Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation
ECO B80 · 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6
The Scheveningen Variation sets up Black's pawns on d6 and e6, the so-called small center, after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6. It is named after the Dutch town where it was first played seriously in 1923.
Plans for White
The Keres Attack (6.g4) is White's sharpest try, gaining kingside space before Black castles. Other plans include the English Attack with Be3, f3, Qd2 and g4, or classical lines with Be2, O-O and f4.
Plans for Black
Black keeps a compact center and prepares ...a6, ...Qc7, ...Be7, ...O-O, then counterattacks with ...b5 or the central breaks ...d5 or ...e5.
Typical pawn structures
The small center d6/e6 against White's e4 pawn, with the c-file half-open for Black and the d-file for White.
Who it suits
Solid but ambitious Sicilian players who like flexible structures.
Common traps
In the Keres Attack, g4-g5 can drive the f6 knight away and expose Black's king. Sacrifices on e6 and d5 are thematic once Black's king is stuck in the center.
Variations
- Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation — 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2
- Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Delayed Keres Attack — 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4
- Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Fianchetto Variation — 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. g3
- Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Keres Attack — 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. g4
- Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Matanovic Attack — 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. f4
- Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Vitolins Variation — 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bb5+
- Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Modern Variation — 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 Nf6
- Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, English Attack, with f3 — 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. f3
- Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, English Attack, with Qd2 — 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. Qd2
- Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Tal Variation — 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. f4 Nc6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qf3
- Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Main Line — 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Be3 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. Qe1 O-O
Related variations
- Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Closed
- Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit
- Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon
- Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Czerniak Attack
- Sicilian Defense: Kronberger Variation
- Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack
- Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit
- Sicilian Defense: French Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations
- Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation
- Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Grand Prix Attack
- Sicilian Defense: Morphy Gambit
- Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack
- Sicilian Defense: Hyperaccelerated Pterodactyl
- Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted
- Sicilian Defense: Chekhover Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Prins Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Pin Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation