[Event "Moscow"] [Site "Moscow"] [Date "2018.10.24"] [White "5.Nc3"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "FM Viktor Neustroev"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B43"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Knight Variation"] [StudyName "Webinars"] [ChapterName "6. Be3 & 6.g3"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/pwKDHqSR/5pTZfoaG"] [Orientation "black"] { Typical move for Black in these types of positions. Black is absolutely satisfied with Bxe5 dxe5 This is how they get rid of the weakness on d6 and take more control over the center. } 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 (4... Nc6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Bd3 d5 7. Nc3) 5. Nc3 Qc7 (5... b5 { is another popular option for Black nowadays. However, this option is considered risky compared to the classical 5...Qc7, which places the queen on a normal 'Kan' square. From c7, it attacks the e5-square and potentially participates into the attack on the c-file. }) (5... Nc6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 { [%cal Gd7d5] } 7. Bd3 d5 { [%csl Ga6][%cal Ga7a6] }) 6. Be3 (6. g3 Bb4 { Nowadays almost every player likes to fianchetto a light-squared bishop and it doesn't really matter if it's a Catalan or the first move was e4 and we have Sicilian on the board. However, the Kan move order copes well with 6.g3.6...Bb4 should be executed immediately, because this is how Black forces White to start defending their position. } 7. Bd2 Nf6 { Threatening to gain a pawn. } { [%cal Gb4c3,Gd2c3,Gf6e4] } 8. Bg2 { [%cal Gd1d4] } 8... Nc6 { This is a critical decision. Now White has to either take on c6 or retreat which means losing a tempo. } 9. Nxc6 { [%csl Gg2,Gd3] } 9... dxc6 (9... bxc6 { is more common for Kan Sicilian positions, but here Black may apply another plan and take control over the center. } { [%cal Gd7d5] }) 10. O-O Be7 (10... e5 11. Nd5! Nxd5 12. exd5 Bxd2 13. Qxd2 cxd5 14. Qxd5 { and Black is slightly better. } { [%csl Gb7][%cal Gd5b7,Ge8g8] }) 11. f4 e5 12. Kh1 (12. fxe5 Ng4 13. Qe1 Be6 $15 { Black successfully gets the knight to e5 while also blocking the pawn and restricting White's light-squared bishop. 5.Nc3 Moscow 2018 [FM Viktor Neustroev] [%cal Ge7c5,Gc7b6,Gg4e5] }) 12... h5! 13. h3 (13. f5 b5 $13 { With the idea to fianchetto and castle queenside. If needed, Black can play Nf6-d7.5.Nc3 Moscow 2018 [FM Viktor Neustroev] [%cal Gc8b7,Ge8c8] }) 13... Bg4!? (13... Bd6 { with b7-b5 on the next move leads to a solid, but approximately equal position. However, if you prefer sharp tactical play, 13...Bg4!? is definitely for you! } { [%cal Gb7b5] }) 14. hxg4 (14. Qe1 h4 { The main idea of 13...Bg4 was to prevent White from playing g3-g4. Now Black opens the position. } 15. gxh4 (15. fxe5 Nh5 16. hxg4 Nxg3+ 17. Kg1 Nxf1 { Black trades two minor pieces for a rook and pawn. } 18. Qxf1 h3 19. Bxh3 Rd8 20. Be3 Qxe5 $36 { The bishop on h3 is like a glorified pawn that only prevents queen penetration to the second rank. The position is considered to be equal, but quite sharp. Practically, Black has more chances to succeed due to White's king weakness. 5.Nc3 Moscow 2018 [FM Viktor Neustroev] [%csl Gh3][%cal Re5h2] }) (15. hxg4 hxg3+ 16. Kg1 Bc5+ 17. Be3 Qb6 18. Rf3 Nxg4 19. Nd1 exf4) 15... O-O-O 16. hxg4 Nxg4 17. Bh3 { [%cal Gh3c8] } 17... Qd7 { The knight on g4 is pinned, but it's not a problem for Black. There are too many threats for White in this position. } { [%cal Gd7h3,Gd7d2,Rg4f2] } 18. Rf3 (18. Bxg4 Qxg4) 18... Rxh4 19. Rd1 Nf2+ { Simplifying the position. } { [%cal Gh4h3] } 20. Qxf2 Rxh3+ 21. Rxh3 Qxh3+ { [%cal Gf2h2,Gh3f3,Ge7c5] } 22. Kg1 exf4 $17 { Black is able to gain a piece back and take advantage of having an extra pawn in the endgame. 5.Nc3 Moscow 2018 [FM Viktor Neustroev] [%csl Rd1,Rg2][%cal Gd2f4,Rd8d1,Rh3g4,Rf4f3,Re7c5] }) 14... hxg4+ 15. Kg1 Bc5+ 16. Rf2 Rd8 { To pin the bishop and weaken the f4-square. } { [%cal Gd1e1,Gf4e5,Gc7e5] } 17. Qe1 (17. fxe5 Qxe5 $19 { 5.Nc3 Moscow 2018 [FM Viktor Neustroev] [%csl Rg3][%cal Re5g3,Rc5g1] }) 17... Rxd2 18. Qxd2 exf4 { [%cal Gd2f4,Gc7f4,Gg3f4,Gg4g3] } 19. Kf1 Bxf2 { It's time to take to this rook and gain a piece back. } 20. Qxf2 f3 21. Bxf3 gxf3 22. Qxf3 Ng4 $19 { Despite of an equal material balance on board, it's an absolutely winning position for Black with tons of tactical options. 5.Nc3 Moscow 2018 [FM Viktor Neustroev] [%cal Gf3g4,Gh8h1,Bf1g1,Bc7b6] }) 6... Bb4 7. Qd2 (7. Qd3 Nf6 8. Be2? (8. Bd2 O-O 9. a3 Bxc3 { Retreating to e7 is also possible, but it only brings equality. } 10. Bxc3 d5 11. exd5 Nxd5 $15 { Black intends to capture on c3, ruin White's pawn structure, and continue their development. 5.Nc3 Moscow 2018 [FM Viktor Neustroev] [%csl Gc3][%cal Gc3d2,Gb7b5,Gc8b7] }) 8... Nxe4 9. Qxe4 Bxc3+ $17 { The bishop is poisoned and White loses a pawn. 5.Nc3 Moscow 2018 [FM Viktor Neustroev] [%csl Ga1][%cal Gb2c3,Gc7c3] }) 7... Nf6 8. Bd3 (8. f3) 8... d5 { [%csl Ge4][%cal Ga2a3,Gb4c3] } 9. exd5 (9. f3 e5 { Similar to 8.f3.5.Nc3 Moscow 2018 [FM Viktor Neustroev] [%csl Ge3,Gc3,Gd4][%cal Gd5d4] } 10. Nb3 d4 $19 { And White faces material losses. 5.Nc3 Moscow 2018 [FM Viktor Neustroev] } 11. Nxd4 exd4 12. Bxd4) 9... Nxd5 { A double attack. } 10. Nde2 Nxe3 11. Qxe3 { [%cal Gb8d7,Gd7f6,Ge8g8] } 11... Nd7 $15 { Black has the bishop pair and doesn't experience any problems with piece development. The only nuance is to not castle before Nf6 is played on the board. Otherwise, White has a tactical solution with Bxh7+ and Qe4+, gaining a pawn. 5.Nc3 Moscow 2018 [FM Viktor Neustroev] [%csl Gc8,Gb4][%cal Gd7f6] } *