Sicilian four knights game
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6th |
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4th |
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1 |
a | b | c | d | e | f | G | H |
Basic position of the four-knight variant after 5. Nb1 – c3 Nb8 – c6
The Sicilian Four Knights Game is a variant of the Sicilian defense . It is classified in the ECO codes under the key B45 and is created according to the trains
1. e2 – e4 c7 – c5
2. Ng1 – f3 e7 – e6
3. d2 – d4 cxd4
4. Nf3xd4 Ng8 – f6 (Nb8 – c6)
5. Nb1 – c3 Nb8 – c6 (Ng8 – f6)
Also in the Sweschnikow system and the classical system (2.… d7 – d6 instead of 2.… e7 – e6) all knights are developed very early, but it is precisely this variant that bears the name of the four knights game. Black is able to develop his f8 bishop to an active square, but compared to other Sicilian systems has not yet played a7-a6 and therefore has no control over the b5 square. White can try to use this as in Sveshnikov and play 6. Nd4 – b5, which threatens Nb5 – d6 +. The alternative is to swap the knights 6. Nd4xc6 bxc6 and drive the knight to f6 with e4 – e5.
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6. Nd4 – b5 The advance in the center with 6.… d7 – d5 7. exd5 exd5 8. Bc1 – f4 and Nb5 – c7 + can no longer be prevented with a rook win.
- 6.… d7 – d6 leads to the main variant of the Sveshnikov system . 7. Bc1 – f4 e6 – e5 8. Bf4 – g5 is a move order that is often chosen in practice.
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6.… Bf8 – b4 Now you come with 7. Nb5 – d6 + ?! not at an advantage: 7.… Ke8 – e7 8. Nd6xc8 Ra8xc8 9. Bf1 – d2 d7 – d5 and Black has a big lead in development.
- 7. Bc1 – f4 !? Nf6xe4 8. Qd1 – f3 d7 – d5 9. 0–0–0 Bxc3 10. Nb5 – d6 + Ke8 – f8 11. bxc3 sacrifices a pawn. The game is very sharp and Black has to be careful not to make any mistakes.
- 7. a2 – a3 Bb4xc3 (It would be unfavorable to pull the bishop back with to a5. 7.… Bb4 – a5 8. Nb5 – d6 + and White has an advantage, since the knight can assert himself on d6) 8. Nb5xc3 d7 – d5 A counter strike in the Center 9. exd5 exd5 10. Bf1 – d3 0–0 11. 0–0 Black has space advantage and free pawn play. White, however, has the isolated pawns on d5 an easy target, even a healthy pawn structure and the bishop pair .
- 6. Nd4xc6 bxc6 7. e4 – e5 attacks the f6 knight. 7.… Nf6 – d5 8. Nc3 – e4 plans to drive out the knight on d5 again with c2 – c4. 8. Nc3xd5 would only strengthen Black's center after cxd5. 8.… Qd8 – c7 attacks the pawn on e5 to force 9. f2 – f4 . This weakens the diagonal g1 – a7, in which Black immediately settles with 9.… Qc7 – b6 .
See also
- Four knights game namesake after 1. e2 – e4 e7 – e5
literature
- Alexei Suetin : Textbook of chess theory, Sportverlag Berlin , 1974.