[Event "Rossolimo - Sicilian 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 e6"]
[Site "ChessOK"]
[Date "1991.07.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Salov, Valery"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2770"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[ECO "B30v"]
[EventDate "1991.07.14"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 {This is one of the most elastic objections 
to the system with Bb5. Black prepares developing his king's knight to e7 
followed by repelling the b5-bishop by a7-a6. At that, Black tries to 
avoid doubling the queenside pawns in the case of ¥xc6} 4. O-O ( 4. Bxc6 
bxc6 5. O-O {Black obtains a flexible position by transferring his 
g8-knight to g6. } 5. ... Ne7 6. b3 Ng6 7. Bb2 f6! 8. d4 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Be7 
10. c4 O-O 11. Nc3 Qc7 12. Qd2 a6 13. Rad1 Bb7 14. f4 Rad8 15. Nde2 f5 { 
Savon - Gulko, Vilnius (zt) 1975} ) 4. ... Nge7 5. c3 {One of the guiding 
motifs in White's play is creating the pawn center by means of d2-d4. } 
5. ... d5 {Preventing White's designs of erecting the powerful pawn 
center. However, play is opened up in this region of the board and Black 
must act accurately to neutralize White's development lead.} ( 5. ... a6 
6. Ba4 b5 ( 6. ... d5 7. exd5 Qxd5 8. d4 Bd7 ( 8. ... b5? 9. c4!! Qd6 ( 
9. ... Qxc4 10. Bb3 Qb4 11. Bd2 +- ) 10. cxb5 Nxd4 11. bxa6+ Nec6 12. Bf4!
+- Qd5 13. Nxd4 cxd4 14. Nc3 {1-0 Wahls - Du.Rajkovic, Germany 1992} ) 9. 
Re1 Rd8 10. c4! Qxc4 11. Nbd2 Qd5 12. Bb3 Qh5 13. Ne4 Nf5 +/- {Spassky - 
Timman, Amsterdam 1977} ) 7. Bc2 d5 {After having ousted the white bishop 
from the striking diagonal a4-e8, Black conducts the d7-d5 advance at 
last. The b7-b5 advance however may have a drawback rendering the black 
queenside occasionally vulnerable after the possible a2-a4 detriment. } 8.
 e5 ( 8. d3!? ) 8. ... d4 9. Be4 Bb7 ( 9. ... d3?! 10. b3 Ra7 11. Re1 Rd7 
12. c4?! ( 12. Ba3!? = ) 12. ... b4 ( 12. ... Nb4! =+ ) 13. Re3 ( 13. Bb2!
) 13. ... g6 14. Qf1 Bg7 15. Bb2 =+ { H.Olafsson - Jonasson, Gardabaer 
1996} ) 10. a4!? {This thematic detriment of the black pawn structure on 
the queenside can frequently be found, for example, in the Ruy Lopez. } 
10. ... Ng6 11. axb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Na3 Na7?! {This is a too 
passive retreat, which allows White to take over the initiative. } 14. 
Bxa8 Qxa8 15. Qb3 Qb7 ( 15. ... c4! 16. Nxc4 bxc4 17. Qa4+ Kd8 18. Nxd4 =+
{Sveshnikov} 18. ... Qb7 19. Nf3 Qc7 20. Rd1 Nc6 ) 16. cxd4 cxd4 17. Nxd4 
Bxa3 18. bxa3 Nxe5 19. Bb2 Nc4 ( 19. ... O-O 20. Nxe6 ) 20. Qg3!! O-O 21. 
Bc3 g6?? 22. d3! Nb6 23. Qe5 Nd7 ( 23. ... f6 24. Qxe6+ ) 24. Qg7+ {1-0, 
Sveshnikov - R.Sherbakov, Moscow 1991} ) 6. exd5 Qxd5 ( 6. ... Nxd5 7. d4 
cxd4 8. cxd4 Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Re1 += ) 7. Re1! ( 7. d4 cxd4 8. c4 Qd6 9.
 Nxd4 Bd7 10. Nxc6 Nxc6 11. Nc3 a6 12. Ba4 Qxd1 13. Rxd1 Ne5! = { Timman -
Sveshnikov, Wijk aan Zee 1981} ) 7. ... Bd7 8. Na3 {By the pattern, the 
position resembles some variations from the system 2.c3, Sicilian defense.
Besides, the white queen's knight development to a3 can frequently be 
found in that system} 8. ... Ng6 ( 8. ... Nf5? 9. Bf1 Be7? 10. Nb5 Rc8 11.
 c4 +- ) 9. Bf1 ( 9. Bc4!? {White decides to build his play on exploiting 
the exposed position of the black queen in the center of the board. } 
9. ... Qh5 {
file:///D:/chessOK_courses/ctart.chessok.com/course/chess-opening-sicilian-defense-1-e4-c5/rossolimo-variation-3-bb5/3-bb5-e6.html
} 10. d4 cxd4 11. Nb5 Rc8 12. Be2! Qd5 ( 12. ... dxc3 13. Ng5?! ( 13. bxc3
Qf5 14. Bf1 a6 15. Nd6+ Bxd6 16. Qxd6 Nce7 = ) 13. ... cxb2 14. Bxh5 
bxa1=Q 15. Nxf7! Qf6?! ( 15. ... Bb4! 16. Nbd6+ Kf8 17. Nxc8 Bxc8 18. Bxg6
hxg6 19. Nxh8 =+ Kg8 20. Re4 Ba3 21. Nxg6 Bxc1 22. Rh4 =+ Bb2 23. Rh8+ Kf7
24. Qxa1 Bxa1 25. Rxc8 Kxg6 26. Rc7 Nd8 27. h3 =+ ) 16. Nxh8 a6 17. Nd6+ 
Bxd6 18. Qxd6 += {  Fercec - Sveshnikov, Nova Gorica 1999)} ) 13. Nfxd4 a6
?! {Taking into account an endangered position of his queen in the center,
Black should rather discharge tension in the center by} ( 13. ... Nxd4 14.
 Nxd4 Qa5 15. a4 Be7 16. Bf3 Qc7 17. Nb5 Qb8 18. Be3 a6 19. Nd4 O-O 20. 
Nf5 Bc6 21. Nxe7+ Nxe7 += {Ulibin - Krasenkow, Swidnica 1997} ) 14. Bf3! 
Qc5 15. Be3! Nce5? ( 15. ... Nxd4 16. Nxd4 Qc7 17. Nf5 Ne5 18. Bd4 f6 19. 
Bxe5 fxe5 20. Ne3 Bc5 +/- ) 16. Bxb7! axb5 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. Bxc5 Rxc5 19.
 Be4 Be7 20. Qd4 +- {1-0, Rublevsky - Shabalov, Elista (ol) 1998} ) 9. ...
 Be7 10. d4 cxd4 11. Nb5 Rc8 12. Nfxd4 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 a6 ( 13. ... O-O 14. 
Nb5! a6 15. Qxd5 exd5 16. Nd4 += ) ( 13. ... Qa5!? 14. g3 O-O 15. Bg2 e5 
16. Nc2 Bc6 17. Bxc6 bxc6 18. h4 Rfe8 19. Qg4 Nf8 20. Ne3 += {Gelfand - 
Sveshnikov, Ljubljana 1995} ) 14. g3! { A typical maneuver: by 
transferring the bishop to the h1-a8 diagonal, White targets the black 
queenside. } 14. ... b5?! ( 14. ... e5? 15. Nf5 Qxd1 16. Nxg7+ Kf8 17. 
Rxd1 Bg4 18. Bh6 Kg8 19. Rd2 Bf8 20. h3 +- Bxg7 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. hxg4 ) (
14. ... Qc5! 15. Bg2 b5 ) 15. Bg2 Qc5 16. h4! += {This is also a typical 
method, which reveals the black g6-knight's shaky position. } 16. ... Bf6 
17. Be3 Qc7 18. Nf5! ( 18. h5 Ne7 19. h6 O-O! 20. hxg7 Bxg7 21. Qh5 e5 += 
) 18. ... O-O 19. Nd6 Rcd8 20. Nb7 Rc8 ( 20. ... Rb8?! 21. Nc5 Bc8 22. h5 
+/- ) 21. Nd6 Rcd8 22. Nb7 Rc8 23. h5! ( 23. Nc5! Bc6! 24. Nxa6 Qb7 25. 
