Accelerated Dragon

The Accelerated Dragon mainline begins with e4, c5, Nf3 and Nc6.

From here, white can play Bb5, which is the Rossolimo, but we’ll look deeper into
this later.

Instead white can opt for a more central approach and strike with d4.

This immediately attacks our c4 pawn, and more importantly threatens the d5
advancement which would obliterate the black position.

Black’s only real way to continue is to play cxd4, followed by Nxd4.

Here we don’t want to play Nxd4, as they would recapture with their queen and we
have helped white develop.

Instead, we opt for g6 preparing to fianchetto our bishop.

An interesting sideline to look at first is the immediate Nxc6.

In almost any case in the Sicilian in which white captures on this square, we want
to play bxc6, capturing towards the centre.

Here, white can play the tricky Qd4.

We respond with the natural Nf6, blocking the queen's sight of our undeveloped
rook.

However now because the queen is active, and the knight on c6 no longer defends the
e5 square - the move e5 can be played for white.

Our knight needs to spring forwards here to d5, if c4 simply Nc7 back and respond
to e6 with f3.

After trades are made, black is better because e5 is now possible, taking space in
the centre - and black’s pieces become active with initiative.
If instead of d5 immediately kicking our knight, white plays e6 straight away, we
still play f6.

After trades are made, we still are slightly better because of the nice square for
our knight on d5, and the e5 push is unstoppable.

Instead of all of this though, on move 5 , white can play the immediate c4. This is
called the Maroczy Bind.

We delay the natural Bg7 here, and play Nf6 attacking the e5 pawn.

White's only real move here is Nc3, defending the pawn whilst developing another
piece.

But now, and the only time in any Sicilian line will we take on d4 with our knight.
This is because once the queen recaptures, Bg7 comes with tempo because of
discovery ideas.

But, we don’t rush with Bg7 as unless white loses a tempo purposely, the queen will
remain on d4.

Instead, we play d6, opening up the light squared bishop, and more importantly
stopping e5 - which would’ve been problematic had we played Bg7 immediately.

Be3 and Be2 are interchangeable here for white, and we continue the same regardless
of which they play. Finally playing Bg7 with the discovery tempo.

If Qd3, we’ve successfully won a tempo and continue with development, such as Be6

However if white plays more precisely with Be2, we still play Be6 whilst
threatening discoveries on the queen.

If 0–0, 0-0 and we’ve completed our development, and are finally ready to move the
knight on f6 as the bishop is now defending on the other side by the king.

White will sidestep this with Qd2, threatening to play Bh6 trading off our king's
fianchetto.

Here, we play Qa5 and have essentially equalised. If white tries Bh6 we play Bxh6,
Qxh6 and Rac8, winning the pawn on c4.

If white plays solidly with b3, we begin with a6, preparing b5 and trying to break
the Maroczy Bind in white’s centre.

However, white doesn’t have to play into the Maroczy Bind, and can instead play Nc3
on move 5.

Nc3 continues to develop, holds the loose pawn on e4 and controls any kind of d5
push from black.

Here, we simply play Bg7, fianchettoing the dark squared bishop whilst attacking
white’s central knight.

Unlike the Maroczy Bind line, we do not play the immediate Nf3 because white can
always trade on c6, then push for e5 because our knight on c6 no longer prevents
it.

E5 is a common theme in the Sicilian, as the knight on f6 will often have no useful
squares to land on (apart from when the knight can safely land on d5).

White will continue with Be3, defending their knight whilst developing another
piece.

Here, we simply play Nf6. Importantly e5 cannot be played here as the knight on c6
covers.

However there are some lines where Nxc6 is played for white, and after the
recapture e5 is possible.

In these situations, the knight should be retreated to g8. If f4 is played the

knight reroutes to h6 and if Bd4 is played f6 is a completely fine move to settle
the tension.

White can actually blunder here on move 7 if they don’t remember their move order
properly.

If white plays f3, we simply castle. The reason this is bad for white, is because
black can easily equalise with the move d5.

Bc4 doesn’t work because of Qb6, but we’ll look at that line in just a moment.
Nb3 is the only real try and stopping d5, but falls short to d5, exd5, Nb4, Bc4 and
b4.

No matter what white captures with, Bf4 will come and the pressure is
insurmountable on the c2 square.

Nxb4 and Na3 is possible to defend, but then the pawn will fall on d5, with white’s
pieces disorganised.

A more common move for white on move 7 though is the natural Bc4.

Here, it's very important to immediately castle. As if a slow move like h6 is

played, Nxc6, bxc6 and e5 will come. The difference here is white is prepared to
castle and black has no time to retreat to f8.

0-0 on move 7 allows the e8 square for the knight should an e5 push ever be
attempted, this time on the right side of the castled setup.

In this position, it's easy for white to make a mistake and let black into the
game.

White responding with 0-0 on move 8 can be met by the move Nxe4

If Nxe4, we play d4 forking the two pieces, white’s best option is to play Bxf7
instead of Nxe4.

White may also try to stop the move Ng4 on move 8 with the move f3.

