Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation

Before the first move

The Scheveningen Variation of the Sicilian Defense is a bastion of resilience. By building a small center with pawns on d6 and e6, you create a flexible wall that blunts White's piece activity. White aims for rapid development and a kingside attack, while you prepare a counter-strike on the queenside or in the center.

1. e4White

White plays e4, the most common opening move in chess. By occupying the center, White prepares for quick development. You now have many choices, from the solid 1...e5 to the asymmetrical Sicilian Defense or the French Defense, each leading to vastly different strategic battles.

1... c5Black · your move

Move your pawn to c5 to enter the Sicilian Defense. Instead of mirroring White, you fight for the d4-square from the flank. This creates an unbalanced position where you trade a wing pawn for a central pawn, aiming for long-term winning chances.

Other paths here: f6 (Barnes Defense) · g5 (Borg Defense) · h6 (Carr Defense) · f5 (Duras Gambit)

2. Nf3White

White plays Nf3, preparing to open the center with d4. This is the most popular continuation, though you might occasionally see the Bowdler Attack with Bc4 or the Keres Variation with Ne2. White's knight is now perfectly placed to support the central breakthrough.

Other paths here: Qg4 (Sicilian Defense: Amazon Attack) · Bc4 (Sicilian Defense: Bowdler Attack) · Nh3 (Sicilian Defense: Brick Variation) · g4 (Sicilian Defense: Grob Variation)

2... d6Black · your move

Push your pawn to d6. This solidifies your control over the e5-square and prepares to develop your light-squared bishop. It also keeps the position flexible, allowing you to choose between several Sicilian structures depending on how White proceeds.

Other paths here: f5 (Sicilian Defense: Brussels Gambit) · h6 (Sicilian Defense: Bücker Variation) · g6 (Sicilian Defense: Hyperaccelerated Dragon) · e5 (Sicilian Defense: Jalalabad Variation)

3. d4White

White plays d4, initiating the Open Sicilian. This is the critical test of Black's setup. White could try the Delayed Alapin with c3 or the Kopec System with Bd3, but d4 leads to the most tactical and theoretically rich positions in the opening.

Other paths here: c3 (Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, with d6) · Bd3 (Sicilian Defense: Kopec System) · b4 (Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit, Deferred Variation) · b3 (Sicilian: 2.Nf3 d6 3.b3)

3... cxd4Black · your move

Capture the pawn on d4 with your c5-pawn. This trade is fundamental to the Sicilian: you give up a side pawn to remove White's central pawn. This gives you a semi-open c-file for your rook and a pawn majority in the center.

Other paths here: Nf6 (Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations, Anti-Qxd4 Move Order) · Nd7 (Lazy Knight Variation, Sicilian)

4. Nxd4White

White recaptures with Nxd4, placing a powerful piece in the heart of the board. You must now develop your pieces carefully to challenge this centralized knight. White could have recaptured with the queen, known as the Chekhover Variation, but the knight recapture is the main line.

Other paths here: c3 (Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations, Tartakower) · Qxd4 (Sicilian Defense: Chekhover Variation)

4... Nf6Black · your move

Develop your knight to f6. This move attacks the e4-pawn and forces White to defend it, usually with the knight on b1. It is a vital developing move that prepares you for castling and starts your counter-pressure against White's center.

Other paths here: g6 (Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Accelerated Dragon) · a6 (Sicilian: Open, 2...d6, 4...a6) · e5 (Sicilian: Open, 2...d6, 4...e5)

5. Nc3White

White plays Nc3, defending the pawn and developing naturally. This is the most common response, though White sometimes tries the Prins Variation with f3 or the more rare Bd3. The stage is now set for the main variations of the Open Sicilian.

Other paths here: Bc4 (Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations, Ginsberg Gambit) · f3 (Sicilian Defense: Prins Variation) · Bd3 (Sicilian: Open, 2...d6, 4...Nf6 5.Bd3)

5... a6Black · your move

Move your pawn to a6. This small move is incredibly important; it prevents White's knights or bishop from landing on b5. It also prepares for a future b5-pawn push to expand on the queenside and develop your bishop to b7.

Other paths here: Nc6 (Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation) · Bd7 (Sicilian Defense: Kupreichik Variation) · e5 (Sicilian: Open, 2...d6, 5.Nc3 e5) · Nbd7 (Sicilian: Open, 2...d6, 5.Nc3 Nbd7)

6. Be2White

White plays Be2, choosing the solid Classical approach. This is less aggressive than the English Attack with Be3 or the sharp Adams Attack with h3, but it is very difficult to crack. You must now decide how to complete your central pawn structure.

Other paths here: h3 (Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Adams Attack) · g4 (Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Dekker Gambit) · Be3 (Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English Attack) · Rg1 (Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Freak Attack)

6... e6Black · your move

Push your pawn to e6 to complete the Scheveningen small center. These pawns on d6 and e6 act as a shield, controlling the vital d5 and e5 squares. You are now ready to develop your dark-squared bishop and castle safely.

Other paths here: e5 (Sicilian: Najdorf, 6.Be2 e5) · Nbd7 (Sicilian: Najdorf, 6.Be2 Nbd7)

Where you stand

The game enters a deep strategic phase where White often castles kingside and seeks a central breakthrough or a kingside pawn storm with f4. Black will develop the dark-squared bishop to e7, castle, and look for counterplay on the queenside with b5 or a central break with d5. The battle revolves around Black's ability to hold the center while creating threats elsewhere.

• f8-e7 Develop bishop to e7 and prepare castling
• e1-g1 Castle kingside to secure the king
• b7-b5 Expand on the queenside to gain space
• f2-f4 Push the f-pawn to start kingside pressure
• c8-b7 Fianchetto the bishop to pressure e4