Nc5 Qc7 26. Qe2 Ne5 27. Bd4 Bxg2 28. Kxg2 Rfd8 29. Bxe5 Qxc5 30. Bxf6 gxf6
+/- 31. Red1 Kf8 32. a3 Qc6+ 33. Qf3 Rxd1 34. Rxd1 Qxf3+ 35. Kxf3 Ke7 36. 
Rd4 h5 37. Rb4 Rc5 38. a4 bxa4 39. Rxa4 f5 +/- ) 23. ... Ne5 ( 23. ... Bc6
? 24. Bxc6 Qxc6 25. Na5! Qc7 26. hxg6 Qxa5 27. gxf7+ Rxf7 28. Qd6 +/- ) 
24. Bf4 Bc6! 25. Bxc6 Qxc6 26. Bxe5 Bxe5 27. Rxe5 Qxb7 28. h6 Qe7! ( 
28. ... g6? 29. Qd4 Rc4 30. Rxb5! Qh1+ 31. Kxh1 Rxd4 32. Rb6 +- ) ( 
28. ... Rfd8 29. Qg4 g6 30. Qg5 Qf3 31. Rc5! += {± V.Salov} ) 29. hxg7 ( 
29. a4! Rfd8 30. Qg4 g6 31. axb5 axb5 +/- 32. Rxb5 Rd7 33. Qf4 Qf8 34. c4 
Rcd8 35. Kg2 Rd4 36. Qf3 Rd3 37. Qf6 Qxh6 38. Ra7 Qg7 39. Qxg7+ Kxg7 40. 
Rbb7 Kf6 41. Rxf7+ Ke5 42. Ra5+ Kd6 43. b4 Rd2 44. Ra6+ Ke5 45. b5 Rb2 46.
 Kh3 Rc8 47. f4+ Kd4 48. Rxe6 Kxc4 49. Rc6+ Rxc6 50. bxc6 Rc2 51. c7 Kb5 
+- ) 29. ... Rfd8 30. Qe2 Rc5! = {Black succeeded in neutralizing the 
opponent's initiative with an accurate defense.} 31. a4 Rxe5 32. Qxe5 bxa4
33. Qe4 Qc5 34. Rxa4 a5 35. Qe2 Qg5 36. Rf4 Rd7 37. Qf3 Qd5 38. Qxd5 = {
Kasparov - Salov, Amsterdam 1991} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Rossolimo - Sicilian 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 e6"]
[Site "ChessOK"]
[Date "1992.07.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sicilian 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 - Theory"]
[Black "Theory - Rossolimo"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B30w"]
[EventDate "1991.07.14"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 {This is one of the most elastic objections 
to the system with Bb5. Black prepares developing his king's knight to e7 
followed by repelling the b5-bishop by a7-a6. At that, Black tries to 
avoid doubling the queenside pawns in the case of ¥xc6} 4. O-O ( 4. Bxc6 
bxc6 5. O-O {Black obtains a flexible position by transferring his 
g8-knight to g6. } 5. ... Ne7 6. b3 Ng6 7. Bb2 f6! 8. d4 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Be7 
10. c4 O-O 11. Nc3 Qc7 12. Qd2 a6 13. Rad1 Bb7 14. f4 Rad8 15. Nde2 f5 { 
Savon - Gulko, Vilnius (zt) 1975} ) 4. ... Nge7 5. c3 {One of the guiding 
motifs in White's play is creating the pawn center by means of d2-d4. } 
5. ... a6 ( 5. ... d5 {Preventing White's designs of erecting the powerful
pawn center. However, play is opened up in this region of the board and 
Black must act accurately to neutralize White's development lead.} 6. exd5
Qxd5 ( 6. ... Nxd5 7. d4 cxd4 8. cxd4 Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Re1 += ) 7. Re1! 
( 7. d4 cxd4 8. c4 Qd6 9. Nxd4 Bd7 10. Nxc6 Nxc6 11. Nc3 a6 12. Ba4 Qxd1 
13. Rxd1 Ne5! = { Timman - Sveshnikov, Wijk aan Zee 1981} ) 7. ... Bd7 8. 
Na3 {By the pattern, the position resembles some variations from the 
system 2.c3, Sicilian defense. Besides, the white queen's knight 
development to a3 can frequently be found in that system} 8. ... Ng6 ( 
8. ... Nf5? 9. Bf1 Be7? 10. Nb5 Rc8 11. c4 +- ) 9. Bf1 ( 9. Bc4!? {White 
decides to build his play on exploiting the exposed position of the black 
queen in the center of the board. } 9. ... Qh5 {
file:///D:/chessOK_courses/ctart.chessok.com/course/chess-opening-sicilian-defense-1-e4-c5/rossolimo-variation-3-bb5/3-bb5-e6.html
} 10. d4 cxd4 11. Nb5 Rc8 12. Be2! Qd5 ( 12. ... dxc3 13. Ng5?! ( 13. bxc3
Qf5 14. Bf1 a6 15. Nd6+ Bxd6 16. Qxd6 Nce7 = ) 13. ... cxb2 14. Bxh5 
bxa1=Q 15. Nxf7! Qf6?! ( 15. ... Bb4! 16. Nbd6+ Kf8 17. Nxc8 Bxc8 18. Bxg6
hxg6 19. Nxh8 =+ Kg8 20. Re4 Ba3 21. Nxg6 Bxc1 22. Rh4 =+ Bb2 23. Rh8+ Kf7
24. Qxa1 Bxa1 25. Rxc8 Kxg6 26. Rc7 Nd8 27. h3 =+ ) 16. Nxh8 a6 17. Nd6+ 
Bxd6 18. Qxd6 += {  Fercec - Sveshnikov, Nova Gorica 1999)} ) 13. Nfxd4 a6
?! {Taking into account an endangered position of his queen in the center,
Black should rather discharge tension in the center by} ( 13. ... Nxd4 14.
 Nxd4 Qa5 15. a4 Be7 16. Bf3 Qc7 17. Nb5 Qb8 18. Be3 a6 19. Nd4 O-O 20. 
Nf5 Bc6 21. Nxe7+ Nxe7 += {Ulibin - Krasenkow, Swidnica 1997} ) 14. Bf3! 
Qc5 15. Be3! Nce5? ( 15. ... Nxd4 16. Nxd4 Qc7 17. Nf5 Ne5 18. Bd4 f6 19. 
Bxe5 fxe5 20. Ne3 Bc5 +/- ) 16. Bxb7! axb5 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. Bxc5 Rxc5 19.
 Be4 Be7 20. Qd4 +- {1-0, Rublevsky - Shabalov, Elista (ol) 1998} ) 9. ...
 Be7 10. d4 cxd4 11. Nb5 Rc8 12. Nfxd4 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 a6 ( 13. ... O-O 14. 
Nb5! a6 15. Qxd5 exd5 16. Nd4 += ) ( 13. ... Qa5!? 14. g3 O-O 15. Bg2 e5 
16. Nc2 Bc6 17. Bxc6 bxc6 18. h4 Rfe8 19. Qg4 Nf8 20. Ne3 += {Gelfand - 
Sveshnikov, Ljubljana 1995} ) 14. g3! { A typical maneuver: by 
transferring the bishop to the h1-a8 diagonal, White targets the black 
queenside. } 14. ... b5?! ( 14. ... e5? 15. Nf5 Qxd1 16. Nxg7+ Kf8 17. 
Rxd1 Bg4 18. Bh6 Kg8 19. Rd2 Bf8 20. h3 +- Bxg7 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. hxg4 ) (
14. ... Qc5! 15. Bg2 b5 ) 15. Bg2 Qc5 16. h4! += {This is also a typical 
method, which reveals the black g6-knight's shaky position. } 16. ... Bf6 
17. Be3 Qc7 18. Nf5! ( 18. h5 Ne7 19. h6 O-O! 20. hxg7 Bxg7 21. Qh5 e5 += 
) 18. ... O-O 19. Nd6 Rcd8 20. Nb7 Rc8 ( 20. ... Rb8?! 21. Nc5 Bc8 22. h5 
+/- ) 21. Nd6 Rcd8 22. Nb7 Rc8 23. h5! ( 23. Nc5! Bc6! 24. Nxa6 Qb7 25. 
Nc5 Qc7 26. Qe2 Ne5 27. Bd4 Bxg2 28. Kxg2 Rfd8 29. Bxe5 Qxc5 30. Bxf6 gxf6
+/- 31. Red1 Kf8 32. a3 Qc6+ 33. Qf3 Rxd1 34. Rxd1 Qxf3+ 35. Kxf3 Ke7 36. 
Rd4 h5 37. Rb4 Rc5 38. a4 bxa4 39. Rxa4 f5 +/- ) 23. ... Ne5 ( 23. ... Bc6
? 24. Bxc6 Qxc6 25. Na5! Qc7 26. hxg6 Qxa5 27. gxf7+ Rxf7 28. Qd6 +/- ) 
24. Bf4 Bc6! 25. Bxc6 Qxc6 26. Bxe5 Bxe5 27. Rxe5 Qxb7 28. h6 Qe7! ( 
28. ... g6? 29. Qd4 Rc4 30. Rxb5! Qh1+ 31. Kxh1 Rxd4 32. Rb6 +- ) ( 
28. ... Rfd8 29. Qg4 g6 30. Qg5 Qf3 31. Rc5! += {± V.Salov} ) 29. hxg7 ( 
29. a4! Rfd8 30. Qg4 g6 31. axb5 axb5 +/- 32. Rxb5 Rd7 33. Qf4 Qf8 34. c4 
Rcd8 35. Kg2 Rd4 36. Qf3 Rd3 37. Qf6 Qxh6 38. Ra7 Qg7 39. Qxg7+ Kxg7 40. 
Rbb7 Kf6 41. Rxf7+ Ke5 42. Ra5+ Kd6 43. b4 Rd2 44. Ra6+ Ke5 45. b5 Rb2 46.
 Kh3 Rc8 47. f4+ Kd4 48. Rxe6 Kxc4 49. Rc6+ Rxc6 50. bxc6 Rc2 51. c7 Kb5 
+- ) 29. ... Rfd8 30. Qe2 Rc5! = {Black succeeded in neutralizing the 
opponent's initiative with an accurate defense.} 31. a4 Rxe5 32. Qxe5 bxa4
33. Qe4 Qc5 34. Rxa4 a5 35. Qe2 Qg5 36. Rf4 Rd7 37. Qf3 Qd5 38. Qxd5 = {
Kasparov - Salov, Amsterdam 1991} ) 6. Ba4 b5 ( 6. ... d5 7. exd5 Qxd5 8. 
d4 Bd7 ( 8. ... b5? 9. c4!! Qd6 ( 9. ... Qxc4 10. Bb3 Qb4 11. Bd2 +- ) 10.
 cxb5 Nxd4 11. bxa6+ Nec6 12. Bf4! +- Qd5 13. Nxd4 cxd4 14. Nc3 {1-0 Wahls
- Du.Rajkovic, Germany 1992} ) 9. Re1 Rd8 10. c4! Qxc4 11. Nbd2 Qd5 12. 
Bb3 Qh5 13. Ne4 Nf5 +/- {Spassky - Timman, Amsterdam 1977} ) 7. Bc2 Bb7 {
The most solid continuation - Black hurries not with engaging into an open
battle by the d7-d5 advance. Instead, she completes the development first.
} ( 7. ... d5 {After having ousted the white bishop from the striking 
diagonal a4-e8, Black conducts the d7-d5 advance at last. The b7-b5 
advance however may have a drawback rendering the black queenside 
occasionally vulnerable after the possible a2-a4 detriment. } 8. e5 ( 8. 
d3!? ) 8. ... d4 9. Be4 Bb7 ( 9. ... d3?! 10. b3 Ra7 11. Re1 Rd7 12. c4?! 
( 12. Ba3!? = ) 12. ... b4 ( 12. ... Nb4! =+ ) 13. Re3 ( 13. Bb2! ) 
13. ... g6 14. Qf1 Bg7 15. Bb2 =+ { H.Olafsson - Jonasson, Gardabaer 1996}
) 10. a4!? {This thematic detriment of the black pawn structure on the 
queenside can frequently be found, for example, in the Ruy Lopez. } 
10. ... Ng6 11. axb5 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Na3 Na7?! {This is a too 
passive retreat, which allows White to take over the initiative. } 14. 
Bxa8 Qxa8 15. Qb3 Qb7 ( 15. ... c4! 16. Nxc4 bxc4 17. Qa4+ Kd8 18. Nxd4 =+
{Sveshnikov} 18. ... Qb7 19. Nf3 Qc7 20. Rd1 Nc6 ) 16. cxd4 cxd4 17. Nxd4 
Bxa3 18. bxa3 Nxe5 19. Bb2 Nc4 ( 19. ... O-O 20. Nxe6 ) 20. Qg3!! O-O 21. 
Bc3 g6?? 22. d3! Nb6 23. Qe5 Nd7 ( 23. ... f6 24. Qxe6+ ) 24. Qg7+ {1-0, 
Sveshnikov - R.Sherbakov, Moscow 1991} ) 8. a4 ( {Seizing the center by 
the white pawns is not dangerous for Black:} 8. d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 Nb4 = ) ( 
8. Re1 Rc8! ( 8. ... d5!? 9. e5 d4 10. Be4 Nf5! 11. a4 Be7 12. cxd4 Nfxd4 
13. Nxd4 cxd4 14. axb5 axb5 15. Rxa8 Qxa8 16. d3 O-O =+ {Psakhis - 
Kurajica, Zagreb 1993} ) 9. d4 cxd4 10. cxd4 Nb4 11. Bb3 Rxc1 12. Qxc1 Nd3
= ) 8. ... Ng6 9. Re1 Rc8 {An important preventive maneuver in the given 
variation. If White conducts the programmed advance d2-d4, then the black 
queen's rook may efficiently come into play from the c8-square} 10. axb5 
axb5 11. d4 cxd4 12. cxd4 ( 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. cxd4 Be7 14. Bd3 b4 15. Be3 
O-O 16. Nd2 f5! {Spasov - Gulko, Biel 1993} ) 12. ... Nb4 13. Bb3 Rxc1 14.
 Qxc1 Nd3 15. Qe3 Nxe1 16. Qxe1 Be7 17. Nc3 O-O!? 18. Nxb5 Qb6 19. Bc4 f5!
20. e5 Bxf3 21. gxf3 Nh4 22. Qc3 Qb7 23. Be2 Rc8 24. Ra7 ( 24. Qd3 g5 {g4}
) 24. ... Rxc3 25. Rxb7 Rc1+ 26. Bf1 Nxf3+ 27. Kg2 Nh4+ 28. Kg1 Nf3+ 29. 
Kg2 Bh4 30. Rxd7? ( 30. Bc4! Ne1+ 31. Kf1 g5 32. b3 Nd3+ 33. Ke2 Nf4+ 34. 
Kd2 = ) 30. ... Rc2 31. Kxf3 Rxf2+ 32. Ke3 -/+ Rxf1? ( 32. ... f4+ 33. Ke4
Rxf1 -/+ ) 33. Rc7?! ( 33. Nc7 += f4+ 34. Ke2 Rf2+ 35. Kd3 f3 36. Ke3 Rf1 
37. Nxe6 f2 38. Rxg7+ Kh8 39. Rg3! Rh1 40. Kxf2 Rxh2+ 41. Kf3 Bxg3 42. 
Kxg3 += ) 33. ... f4+ 34. Kd3? ( 34. Ke2 Rf2+ 35. Kd3 Rxb2 36. Nd6 h6 37. 
d5 f3 38. dxe6 f2 39. Rc8+ Kh7 40. Rc1 =+ ) 34. ... f3 -+ 35. Nd6 h5 36. 
Ne4 f2 {0-1, Ioseliani - Z.Polgar, Shanghai 1992} 0-1

[Event "Rossolimo - Sicilian 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 e6"]
[Site "ChessOK"]
[Date "1992.07.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sicilian 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 - Theory"]
[Black "Theory - Rossolimo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B30w"]
[EventDate "1991.07.14"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 {This is one of the most elastic objections 
to the system with Bb5. Black prepares developing his king's knight to e7 
followed by repelling the b5-bishop by a7-a6. At that, Black tries to 
avoid doubling the queenside pawns in the case of ¥xc6} 4. O-O ( 4. Bxc6 
bxc6 5. O-O {Black obtains a flexible position by transferring his 
g8-knight to g6. } 5. ... Ne7 6. b3 Ng6 7. Bb2 f6! 8. d4 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Be7 
10. c4 O-O 11. Nc3 Qc7 12. Qd2 a6 13. Rad1 Bb7 14. f4 Rad8 15. Nde2 f5 { 
Savon - Gulko, Vilnius (zt) 1975} ) 4. ... Nge7 5. c3 {One of the guiding 
motifs in White's play is creating the pawn center by means of d2-d4. } 
5. ... a6 ( 5. ... d5 {Preventing White's designs of erecting the powerful
pawn center. However, play is opened up in this region of the board and 
Black must act accurately to neutralize White's development lead.} 6. exd5
Qxd5 ( 6. ... Nxd5 7. d4 cxd4 8. cxd4 Be7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Re1 += ) 7. Re1! 
( 7. d4 cxd4 8. c4 Qd6 9. Nxd4 Bd7 10. Nxc6 Nxc6 11. Nc3 a6 12. Ba4 Qxd1 
13. Rxd1 Ne5! = { Timman - Sveshnikov, Wijk aan Zee 1981} ) 7. ... Bd7 8. 
Na3 {By the pattern, the position resembles some variations from the 
system 2.c3, Sicilian defense. Besides, the white queen's knight 
development to a3 can frequently be found in that system} 8. ... Ng6 ( 
8. ... Nf5? 9. Bf1 Be7? 10. Nb5 Rc8 11. c4 +- ) 9. Bf1 ( 9. Bc4!? {White 
decides to build his play on exploiting the exposed position of the black 
queen in the center of the board. } 9. ... Qh5 {
file:///D:/chessOK_courses/ctart.chessok.com/course/chess-opening-sicilian-defense-1-e4-c5/rossolimo-variation-3-bb5/3-bb5-e6.html
} 10. d4 cxd4 11. Nb5 Rc8 12. Be2! Qd5 ( 12. ... dxc3 13. Ng5?! ( 13. bxc3
Qf5 14. Bf1 a6 15. Nd6+ Bxd6 16. Qxd6 Nce7 = ) 13. ... cxb2 14. Bxh5 
bxa1=Q 15. Nxf7! Qf6?! ( 15. ... Bb4! 16. Nbd6+ Kf8 17. Nxc8 Bxc8 18. Bxg6
hxg6 19. Nxh8 =+ Kg8 20. Re4 Ba3 21. Nxg6 Bxc1 22. Rh4 =+ Bb2 23. Rh8+ Kf7
24. Qxa1 Bxa1 25. Rxc8 Kxg6 26. Rc7 Nd8 27. h3 =+ ) 16. Nxh8 a6 17. Nd6+ 
Bxd6 18. Qxd6 += {  Fercec - Sveshnikov, Nova Gorica 1999)} ) 13. Nfxd4 a6
?! {Taking into account an endangered position of his queen in the center,
Black should rather discharge tension in the center by} ( 13. ... Nxd4 14.
 Nxd4 Qa5 15. a4 Be7 16. Bf3 Qc7 17. Nb5 Qb8 18. Be3 a6 19. Nd4 O-O 20. 
Nf5 Bc6 21. Nxe7+ Nxe7 += {Ulibin - Krasenkow, Swidnica 1997} ) 14. Bf3! 
Qc5 15. Be3! Nce5? ( 15. ... Nxd4 16. Nxd4 Qc7 17. Nf5 Ne5 18. Bd4 f6 19. 
Bxe5 fxe5 20. Ne3 Bc5 +/- ) 16. Bxb7! axb5 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. Bxc5 Rxc5 19.
 Be4 Be7 20. Qd4 +- {1-0, Rublevsky - Shabalov, Elista (ol) 1998} ) 9. ...
 Be7 10. d4 cxd4 11. Nb5 Rc8 12. Nfxd4 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 a6 ( 13. ... O-O 14. 
Nb5! a6 15. Qxd5 exd5 16. Nd4 += ) ( 13. ... Qa5!? 14. g3 O-O 15. Bg2 e5 
16. Nc2 Bc6 17. Bxc6 bxc6 18. h4 Rfe8 19. Qg4 Nf8 20. Ne3 += {Gelfand - 
Sveshnikov, Ljubljana 1995} ) 14. g3! { A typical maneuver: by 
transferring the bishop to the h1-a8 diagonal, White targets the black 
queenside. } 14. ... b5?! ( 14. ... e5? 15. Nf5 Qxd1 16. Nxg7+ Kf8 17. 
Rxd1 Bg4 18. Bh6 Kg8 19. Rd2 Bf8 20. h3 +- Bxg7 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. hxg4 ) (
14. ... Qc5! 15. Bg2 b5 ) 15. Bg2 Qc5 16. h4! += {This is also a typical 
method, which reveals the black g6-knight's shaky position. } 16. ... Bf6 
17. Be3 Qc7 18. Nf5! ( 18. h5 Ne7 19. h6 O-O! 20. hxg7 Bxg7 21. Qh5 e5 += 
) 18. ... O-O 19. Nd6 Rcd8 20. Nb7 Rc8 ( 20. ... Rb8?! 21. Nc5 Bc8 22. h5 
+/- ) 21. Nd6 Rcd8 22. Nb7 Rc8 23. h5! ( 23. Nc5! Bc6! 24. Nxa6 Qb7 25. 
Nc5 Qc7 26. Qe2 Ne5 27. Bd4 Bxg2 28. Kxg2 Rfd8 29. Bxe5 Qxc5 30. Bxf6 gxf6
+/- 31. Red1 Kf8 32. a3 Qc6+ 33. Qf3 Rxd1 34. Rxd1 Qxf3+ 35. Kxf3 Ke7 36. 
Rd4 h5 37. Rb4 Rc5 38. a4 bxa4 39. Rxa4 f5 +/- ) 23. ... Ne5 ( 23. ... Bc6
? 24. Bxc6 Qxc6 25. Na5! Qc7 26. hxg6 Qxa5 27. gxf7+ Rxf7 28. Qd6 +/- ) 
24. Bf4 Bc6! 25. Bxc6 Qxc6 26. Bxe5 Bxe5 27. Rxe5 Qxb7 28. h6 Qe7! ( 
28. ... g6? 29. Qd4 Rc4 30. Rxb5! Qh1+ 31. Kxh1 Rxd4 32. Rb6 +- ) ( 
28. ... Rfd8 29. Qg4 g6 30. Qg5 Qf3 31. Rc5! += {± V.Salov} ) 29. hxg7 ( 
29. a4! Rfd8 30. Qg4 g6 31. axb5 axb5 +/- 32. Rxb5 Rd7 33. Qf4 Qf8 34. c4 
Rcd8 35. Kg2 Rd4 36. Qf3 Rd3 37. Qf6 Qxh6 38. Ra7 Qg7 39. Qxg7+ Kxg7 40. 
Rbb7 Kf6 41. Rxf7+ Ke5 42. Ra5+ Kd6 43. b4 Rd2 44. Ra6+ Ke5 45. b5 Rb2 46.
 Kh3 Rc8 47. f4+ Kd4 48. Rxe6 Kxc4 49. Rc6+ Rxc6 50. bxc6 Rc2 51. c7 Kb5 
+- ) 29. ... Rfd8 30. Qe2 Rc5! = {Black succeeded in neutralizing the 
opponent's initiative with an accurate defense.} 31. a4 Rxe5 32. Qxe5 bxa4
33. Qe4 Qc5 34. Rxa4 a5 35. Qe2 Qg5 36. Rf4 Rd7 37. Qf3 Qd5 38. Qxd5 = {
Kasparov - Salov, Amsterdam 1991} ) 6. Be2 {When retreating with the 
bishop to e2, White prepares to conduct the d2-d4 advance thus forcing 
Black to play d7-d5. } 6. ... d5 7. exd5 Nxd5 ( 7. ... exd5!? {Now play 
resembles the Tarrasch variation in the French defense. Black admits 
forming the isolated d5-pawn in his position, obtaining in return a 
possibility of completing the development comfortably. } 8. d4 cxd4 9. 