This is also inaccurate, as it allows the move Qb6 attacking the pawn on b2, and
xraying the bishop through the knight on d4 (this is the line we mentioned earlier
and is simply a transposition).

Bb3 is white’s best move here, but it allows the brilliant Nxe4, as fxe4 would be
met with Bxd4, Bxd4, Qxd4, Qxd4 and Nxd4 seeing black enter the endgame a pawn up.

Instead of all of this though, white will play Bb3 immediately, evading any
tactical ideas black may be planning.

Here, we chase that bishop with a5. This seems like a hollow threat, as a4 would
not trap the bishop - however the idea is to eventually pry the knight on c3 away
from the defence of a4.

Ng4 is also a threat though, discovering attacks on the central d4 knight whilst
attacking the important dark squared bishop. So white will play f3 to prevent these
ideas, simultaneously holding the loose e4 pawn.

The whole idea of the Accelerated Dragon is to delay the d6 pawn push, and to play
d5 in one fell swoop.

D5 seems impossible here, but we’re sacrificing some pawns to get incredible
activity.

If Bxe5, Nxe5, Nxe5 we have f4 shredding open the position.

And if exd5 er have Nb4 immediately counterattacking the pawn we just gave away.

If Nde2 backpedalling to defend, we have a4 sacrificing another pawn for activity.

If either piece take, we reclaim the pawn with Nfxd5.

This move hits the bishop on e3, forcing Bf2.

We follow up with b4, Nac3 and Be6.

Whilst with perfect play, white can attempt to play on, their pieces are immensely
disorganised, and at the very least black can easily bail out for drawing
opportunities by doubling and isolating white's queenside majority, potentially
even playing for a win with a 4v3 on the kingside.

Rossolimo

On move 3 in the Sicilian Defence, white can already stray away from the mainline,
and try Bb5. This is the Rossolimo.

Here, we play g6, and allow white to take our knight on c6, recapturing with the b
pawn.

Nine times out of ten white will trade this bishop off and proceed to castle
kingside.

After 0-0, we simply play Bg7, putting pressure along the long diagonal and making
way for our king to castle short.

Re1 is a common move for white, slowly improving their position and defending the
loose pawn on e4.

If we play the natural Nf6, white will play e5 kicking the knight. It looks like we
can just go to d5, but they kick us again with c4.

Although we can go back to c7, in the Rossolimo our pawn on c5 can become very
weak, and because we’ve allowed the c5 advancement with tempo, we can never play d6
to defend it.

So instead, we play the unorthodox Nh6 to develop the knight and prepare to castle.

From here, white will play c3, preparing to break in the centre with d4.

We continue with our own plan though and castle kingside.

White will continue to play d4, to which we challenge them for central space with
d5.

White will advance their e pawn to e5 here, forcing us to play with the backwards c
pawn.

But here we play f6, attempting to undermine white’s centre from the side and gain
majority central control.

White will take on f5, to which we recapture with exf6.

Eventually, our light squared bishop can become outposted on e4, we reroute our
knight into the game, bring rooks to the e file and enjoy some dynamic attacking
chances at the expense of a backwards pawn.

Alternatively, white can play a sideline to the Rossolimo with the move Nc3 on move
3.

White still intends on playing Bb5, but will delay it for a single move to develop
their knight.

Here, we allow white to land their bishop on b5 with the move g6, attempting to
transpose into standard Rossolimo theory.

If white plays for d5, we allow it and transpose into the Accelerated Dragon
mainline.
However, they can also finally play Bb5, with similar intentions as the regular
Rossolimo.

Here, we just play Bg7, if white takes on c6, again this transposes.

However, if they continue to stall this capture, and play something like 0-0, we
play Nd4.

We have no intention of taking white’s light squared bishop here, but if white
captures our knight on d4, we play cxd4.

This forces white’s knight back to e2, and allows us to play Nf6 counterattacking
white’s central pawn.

If Nxd4, Nxe4.

But if e5, we first play Ng4, again attacking the loose e pawn.

If white tries to hold with f4, we have the crushing d3. If white accepts this pawn
sacrifice, we have Qb6+ picking up the bishop.

If they play Nd4, moving the knight and discover attacking our knight on g4, we can
play dxc2.

If Qxg4, we have Qb6 winning the loose, pinned knight.

If white plays Nxc2 instead of taking our knight, we play Qb6+ anyway. If white
plays Kh1 Nf2+ wins material.

But if d4, just play Qxb5 and after Qxg4 we win tempo with d6, undermining white’s
huge centre with a discovery.

Alapin

Instead of either of those options, white can try to immediately play for central
space, playing a more direct c3 on move 2.

The intention is clear, white wants to play immediately for d4, supported by the c3
pawn.

Here, we simply play Nf6 posing a threat to white’s loose e4 pawn, making them deal
with it before they can play for the centre.

The only real move here for white is e5, kicking the knight.
This leaves a hole on d5 though for our knight to jump into.

