Classical Scheveningen Introduction
1 e4 c5 2 £>f3 e6 3 d4 cd 4 Qxd4 4)f6 5 £)c3 d6 6 Ae2
Among chessplayers who are only superficially acquainted with the theory of the Sicilian Defence, there exists the opinion that this modest move leads to less interesting play than 6 g4 or 6 Ac4. Not so! The system with 6 Äe2 may not be quite so direct, but it is more solid and no less exciting than other lines of the Scheveningen. Double-edged play is unavoidable, and sacrifices (or counter-sacrifices) abound, since White is gunning for the Black king.
In the Classical Scheveningen this move is considered obligatory, since it secures a safe square for the queen on c7 and prepares counter-play on the queenside with b7-b5 etc. It is played at move six according to the principle "the sooner the better". Recent theory and praxis has somewhat altered the picture. While the move a7-a6 remains useful, it is no longer considered essential in the early stages of the game.
A "modern" handling of the Scheveningen has emerged in which Black delays or omits this prophylactic move. For some time it was eclipsed by its older sister, but 6 ... a6 remains, like a sunspot, and now we have two methods of conducting the defence: Classical and Modern. The merits of these two formations are considered to be equal by connoisseurs of the Sicilian Defence.
Praxis has shown that plans which involve a delay in the development of the kingside do not bring Black success against the well-principled development of White's forces. There is not yet any real target for Black, unlike positions in which White has already castled queenside. Therefore action on that flank will take time and solid preparation, which can only occur after Black has completed both development and castling.
Here are a few examples showing the risks involved when Black delays
a) 9 ... £>a5?! 10 f5i £c4 11 Axc4 #xc4 12fefe 13§xf6!gf 14 #h5+$d8 15 #f7!, Lasker — Pirc, 1935, or 10 ... e5 11 £b3 &c4 12 Ag5! £)xb2 13 #e1 &c4 14 &xf6 gf 15 £d5; or 10 ... 11 #e1 b5? 12#g3b4 13 fe fe 14®xg7 Sg8 15Ah5+®d8 16 #f7 gf8 17 £)xe6+ J£xe6 18#xe6bc 19e5!
b) 9 ... b5? 10 &xc6 #xc6 11 e5 de 12 fe Ac5 13 Af3 Axe3+ 14 <g?h1.
In each case White has a decisive attack.
Of course, these examples are a call for common sense in the opening, and not proof that Black's position is lost after 9 ... £5a5 10 f5. Even after 10 ... Ael, for example, Black can meet 11 #e1 with 11 ... £)c4 12 Sxc4 #xc4 13 #g3 0-0, i.e. 14Iad1 <S?h8 15fefe 16e5de 17 #xe5 ¿d7 and White's initiative comes to a full stop.
Besides, Black can avoid both 9 ... £)a5 and 9 ... b5 and find original play through 9 ... &d7, even though after 10 a4 Black has nothing better than transposing into the Classical variation with 10 ... Ae7. If White declines to play 10 a4, however, Black obtains queenside counter-play.
10 #e1, for example, seems most logical.
Black now has several options, other than 10 ... ¡k.e.7.
a) 10 ... <Sxd4 11 ^xd4 Ac6 12 Af3 (or 12 Axf6 gf 13 Ah5 0-0-0!?) 12 ... Ae7 13 #g3 0-0 14Iae1 g6, transposing to a comfortable line of the Classical, as the white bishop is misplaced on f3.
b) 10 ... b5 11 a3 (11 Af3 b4 12 £ce2 Ae7 13 #g3 0-0 again leads to a double-edged position. The complications which arise after 14 e5 de 15 fe Qxe5, or even 15 ... #xe5 are quite acceptable for Black.) branches off into two directions:
13Af3e5 14fede 15#g3Ad6!? 16 #xg7 ed 17 e5 Axe5 or the rather similar b2) 11 ... Ae7 12 #g3 0-0 13 e5! (All other moves lead to positions which are thoroughly discussed in the Classical variation, i.e. 13 ®h1, 13 Sad1, 13 §ae1.). In the final analysis this is a sharp tactical game which holds danger for both sides, and it comes about whenever Black succeeds in getting in an early ... b5. The subtleties of the variation will be discussed later by comparison with the e4-e5 thrust in the Classical Scheveningen.
What can we conclude about these variations? It seems that Black must not hasten to castle, but at the same time he can not delay castling for too long! Timing, in short, is everything.
This is the most logical move, but by no means the only one. If Black plays carefully he can delay castling in order to arrange his forces on the queenside, i.e. 8 ... Ad7 (8 ... £>c6 9 £xc6 be 10 e5 £>d5 11 £>e4 =) 9 Ae3 £>c6
Now Tukmakov-Petrosian, 1973, continued 10 a4 £>xd4 11 #xd4 Ac6 12 §fd1 0-0 13 a5 §ac8 14 Af3 d5! 15 e5 £d7 16 Qe2 Ab5 with an excellent game for Black.
Instead, White can play along standard lines with 10 #e1, practically forcing Black to transpose into the main lines, since on 10 ... e5 White seizes the initiative with 11 Qxc6! Axc6 12 fe de (12 ... £>xe4? loses to 13 Sd1 Ah4 14 4)xe4 Axel 15 £xd6+ Sf8 16
§xf7+<S?g8 17Ac4b5 18Ab3.) 13 #g3 with threats on g7 and e5. After 10 ... #c7 11 #g3
praxis has seen both 11 ... g6 12 Bad1 4lxd4 13 Axd4 Ac6 14 e5 de 15 fe £d7 16 Af3! ±, Tsesh-kovsky-Petkevich, 1977, and the reckless 11 ... h5 12 §ad1 (12 #xg7?! gg8 13 #h6 gives Black the option of taking the draw with 13 ... §g6 14 ®h8+ §g8 or continuing with 13 ... 0-0-0) 12 ... h4
13 #f2 0-0-0 (or 13 ... b5 14Af3 b4 15 4lce2 e5 16 fe de 17 4lb3 h3 18 g4 Qd8! = Hort-Filipowicz, 1971). 14 h3 §dg8 15 €>f3 Sh5 16 §fe1 ®b8 17 a3 4)d8 18 Ad3 f6 19 f5 g6 with a sharp game, Suetin-Tolush, 1958.
But does it really pay to push the h-pawn? White can force through e4-e5 by meeting 11 ... h5 with 12 Af3! h4 (12 ... 0-0-0 13 e5! de 14 £)xc6 Axc6 15 fe ±) 13#f2Sc8 (13 ... b5? 14 e5! or 13 ... 0-0-0
14 £xc6) 14Iae1!#b8 15 a4. Black has no counterplay to neutralise the threat of e4-e5 and this renders his position difficult.
8 ... #c7 9 Ae3 £>c6 10 #e1 £>xd4 11 Axd4 b5 also works toward the goal of rapid deploy-
ment of forces on the queenside.
After 12 #g3 0-0 (but not 12 ... b4? 13 e5 de 14 fe be 15 #xg7 If8 16 ef with a big edge for White) the game enters the Classical mold. But White can try to exploit the location of the Black king in the centre by playing 12 e5 de 13 fe. Now there is no point to 13 ... Ac5, as after 14 #f2! Axd4 15 #xd4 âd7 16 Axb5! White wins. That leaves only 13 ... Qd7 14 &e4 Ab7, where the defence is difficult after 15 Ad3 0-0 16 #g3. After 8 ... 0-0 White must decide what to do about the Ac1. He can deploy it immediately on e3 or b2, or he can forget about it for a while and carry out the final phase of the opening, regrouping his forces with the intention of operating in one area of the board.
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