Nxd4 Nxd4 10. cxd4 ( {Black enjoys a good piece play after} 10. Qxd4 Nc6 
11. Qa4 Bc5 12. Bf4 O-O 13. Nd2 Bf5 ) 10. ... g6!? ( 10. ... Nc6 11. Nc3 
Be7 12. Bf3 Be6 += ) 11. Nc3 Bg7 12. Bg5 O-O {The weakness of the d4- and 
that one of the d5-pawn balance each other. For a while, White has a 
temporal development lead but Black gradually neutralizes this factor} 13.
 Re1 ( 13. Nxd5 Qxd5 14. Bxe7 Re8 15. Bc5 Bf5 16. Re1 Rad8 17. Bf3 Be4 18.
 Bxe4 Rxe4 19. Rxe4 Qxe4 = ) ( 13. Qd2! += {Yermolinsky} ) 13. ... h6! 14.
 Bh4? ( 14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Nxd5 Qd6 16. Bf3 Be6 17. Nc3 Qxd4 = ) 14. ... g5
! {By repelling the white bishop to g3, Black deprives the d4-pawn of its 
important defender. 
} 15. Bg3 Nc6 16. Bf3 Be6 {Due to the weakness of the d4-pawn Black has 
suddenly taken over the initiative. } 17. Be5 Nxe5 18. dxe5 d4! {It is 
vitally important for Black to prevent the blockade on the d4-square. } 
19. Na4 Qa5 20. Bxb7 ( 20. Qxd4 Rad8 21. Qe4 Bd5 22. Qc2 Bxf3 23. gxf3 
Bxe5 -/+ ) 20. ... Rad8 21. Rc1 d3 {Black's passed d3-pawn defines his 
advantage.} 22. Re4 ( 22. Rc5 Qb4 23. Bxa6 d2 24. Rf1 Qd4 -/+ ) 22. ... 
Bd7 23. Bc6 Bxc6 24. Rxc6 Qd5 25. Rcc4 Bxe5 -/+ 26. Nc3 Qd6 27. h4 d2 28. 
hxg5 hxg5 29. Re3 Bf4 30. Ne4 Qe6 31. Rec3 f5 32. g3 fxe4 33. gxf4 Rxf4 {
0-1, Timman - Yermolinsky, Elista (ol) 1998} ) 8. d4 {Again play acquires 
traits characteristic of the variation 2.c3 in the Sicilian defense. In 
this case White enjoys the development lead and some accuracy is demanded 
from Black for equalizing play. } 8. ... cxd4 ( 8. ... Be7 9. c4 Nf6 10. 
dxc5 Bxc5 11. Qxd8+ Kxd8 12. Nc3 Ke7 13. Rd1 Rd8 14. Rxd8 Nxd8 15. a3 Bd7 
16. b4 Bd6 17. Be3 h6 18. Rd1 Rc8 19. h3 Be8 20. Nd4 Nd7 {0-1(63) 
Kasparov, Garry (2795) - Kramnik, Vladimir (2730) / PCA/Intel-GP (4.1), 
Paris FRA 1995} ) 9. Nxd4 Bd7 10. Bf3 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Bc6 12. Nd2 Qc7 13. 
Nc4 b5 14. Qe5! ( 14. Ne3 Nf6 15. Bxc6+ Qxc6 16. a4 Rd8 17. axb5 axb5 18. 
Qa7 Bc5 19. Qa6 Qxa6 20. Rxa6 O-O 21. Ra5 Rb8 22. Rd1 Rfc8 23. Kf1 b4 24. 
c4 Bxe3 25. Bxe3 Rxc4 {1/2-1/2(41) Timman, Jan H (2635) - Piket, Jeroen 
(2575) / NED Ch (6), Rotterdam NED 1998} ) 14. ... O-O-O ( 14. ... Qxe5 
15. Nxe5 Bb7 16. c4 bxc4 17. Nxc4 += ) 15. Qxc7+ Kxc7 16. Ne5 Be8 17. c4! 
+= {Although the queens have been exchanged, the game still keeps a 
middlegame character. Therefore, the unsafe position of the black king is 
an important factor, which secures White an advantage. } 17. ... bxc4 18. 
Nxc4 ( 18. Nxc4 Bb5 19. b3 Bb4 20. Bb2 f6 21. a3 Bc5 22. Rfc1 Kb8 23. Ne5 
Rc8 24. a4 Be8 25. Nd3 Bd6 26. Bd4 Bg6 27. Nc5 Bxc5 28. Bxc5 Rc6 29. b4 
Rhc8 30. a5 Bd3 31. Re1 Rd8 32. Rad1 Bb5 33. h4 Kc8 34. Rd4 Rd7 35. Rde4 
Nc7 36. R4e3 Nd5 37. Rxe6 Rxe6 38. Rxe6 Nf4 39. Re4 {1-0 Timman, Jan H 
(2655) - Shaked, Tal (2490) / VAM Hoogeveen 2nd (3), Hoogeveen NED 1998} )
1-0

[Event "Rossolimo - Sicilian 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 e6"]
[Site "Biel SUI"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"]
[Black "Lputian, Smbat G"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2705"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[ECO "B30w"]
[EventDate "1993.07.??"]
[Annotator "Blatny,P"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O ( 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. O-O Ne7 6. d3 Ng6 
7. Nbd2 d6 ( 7. ... Be7 ⌓ 8. Nb3 e5!? 9. c3 O-O 10. Re1 d6 11. d4 exd4 
12. cxd4 c4 13. Nbd2 d5 14. Nf1 Bb4 15. Bd2 Rb8 = {Huebner-Gulko/Biel 
izt/1993/} ) 8. Nc4 Be7 9. Bd2 O-O 10. a3 f5 11. e5 d5 12. Na5 += {
Huebner-Abramovic/Biel izt/1993/} ) ( 4. Nc3 Nd4 5. O-O a6 6. Bd3 Ne7 7. 
Nxd4 cxd4 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. c3 Bc5 10. b3 O-O 11. cxd4 Nxd4 12. Bb2 Nxe2+ = {
Arencibia-Illescas/Biel izt/1993/} ) 4. ... Nge7 5. c3 ( 5. b3!? {Ambroz} 
5. ... Nd4 6. Nxd4 cxd4 7. c3 {Akopian-Sveshnikov, Rostov (op) 1993} ) 
5. ... a6 6. Ba4 b5 7. Bc2 Bb7 8. d4 ( 8. Re1 Rc8 9. a4 Ng6 10. axb5 axb5 
11. d4 cxd4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. cxd4 Be7 14. Bd3 b4 15. Be3 O-O 16. Nd2 f5!?
17. d5 Ne5 ~ {Spasov-Gulko/Biel izt/1993/} ( 17. ... fxe4 18. Bxe4 Bxd5 ( 
18. ... exd5 19. Qb3! ) 19. Bxd5 exd5 20. Qh5 ↑ ) ) 8. ... cxd4 9. Nxd4 
( 9. cxd4 {Ambroz} 9. ... Nb4 10. Nc3 Nxc2 11. Qxc2 Ng6 =+ {De La 
Graza-Gulko, USA 1987} ) 9. ... d5!? {The pawn structure arising after 
this advance 
resembles the French defense. } ( {A more 'Sicilian' play would have 
arisen after} 9. ... Ng6 10. f4 ( 10. a4 {Ambroz} 10. ... b4 11. Nxc6 Bxc6
12. cxb4 Qb8 ↑ {Zarnicki-Tukmakov, Andorra 1991} ) 10. ... Be7 ( 10. ...
 Bc5 11. Be3 Qe7 12. Nd2 O-O 13. Qh5 Rac8! ~ {Psakhis-Sherbakov, Moscow 
1992} ) 11. Be3 O-O 12. Nd2 Qc7 13. Rc1 Rad8 14. Qh5 e5 15. Nxc6 dxc6 16. 
f5 Nf4 17. Bxf4 exf4 18. Nf3 c5 19. Rce1 Bf6 20. e5 Bxf3 21. Rxf3 Rfe8 ~ {
Wolff-Abramovic/Biel izt/1993/} ) 10. Nxc6 Bxc6 ( 10. ... Nxc6 11. exd5 
Qxd5 12. Qxd5 exd5 13. Be3 ( 13. Re1+!? Be7 14. Bg5 O-O! ( 14. ... f6 15. 