If white plays c4, we play Nc7 and it transposes into a weird Maroczy Bind, but
white will always have an overextended e pawn.

This is not good for white, and will not be played.

D4 will most likely be played next, or at least at some point transposing.

Here, we just play cxd4, and after cxd4 we play the silent d6.

If white takes, we recapture with the queen and black has reclaimed the initiative.

But instead, white will defend the e5 pawn by playing Nf3.

We can counter this easily though, with Nc6, applying pressure to e5.

White can gain a tempo by responding with Bc4, but we reclaim it with Nb6 attacking
the bishop.

After Bb5 pinning the knight, we play dxe5, Nxe5 and Bd7 breaking the pin.

White’s only move to not lose central control is to play Nxd7, to which we
recapture with the queen.

Nc3 will be played, trying to play for d5, but we simply play e6 here, defending
the d5 square whilst opening our dark squared bishop.

Smith-Morra

One of the most difficult gambits to face in the Sicilian is the Smith-Morra
gambit.

It comes after e4, c5, and the immediate d4.

D4 obviously doesn’t gambit a pawn, as the queen could just recapture.

But after cxd4, white will play c3, attempting to reclaim the centre.

Of course, this does gambit the pawn away, but if black takes on c3 to relieve
their weak pawn, white will get easy development.

To avoid all theory, you can just play Nf6 here attempting to transpose into the
Alapin.

If white takes with the queen in the centre, we just play Nc6 developing with
tempo.

If white takes with the pawn, we play Nxe4 and now we’re really up a pawn, and
white has no tricks.

However, white will most likely play e5 kicking the knight first.

We play Nd5 here, evading the pressure. If cxd4 we just play d6 and we’ve
successfully transposed into the Alapin.
If Qxd4 we just play e6 with Nc6 to be played with tempo on the next move.

Grand Prix Attack

The Grand Prix Attack is a very aggressive way of playing against the Sicilian, but
white could leave themselves with a lot of weaknesses if they don’t play precisely.

It begins with e4, c5 and the immediate Nc3.

This promptly defends the loose e4 pawn, and protect the d5 square deeming Nf6 an
improbable move for black.

So instead, we play the simple Nc6.

If white plays any standard move, it will most likely transpose into something
we’ve already looked at.

However, white can try for f4 in the Grand Prix taking massive central space, and
having a half open file for its rook in all middlegames.

We reply with the traditional g6, preventing any f5 business temporarily, and
preparing to fianchetto our dark squared bishop.

Nf3 will probably come next (keep in mind a lot of Grand Prix players play very
systematically) to which we reply with the logical Bg7.

Bb5 is a likely continuation, as white intends on trading off the bad light squared
bishop. As after the move d3 is played opening white’s dark squared bishop - the
pawn structure will be all on light squares.

We don’t want to allow this, so we play Nd4

If white takes on d4, we play cxd4 kicking the knight, and after Ne2 we have a lot
of tricks on the a7 to g1 diagonal (which the king would be on).

We also have d3 pawn sacrifice ideas to open that diagonal, and pick up the bishop
with a fork.

Nh6 is a standard developing move here though, allowing castling on the next move.

White may not take though, and if they short castle we play the simply a6.

This forces the bishop to retreat, and because we mentioned it's a bad bishop it
becomes a liability in the white position if not traded.

Be2 can be played here and you can see that the bishop doesn’t play a role in
white’s position, and congests the other pieces.

Here, we continue with e6, opening up our light squared bishop and gaining a
stronghold on the f5 square.

White should play d3, opening up their dark squared bishop to which we continue to
develop with Ne7, adding another layer of defence to the f5 square.

Should white attempt to take on d4 now we still take with the c pawn.
The bishop is no longer on a forking square, and the d3 sacrifice is not possible
anymore - so this is playable for white.

However, a new problem arises with the bishop on e2 - the knight has no good
squares so Nb1 will be played

We simply castle here, and are actually significantly better.

Closed Sicilian

The Closed Sicilian, alike the Grand Prix Attack begins with e4, c5, Nc3 and Nc6.

The Grand Prix is much more common from this position, however white could employ
different plans and go for g3 here.

We don’t differ from our usual plans here though, and play g6 intending on
fianchettoing the bishop.

After white plays Bg2, we copy with Bg7.

It's quite common from this point for white to launch the f pawn to f4.

The entire point of playing in this fashion is to play with Grand Prix ideas, with
the light squared bishop not being a problematic piece.

We respond with d6 here, opening up our bishop and solidifying our centre.

After Nf3, we play Nf6.

It's important to note that e5 isn’t playable here for white, because after dxe5,
fxe5 we have Ng4, and the pawn is lost for white.

So instead, white will play 0-0 to which we also play 0-0.

White will continue improving their position with the simple d3 here, opening their
dark squared bishop whilst holding their e4 pawn.

From here, we play for moves like a6-b5, we put our rook on b8, trade off white’s
fianchetto and look for pawn breaks like c4 to open up the position.

Because of white’s overextensions the game is extremely sharp once the fianchetto
is traded, and white will have to tread carefully.