The Characteristic Boleslavsky Structure
The Paulsen or Boleslavsky structure arises when Black plays an early ...e5 or, as mentioned earlier, it can be reached from a Scheveningen (or Najdorf) when Black plays ...e5, usually after an earlier ...e6. The Paulsen structures are distinct from the Najdorf in that in the Paulsen Black's queen's knight is ordinarily developed on c6 while in the Najdorf the queen's knight is developed on d7.
White usually follows with f4, establishing a duo.
Then Black may capture on f4 with ...exf4, followed by ¿hz5.
The resulting structure is one where Black has an isolated d-pawn and White has an isolated e-pawn.
White retains the d5 square as an outpost, but it is noteworthy that here and in other continuations with the Boleslavsky/Paulsen formation, if for example after 4?M5 Black captures on d5 with a minor piece and White must recapture with exd5, the structure often turns decidedly in Black's favour.
Descendent Structures from the Boleslavsky Sicilian favour Black, especially if Black can meet fxe5 with a piece capture on e5.
One of the main notions behind the Paulsen/Boleslasky system is that, throughout the middlegame, Black can live with his backward d-pawn, mainly because it is not easily assailable with minor pieces and he can defend this pawn as much as it is attacked. There is also a very dynamic quality to the system in that if Black is able to put pressure on White's e-pawn with ...®f6, ...Jlb7 and possibly ...^c5, he also facilitates the powerful lever, ...d5.
Black's queen's knight on b6 in Najdorf Systems supports ...d5 and also threatens to place itself on c4.
However, the worst Boleslavsky Sicilian forms occur when Black's knight gets driven from f6 and White has an effective kingside avalanche of pawns. In these cases Black has little or no pressure on White's e-pawn, and loses in the battle for control of the d5 square.
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