Be3 ( 15. Bf4 {Ambroz} 15. ... O-O 16. Bb3 Rad8 17. Nd2 Kf7 18. Nf3 += {/\
Rad1} ( 18. Bc7 Rd7 19. Bb6 Ne5 ) 18. ... Na5 19. Bc7 Nxb3 20. Bxd8 Nxa1 
21. Rxe7+ Kg8 22. Bb6 +- Bc8 23. Nd4 {/\ Re1} ) 15. ... O-O 16. a4 += ) ( 
14. ... O-O-O 15. Bf5+ ( 15. Rxe7? Nxe7 16. Bxe7 Rde8 -+ ) ( 15. Bxe7 Rde8
( 15. ... Rhe8? 16. Bf5+ Kb8 17. Bd6+! +- ) 16. a4 Rxe7 17. Rxe7 Nxe7 18. 
axb5 axb5 19. Bd3 Bc6 20. Bxb5 +/- ) 15. ... Kc7 ( 15. ... Kb8?? 16. Bxe7 
{/\Bd6+ +-} ) 16. Bxe7 Rde8 17. Nd2 += ) 15. Bxe7 Rfe8 16. Nd2 ( 16. a4 
Rxe7 17. Rxe7 Nxe7 18. axb5 axb5 19. Rxa8+ Bxa8 20. Na3 Bc6 21. Bd3 +/- ) 
16. ... Rxe7 17. Rxe7 Nxe7 18. Nb3 += ) 13. ... O-O-O 14. Bb6 Re8 15. Rd1 
g6! 16. Nd2 Bg7 17. Nf1 Re6 18. Bb3 Ne5 19. Bd4 f6 {+/=/= 
Anand-Sveshnikov/Biel izt/1993/} ) 11. e5 Ng6 12. Re1 {The d4-sqiare is a 
key point to this position. If White succeeds with conducting the 
¤d2-f3-d4 maneuver, then he obtains a clear advantage. Therefore Back 
strives to entangle counterplay on the queenside as soon as possible. 
} 12. ... b4! ( 12. ... Be7 {Ambroz} 13. Nd2 O-O 14. Nb3 a5 ( 14. ... f5 
15. exf6 Rxf6 16. Nd4 Bd7 17. Qh5 += e5 18. Bxg6 Rxg6 19. Qxe5 ) 15. Nd4 
Bd7 16. Qh5 ) ( 12. ... Bc5 {Ambroz} 13. Be3! Bxe3?! 14. Rxe3 Qb6 15. Qg4 
+= {Ye Jiangchuan-Ambarcumjan, Beijing 1991} ) ( 12. ... Qc7 {Ambroz} 13. 
Qd4 Bd7! 14. Nd2 Bc5 15. Qg4 h5 16. Qe2 Nf4 17. Qf3 Ng6 {1/2, Ye 
Rongguang-Sveshnikov, Moscow 1992} ) ( 12. ... f5 {Ambroz} 13. exf6 Qxf6 
14. Qg4! e5 15. Bg5 Qd6 16. Bxg6+ hxg6 17. Bf4 Rh5 18. Qg3 +/- ) 13. Nd2 
bxc3 14. bxc3 Be7 15. Nb3 ( 15. Nf3 Qc7 ) 15. ... Qc7 ( 15. ... O-O!? 16. 
Nd4 Bd7 17. f4 ( 17. Qh5 {Ambroz /\ Re1-e3-h3 ->} ) 17. ... Bc5 18. Kh1 f5
= ( 18. ... f5 19. exf6 Qxf6 ⇄⇄ ) ) 16. Qh5 {Nd4} 16. ... Ba4! 17. Bd2
Bc5?! ( 17. ... O-O 18. Re3! ) ( 17. ... Qc4!? {Qh4} 18. Na5 Qb5 19. c4 
dxc4 20. Rab1 Qd7 21. Rb7 Qxd2 22. Bxa4+ Kf8 ) 18. Qg4! Bxb3 ( 18. ... Bb5
19. h4! ) 19. axb3 += {^^} 19. ... O-O 20. Qg3 += {White has a clear 
positional advantage, which 
includes a pair of bishops together with 
prospects of developing the initiative on both 
flanks. } 20. ... Rfd8 21. Ra4! d4 22. Rc4 Qa7 23. h4! d3 ( 23. ... dxc3 
24. Bxc3 Bf8 25. h5 ( 25. Ra1!? {+/=/+/-} ) 25. ... Ne7 26. Rg4 ( 26. Bb4
!? ) ( 26. Bb4!? {Ambroz ><g7} 26. ... Rac8! ) 26. ... Rac8 ⇄⇄ ) 24. 
Bd1 Rd7? ( 24. ... a5 ⌓ {><b4} ) ( 24. ... a5 ⌓ {Ambroz} ) 25. h5 Ne7 
26. h6 g6 ( 26. ... Nf5 27. Qf3 {/\hxg7->} ( 27. Qf3 {Ambroz} 27. ... g6? 
28. g4 +- ) ) 27. Qf3 Nd5 28. b4! Bf8 ( 28. ... Bb6 29. Ba4! Rdd8 ( 
29. ... Rc7 30. Bc6 Rac8 31. Bxd5 Rxc4 32. Qf6! Bxf2+ 33. Kf1! Kf8 34. 
Qg7+ Ke8 35. Qg8+ Ke7 36. Bg5+ +- ) 30. Bc6 Rab8 31. Bxd5 exd5 ( 31. ... 
Rxd5 32. Qf6 ) 32. Qf6 Bxf2+ 33. Kf1 ( 33. Kh1 {Ambroz} 33. ... Kf8 34. 
Qh8+ Ke7 35. Bg5+ Kd7 36. e6+ fxe6 37. Qg7+ ) 33. ... Kf8 34. Qh8+ Ke7 35.
 Bg5+ Kd7 36. e6+! fxe6 37. Qg7+ +- ) 29. Rd4 Rc8 30. Rxd3 Rdc7 31. Bb3 
Nb6 32. Ra1 Nc4?! 33. Bxc4 Rxc4 34. b5 +- a5 35. b6 ( 35. b6 Qxb6 ( 
35. ... Qe7 36. Rxa5 {/\Rxa7+-} ) 36. Rd7 f5 37. exf6 Kh8 □ 38. f7 e5 
39. Bg5! R4c6 □ 40. Rb7! Qa6 41. Rxa5! +- ) 1-0

[Event "Rossolimo - Sicilian 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 g6"]
[Site "ChessOK"]
[Date "2012.09.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sicilian 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 - Theory"]
[Black "Theory - Rossolimo"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B31c"]
[EventDate "2012.09.01"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 {The most natural continuation: Black 
develops the king's bishop to the active a1-h8 diagonal and play acquires 
features characteristic of the English opening with reverted colors. } 4. 
Bxc6 {This continuation has become especially popular after the Fischer - 
Spassky match 1992. It seems that White looses a tempo by exchanging 
willingly on c6 but this is fully justified. White forces the opponent to 
choose a pawn structure by recapturing either with d7xc6, or with b7xc6. 
Then White selects a concrete deployment of the forces depending on either
choice. } 4. ... bxc6 5. O-O Bg7 6. Re1 Nh6 {The plan with the black 
king's knight development on h6 is considered to be the most reliable for 
Black. The black knight avoids attacking by the white central pawns there 
and he may later come into play after f7-f6 and ¤h6-f7. At that, the 
black central pawns remain on their initial positions for a while, which 
hampers opening up play there. } 7. c3 O-O 8. d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 d6 {The most
reliable plan of play. Continuing with f7-f6 and ¤h6-f7, Black creates a 
kind of 'impassability zone' in his position. White pieces enjoy the 
greater freedom of action but all the same, it is difficult for them to 
find vulnerable spots in the opponent's defense, since after opening up 
play the pair of black bishops may activate itself. } 10. h3 f6 11. Nc3 
Nf7 12. Be3 ( 12. b3 Bd7 13. Bb2 Qb6 14. Rc1 Rad8 15. Qc2 e5 16. Red1 Rfe8
17. Na4 Qa6 18. Nd2 Bh6 19. Rb1 Qe2 20. Nc3 Qh5 {1-0(34) Rublevsky, Sergei
(2665) - Iskusnyh, Sergei (2455) / Russian Club Cup (9), Maikop RUS 1998} 
) 12. ... Bd7 13. Qd2 Qc7 ( 13. ... Qa5!? 14. Rac1 Qh5 15. Ne2 g5 {Svidler
} ) 14. Rac1 Qb7 15. b3 Rad8 ( 15. ... f5 16. e5! dxe5 17. dxe5 Nxe5 18. 
