Sicilian in suit

	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

1. c2-c4 e7-e5

A Sicilian suit is an opening in the game of chess . It develops from the English opening and is one of the closed games . In the ECO codes , Sicilian in Suit is classified under the keys A20 – A29.

Each of its main variants begins with the following moves ( see also: chess notation ):

1. c2-c4 e7-e5

The sequence of moves corresponds to the Sicilian Defense with reversed colors : 1. e2 – e4 c7 – c5

Variants and opening ideas

White now has two main continuations with which he fights for control of the central d5 square:

• 2. Sb1-c3
• 2. g2 – g3 (with bishop's fianchetto )

Less common are:

• 2. e2 – e3, 2. d2 – d3 and 2. Ng1 – f3

Both main systems can merge into each other in the further course of the game by changing trains. The naming of this opening can also be seen in the English four knights game :

2. Nb1-c3 Ng8-f6

3. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6

4. g2 – g3, because after 4.… d7 – d5

5. c4xd5 Nf6xd5 a position has now arisen that is characteristic of the dragon variant or accelerated dragon variant of the Sicilian Defense with exchanged colors and a higher speed for white . Due to the white speed, a line-up according to the "classic variant" of the kite is called for. After 6. Bf1 – g2 Black pulls his Nd5 back to b6 to prevent d2 – d4. This is done by keeping the d-file open with Bf8-e7 after 7. 0-0.

Accordingly, there is also the reaction in the sense of the Rossolimo variant of the Sicilian Defense, 4.… Bf8 – b4, not only on 4. g2 – g3, but also after the main alternative 4. e2 – e3 and on the third move to an immediate 3 g2-g3.

The retention of Ng1 – f3 at 3. g2 – g3 makes the Keres variant 3.… c7 – c6 useful. Because the pawn e4, lured by 4. Ng1 – f3 e5 – e4, can be stabilized by d7 – d5.

After 3. Ng1 – f3 Nb8 – c6 4. e2 – e3 Bf8 – b4 5. Qd1 – c2 a distinction is made between the Romansh variant 5.… Bb4xc3 and the Stean variant 5.… 0–0 6. Nc3 – d5 Rf8 -E8 7. Qc2-f5. Black's pawn sacrifice 4. e2 – e3 Bf8 – b4 5. Nc3 – d5 e5 – e4 6. Nf3 – g1 0–0 7. a2 – a3 Bb4 – d6 8. Qd1 – c2 Rf8 – e8 9. Ng1 – e2 b7 –B5 was introduced from Romansh.

Besides that still exist

Nenarokow variant: 4. d2 – d4 e5xd4 5. Nf3xd4 Bf8 – b4 6. Bc1 – g5 h7 – h6 7. Bg5 – h4 Bb4xc3 8. b2xc3 Nc6 – e5

Bradley Beach Variation: 4. d2 – d4 e5 – e4

Nimzowitsch variant: 4. e2 – e4

Variation of Marini: 4. a2 – a3

Capablanca variant: 4. d2 – d3

The Bellon Gambit 1. c2 – c4 e7 – e5 2. Nb1 – c3 Ng8 – f6 3. Ng1 – f3 e5 – e4 4. Nf3 – g5 b7 – b5 strives for a strong black pawn center towards 5. c4xb5 d7 – d5 or 5 Sc3xb5 c7-c6 6. Sb5-c3 d7-d5 on. The immediate fight against the black pawn center is 5. d2 – d3.

According to the Sicilian Defense there is also a closed structure with 2.… Nb8 – c6 and 3.… g7 – g6. An example game is Smyslow-Liberson, USSR Championship 1968 .

The renunciation of Nb1 – c3 is noticeable in 2. g2 – g3 c7 – c6 3. Ng1 – f3 e5 – e4 4. Nf3 – d4 d7 – d5 5. c4xd5 on Qd8xd5. 6. Nd4 – c2 Ng8 – f6 7. Nb1 – c3 drives the queen away. On h5, however, the queen will be eyeing the weakened field on h3.

literature

• Nigel Davies: The English Opening . chessbase-DVD, ISBN 978-3-86681-088-4 .
• Lorin D'Costa: ABC of the English Opening . chessbase-DVD, ISBN 978-3-86681-440-0 .
• Simon Williams : The English Opening Vol. 1 . chessbase-DVD, ISBN 978-3-86681-477-6 .
• Mihail Marin: English opening 1 - GM Rep. 3 . Quality Chess, 2010 ISBN 978-1-906552-24-4 .
• Carsten Hansen Gambit Guide to the English Opening 1.… e5 Gambit, 1999, ISBN 978-1-901983-19-7 .