Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation
ECO B33 · 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5
The Sveshnikov Variation, 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6, accepts a backward d-pawn and a hole on d5 in exchange for active pieces and time. Once considered dubious, it was rehabilitated by Evgeny Sveshnikov and is now a top-level main line.
Plans for White
After 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 White fights for d5 with Bxf6 and Nd5, reroutes the a3 knight via c2 to e3, and undermines b5 with a4. White aims for a lasting grip on the light squares.
Plans for Black
Black uses the bishop pair, plays ...f5 to attack the center, ...Bg5 to trade the bad bishop, and keeps active pieces. Dynamic play on the kingside often compensates for the structural weaknesses.
Typical pawn structures
Black pawns on d6 and e5 with doubled f-pawns after Bxf6 gxf6; White's knight on d5 is the key piece.
Who it suits
Concrete players who accept structural weaknesses for dynamic compensation and are ready to study forcing lines.
Common traps
Black must not allow Nd5 and c3-Nc2-e3 to complete without counterplay. White must avoid letting ...f5 and ...fxe4 open lines toward the white king.
Variations
- Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Chelyabinsk Variation — 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5
- Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Novosibirsk Variation — 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7
- Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Peresypkin's Sacrifice — 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bxb5