Nxe5 Bxe5 19. Bh6 +/- ) 16. Qc2 f5! 17. e5 c5! {The "bent spring" of the 
black pieces is releasing. 
} 18. exd6 ( 18. e6!? Bxe6 19. dxc5 Ne5 20. Nd4 Bf7 21. Na4 Bd5 22. c6 Qa8
{Svidler} ) 18. ... exd6 19. Rcd1! ( 19. dxc5 Bc6! 20. cxd6 Bxf3 21. gxf3 
Ne5 22. Red1 Nxf3+ 23. Kf1 Nh2+ = ) 19. ... Bc6 20. d5 Bd7 21. Ne2! {
Nf4-e6,Bd2-c3±) 

Suddenly the position acquires traits characteristic of the King's Indian 
defense. By transferring the knight to f4, White intends to highlight the 
vulnerability of the e6-square but Black maintains the dynamic equilibrium
by building up the major pieces on the e-file that is typical in such 
situations. } 21. ... Rde8 22. Nf4 Re4 23. Nd2 Re7 24. Nc4 Rfe8 25. Bd2 
Rxe1+ 26. Bxe1 ( 26. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 27. Bxe1 Bh6 ) 26. ... Re4 27. g3 Qa6 28. 
Bc3 Rxc4 ( 28. ... Ne5 29. Nd2 +/- ) 29. bxc4 Ba4 30. Rb1? ( 30. Qb2 Bxc3 
31. Qb8+ Kg7 32. Ne6+ Kf6 33. Qf8 Bxd1 34. Qg7+ Ke7 35. Qf8+ = ) ( 30. Re1
Qxc4 31. Qb2 Bxc3 32. Qb8+ Kg7 33. Re7 Bb5! 34. Qxa7 Qf1+ 35. Kh2 Qxf2+ 
36. Kh1 Qf1+ 37. Kh2 Qf2+ = ) 30. ... Bxc2 31. Rb8+ Nd8 32. Rxd8+ Kf7 33. 
Rd7+ Ke8 34. Rxg7 Qxc4 35. Bf6 Qe4 36. h4 ( 36. Ne6 Qe1+ 37. Kg2 Be4+ 38. 
f3 Qe2+ 39. Kg1 Qe3+ 40. Kf1 Bd3+ -+ ) 36. ... Bd1! 37. Kh2 ( 37. Ne6 Qe1+
38. Kg2 Bf3+! 39. Kxf3 Qe4# ) 37. ... Qe1 38. h5 g5 39. Nd3 Qf1 40. Re7+ 
Kf8 {0-1 Spasov, Vasil (2575) - Svidler, Peter (2650) / Yerevan ol (Men) 
(9), Erevan ARM 1996} 0-1

[Event "Rossolimo - Sicilian 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 g6"]
[Site "ChessOK"]
[Date "2012.09.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sicilian 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 - Theory"]
[Black "Theory - Rossolimo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B31c"]
[EventDate "2012.09.01"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 {The most natural continuation: Black 
develops the king's bishop to the active a1-h8 diagonal and play acquires 
features characteristic of the English opening with reverted colors. } 4. 
Bxc6 {This continuation has become especially popular after the Fischer - 
Spassky match 1992. It seems that White looses a tempo by exchanging 
willingly on c6 but this is fully justified. White forces the opponent to 
choose a pawn structure by recapturing either with d7xc6, or with b7xc6. 
Then White selects a concrete deployment of the forces depending on either
choice. } 4. ... bxc6 5. O-O Bg7 6. Re1 Nh6 {The plan with the black 
king's knight development on h6 is considered to be the most reliable for 
Black. The black knight avoids attacking by the white central pawns there 
and he may later come into play after f7-f6 and ¤h6-f7. At that, the 
black central pawns remain on their initial positions for a while, which 
hampers opening up play there. } 7. c3 O-O 8. d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 d5 {This 
counter strike in the center seems logical, taking into account the 
absence of the white light squared bishop on the board. The drawback of 
the d7-d5 advance lies in forming the retarded c6-pawn in Black's 
position, as well as the vulnerable c5-square. } 10. e5 f6 ( 10. ... Bg4 
11. Nbd2 Qb6 12. b3 c5 13. Ba3 cxd4 14. Bxe7 Rfe8 15. Bg5 Bd7 16. Nf1 Nf5 
17. g4 Ne7 18. Nxd4 Nc6 19. Nxc6 Bxc6 20. Be3 d4 21. Qxd4 Qb7 22. f4 Rad8 
23. Qxa7 Qc8 24. h3 Qe6 25. Red1 h5 26. Qb6 Rb8 27. Qc7 Bd5 28. Qc5 Ba8 
29. Qc4 Qe7 30. Qe2 hxg4 {1-0(48) Psakhis, Lev (2555) - Dautov, Rustem 
(2570) / Nimes Open (5), Nimes 1991} ) 11. Nbd2 g5?! {Black rushes with 
organizing counterplay but it only causes problems with bringing the 
h6-knight into play.} ( 11. ... Nf7 12. exf6 exf6 13. Nb3 += ) 12. e6! {
xNh6} ( 12. h3 g4! 13. hxg4 Nxg4 14. b3 fxe5 15. dxe5 Qb6 16. Re2 Ba6 17. 
Ba3 Bxe2 18. Qxe2 Rf5 19. Rc1 Nxe5 20. Bc5 Qb5 {0-1(22) Poluljahov, 
Aleksandr (2515) - Velimirovic, Dragoljub (2510) / Belgrade Beopromet (4),
Belgrade SRB 1993} ) 12. ... Qd6 ( 12. ... Nf5 13. Qc2! ) 13. Qe2 Nf5 14. 
Nb3 g4 {Black is practically forced to weaken his pawn structure on the 
kingside.} ( 14. ... a5 15. g4! Nh6 16. h3 f5 17. Bxg5 fxg4 18. Ne5 Bxe6 
19. Bxh6 Bxh6 20. Nxg4 +/- {Timman} ) 15. Nfd2 a5 16. Nf1! ( 16. Qxg4 Bxe6
17. Nc5 Bc8 ) 16. ... a4 17. Qxg4 Bxe6 18. Bf4! h5! ( 18. ... Nxd4 19. 
Qxg7+! Kxg7 20. Nxd4 +- ) 19. Qf3 Qd8 20. Nc5 Nxd4 21. Qe3 Bf7 22. Qxd4 e5
23. Qd2 exf4 24. Qxf4 {White's clear advantage has been defined. The black
pawns are broken, the white knights have perfect supporting points and it 
is difficult for the black bishops to come into play. } 24. ... a3 25. 
bxa3 Re8 26. Ng3 Rxe1+?! ( 26. ... Re5 += ) 27. Rxe1 Qa5 28. Rc1 Re8 29. 
Qb4 Qxb4 30. axb4 Bh6 31. Rd1 Bg6 32. h4 Bf4 33. Kf1 Kf7 34. Ne2 Bc2 35. 
Rd4 Bd6 36. Rd2 Bg6 37. Nd4 +- Rc8 38. a4 Bf4 39. Rd1 Be5 40. g3 Ke7 41. 
f4 Bxd4 42. Rxd4 Kd6 43. a5 Bf5 44. Kf2 Rb8 45. a6 Kc7 46. Rd2 Bg4 47. Ra2
Kb6 48. a7 Ra8 49. Ra6+ Kb5 50. Ke3 Bc8 51. Ra2 Kb6 52. g4 Bxg4 53. Ra6+ 
Kb5 54. Kd4 Bc8 55. Ra5+ Kb6 56. Na4+ Kb7 57. b5 cxb5 58. Rxb5+ Kxa7 59. 
