(anit) Sicilian

(Anti) Sicilian - Introduction

The 'Sicilian defence' was named by Jacob Henry Sarratt, considered the best player in England in 1805, he coined the name 'Sicilian defence' after the homeland of Don Pietro Carrera, who in 1617 first published this defence in his book titled 'The game of chess'. The 'Sicilian defence' is an aggressive response to white's E4 pawn push. Both sides have numerous lines that are more difficult to evaluate than any other defence. It was regarded as an inferior defence until Louis Charles de la Bourbonnais demonstrated in the 1830's that it gave black a satisfactory game. From that point on the 'Sicilian defence' has become a popular response to white's E4 pawn push by aggressive players looking for a win. However because of it's breadth of variations it is easy for either side to find themselves in an unfamiliar position, anti-Scilian openings are those which aim to due exactly that, to force black out of open Sicilian theory and force them into more closed positional games.

The 'Sicilian defence' was named by Jacob Sarrat, it's an aggressive response to the king's pawn opening. It is the most complex defence with a breadth of variations which can leave even a veteran in unfamiliar waters.

(Anti) Sicilian - Closed Defence

The traditional 'Closed variation', much like its open counterparts is one of the oldest openings in chess. Its earliest recorded games go as far back as the 18th century; however, the closed variation was most likely around long before then, quite possibly as old as the form of chess which we are familiar with today. By no means an unorthodox opening, the closed variation is a less common response to the 'Sicilian defence', giving it the potential to force black out of their comfort zone. The Closed, when compared to the Open variations generally results in more positional and less dynamic games, but more importantly the Closed is far less complex than the Open Sicilian. Though technically, white gives up their opening advantage, and black is not faced with any tangible difficulties, it can bring a Sicilian player out of their comfort zone, forcing them to play a more positional game as opposed to letting them rest on the laurels.

The Closed defence often results in positional games, despite white conceding their opening advantage, they force Sicilian players into a positional rather than dynamic style of play.

(Anti) Sicilian - Canal attack

The Canal attack has also been known as the Moscow variation of the Sicilian defence, however this may very well be a case of cultural nomenclature. In this variation white often looks to exchange light-squared bishops and control the light squares with their pawns. They aim to push pawns to C4 and E4 creating the Maróczy Bind pawn structure. This is considered an anti-Sicilian variation, in the sense that though it allows black to equalise the position early, it pulls black out of Sicilian theory. This is a great tool for E4 players who want to avoid the complex theory in open Sicilian variations. The Moscow variation was originally developed in the 1930's, presumably by Russian grandmasters. Esteban Canal, a Peruvian International master was one of the earliest and most important contributors to the variation, which is why it bears his name today.

In the Canal attack white often looks to exchange light-squared bishops and control the light squares with their pawns with the aim of pusing pawns to C4 and E4 creating the Maróczy Bind.

Introduction to the (anti) Sicilian

(Anti) Sicilian - Introduction

(Anti) Sicilian - Closed Defence

(Anti) Sicilian - Canal attack