the endgame if he survives White's attack in the middle game. This structure is also achieved by direct 7. g4 – g5 h6xg5 8. Bc1xg5.

Be2 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

The Be2 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

Be2 variant after 11. Kg1 – h1

After 6. Bf1 – e2 White plans a classic setup with a quick 0–0.

6.… a7 – a6 later allows… b7 – b5 and… Bc8 – b7. However… Bf8 – e7 or… Nb8 – c6 are also possible immediately.

7. 0–0 Bf8 – e7 8. f2 – f4 White gains space on the kingside and has pressure on e5.

8.… 0–0 9. Bc1 – e3 Qd8 – c7 10. a2 – a4 Inhibits Black's typical approach on the queenside.

10.… Nb8 – c6 11. Kg1 – h1

Removes the king from the diagonal a7 – g1 and thus avoids all tactical tricks that involve chess on this diagonal. So z. B. Immediate 11. Qe1 the relief Nxd4 12. Bxd4 e5! 13. fe5 de5 14. Qg3 Bc5.

White plans to continue on the kingside and often plays g2 – g4 – g5 to drive the black knight off f6. Be2 – f3 places the bishop on the long diagonal to further inhibit Black's counterplay and then Bf3 – g2, which allows Qd1 – h5. Rf1 – f3 – h3 can be used to intensify the attack. To repel the attack, Black needs more pieces close to his king. For this, 11.… Rf8 – e8 is often drawn in order to free up the f8-square for other pieces. After g7 – g6 the bishop is brought into position with Be7 – f8 – g7, then the knight is transferred via d7 to f8, where he covers the potential mate-field h7 without being driven away. Black achieves counterplay in the center with the free strokes… d6 – d5 and… e6 – e5 or on the queenside with… b7 – b6 and… Bc8 – b7. The bishop is then on the long diagonal exactly opposite the opposing king. Well-known games are Karpow - Kasparow , 24th game of the World Chess Championship 1985 and Wei Yi - Lázaro Bruzón , 6th Hainan Danzu 2015.

literature

• Zbigniew Ksieski: Sicilian with d6 and e6. Scheveningen system and related. Volume A: Mittelspielpraxis . Schachverlag Kania, 1998, ISBN 3-931192-11-3 .
• Zbigniew Ksieski: Sicilian with d6 and e6. Scheveningen system and related. Volume B: Opening Practice . Schachverlag Kania, 1999, ISBN 3-931192-12-1 .
• Craig Pritchett : Starting Out . Sicilian Scheveningen. Everyman Chess , London 2006, ISBN 1-85744-413-2 (English).

Instructional videos

• Ľubomír Ftáčnik : Sicilian Scheveningen . ChessBase , Hamburg 2009, DVD-ROM, ISBN 978-3-86681-121-8 .

Individual evidence

1. ^ Anatoly Mazukewitsch : Sicilian Defense . Scheveningen system. Schachverlag Rudi Schmaus, Heidelberg 1986, p. 190 .
2. ↑ Maróczy - Euwe, Scheveningen 1923 at chessgames.com
3. ↑ John Emms: Sicilian Secrets, Everyman Chess, 2004, p. 61.
4. ↑ John Emms: Sicilian Secrets, Everyman Chess, 2004, p. 62.
5. ↑ John Emms: Sicilian Secrets, Everyman Chess, 2004, p. 66.
6. ↑ John Emms: Sicilian Secrets, Everyman Chess, 2004, p. 63.
7. ↑ John Emms: Sicilian Secrets, Everyman Chess, 2004, pp. 74-76.
8. ↑ Karpow - Kasparow, 24th game of the World Chess Championship 1985 at chessgames.com
9. ↑ Wei Yi - Lázaro Bruzón Batista, 6th Hainan Danzu 2015 at chessgames.com