Ra5+ {1-0 Timman, Jan H (2625) - Yakovich, Yuri (2610) / Koge Open (8), 
Koge DEN 1997} 1-0

[Event "Rossolimo - Sicilian 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 g6"]
[Site "ChessOK"]
[Date "2012.09.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sicilian 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 - Theory"]
[Black "Theory - Rossolimo"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B31c"]
[EventDate "2012.09.01"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 {The most natural continuation: Black 
develops the king's bishop to the active a1-h8 diagonal and play acquires 
features characteristic of the English opening with reverted colors. } 4. 
Bxc6 {This continuation has become especially popular after the Fischer - 
Spassky match 1992. It seems that White looses a tempo by exchanging 
willingly on c6 but this is fully justified. White forces the opponent to 
choose a pawn structure by recapturing either with d7xc6, or with b7xc6. 
Then White selects a concrete deployment of the forces depending on either
choice. } 4. ... bxc6 5. O-O Bg7 6. Re1 e5 {A logical continuation - Black
impedes the white s4-pawn that rushes ahead and tries to develop his 
pieces harmoniously after Ng8-e7.} ( 6. ... d6 7. e5! += ) 7. c3 Ne7 8. d4
! {White opens up play in the center resolutely despite Black's pair of 
bishops. He intends to exert pressure on Black's position down the opening
files there. 
} 8. ... cxd4 9. cxd4 exd4 10. Nxd4 O-O 11. Nc3 Rb8 ( 11. ... d6 12. Bg5 
Bb7 13. Qd2 Re8 14. Rad1 += {Glek - Van Der Wiel, Tilburg 1994} ) 12. Nb3 
d5 13. Be3! {White pieces rush to occupy the weakened c5-square that has 
been formed in Black's pawn structure. } ( 13. Bg5 d4 14. Ne2 Rb5! 15. Qd2
c5 {Fuchs - Gufeld, Tbilisi 1969} ) 13. ... dxe4 14. Bc5! Rb7 15. Nxe4 += 
Bxb2 ( 15. ... Be6? 16. Qxd8 Rxd8 17. Na5! +- ) 16. Nd4! {Having 
sacrificed a pawn, White manages to evict out of play Black's important 
defender of the dark squares, the b2-bishop.} 16. ... Bxd4 ( 16. ... Bxa1?
17. Nf6+ Kh8 18. Qxa1 +- Bf5 ( 18. ... Nd5 19. Nxd5 Qxd5 20. Bxf8 +- ) 19.
 h3 Ng8 20. Nxf5 gxf5 21. Nd7+ f6 22. Nxf8 +- ) 17. Bxd4 Nd5 18. Rc1 ( 18.
 Bc5 Re8 19. Qxd5 Qxd5 20. Nf6+ Kg7 21. Nxe8+ Kh8! 22. Bd6! {(Kasparov) ќ
Makarichev} 22. ... Bf5 23. Be5+ f6 24. Nxf6 Qa5 25. Re3 Qxa2 26. g4 Rb1+ 
27. Rxb1 Qxb1+ 28. Kg2 Be6 = ) 18. ... f5! 19. Nd2 ( 19. Nc5 Re7 20. Ba1 )
19. ... Nf4 20. Nf3 Ne6 21. Rxc6 ( 21. Rxe6! Bxe6 22. Qe1 Qd5 23. Ba1 h6 
24. Qc3 Rh7! -/+ ( 24. ... Kh7 25. Ng5+! +- ) ) 21. ... Nxd4 {1/2-1/2, 
Makarichev - Krasenkow, Moscow 1992} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Rossolimo - Sicilian 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 g6"]
[Site "ChessOK"]
[Date "2012.09.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sicilian 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 - Theory"]
[Black "Theory - Rossolimo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B31c"]
[EventDate "2012.09.01"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 {The most natural continuation: Black 
develops the king's bishop to the active a1-h8 diagonal and play acquires 
features characteristic of the English opening with reverted colors. } 4. 
Bxc6 {This continuation has become especially popular after the Fischer - 
Spassky match 1992. It seems that White looses a tempo by exchanging 
willingly on c6 but this is fully justified. White forces the opponent to 
choose a pawn structure by recapturing either with d7xc6, or with b7xc6. 
Then White selects a concrete deployment of the forces depending on either
choice. } 4. ... bxc6 5. O-O Bg7 6. Re1 Nf6 ( 6. ... e5 {A logical 
continuation - Black impedes the white s4-pawn that rushes ahead and tries
to develop his pieces harmoniously after Ng8-e7.} ( 6. ... d6 7. e5! += ) 
7. c3 Ne7 8. d4! {White opens up play in the center resolutely despite 
Black's pair of bishops. He intends to exert pressure on Black's position 
down the opening files there. 
} ) 7. e5 Nd5 8. c4 Nc7 9. d4 cxd4 10. Qxd4! O-O ( 10. ... Ne6 11. Qh4 h6
!? 12. Nc3 d6 13. Rd1 Bb7 14. Be3 ( 14. exd6 exd6 15. Qg3 d5! ) 14. ... c5
15. exd6! ( 15. Nd5 dxe5 16. Nf6+ Bxf6 17. Rxd8+ Rxd8 18. Qg3 h5 19. h4 
O-O 20. Nxe5 Nd4 {0-1(37) Kharlov, Andrei (2545) - Andersson, Ulf (2605) /
Haninge (8), Haninge SWE 1992} ) 15. ... exd6 16. Qg3 += ) 11. Qh4! {A 
typical queen transfer to the kingside. V. Smyslov elaborated this 
maneuver for a similar situation arising in the English opening, with 
reverted colors. } 11. ... d6 12. Bh6 Ne6 13. Nc3 {Having developed his 
pieces naturally and actively, White exerts strong pressure in the center.
} 13. ... f6 14. Bxg7 ( 14. exf6! Rxf6 ( 14. ... Bxf6 15. Ng5 Rb8 16. Nce4
+/- ) 15. Ng5! ( 15. Ne4 Rxf3! ) 15. ... Nxg5 16. Bxg5 Rb8 17. Ne4 Rxb2 
18. Nxf6+ exf6 19. Bh6 +/- {Kasparov} ) 14. ... Kxg7 ( 14. ... Nxg7! 15. 
exf6 Rxf6 16. Ng5 Nh5 ) 15. exf6+ Rxf6 16. Ng5 Nxg5 17. Qxg5 Qf8 18. Re2 
+/- {xe7} 18. ... Ba6 19. b3 e5 20. Rd1?! ( 20. Qe3! +/- {Kasparov} ) 
20. ... Rf4! 21. Red2 Rd8 22. Qg3 {Qe3} ( 22. f3 Bb7 {h6, d5} ) 22. ... c5
23. Ne2 ( 23. Nd5 Rd4 {d7} ) 23. ... Rf5 24. Qe3 Bb7 25. f3 ( 25. Nc3 Rf4 
26. Nb5 Rg4 ) 25. ... h5 26. Rd3 ( 26. Nc3? Bxf3! ) 26. ... Rd7? ( 26. ...
 e4! 27. fxe4 Bxe4 = 28. Qxe4 Re8 29. Qh4 Rxe2 30. Rxd6 Rg5! -+ {Kasparov}
) 27. Nc3 {Nb5} 27. ... Bc6 28. Qd2 Rf6 29. Nd5 +/- Re6 30. h3 Qf5 31. Re1
Qf7 32. a3 Rd8 33. b4 cxb4 34. axb4 Qb7 35. b5 Bxd5 36. Rxd5 Qb6+ 37. Kh2 
Rc8 38. f4! Rce8 39. fxe5 dxe5 40. Rd7+ R8e7 41. Qd5 Kh6 42. Qd2+ Kh7 43. 
Rf1 e4 44. Rf7+ Rxf7 45. Rxf7+ Kg8 46. Qd7 Qb8+ 47. Kg1 Qe5 48. Rg7+! Qxg7
49. Qxe6+ Kh7 50. Qxe4 Qc3 51. Qe7+ Kh6 52. Qxa7 Qc1+ 53. Kh2 Qxc4 54. Qb8
{1-0 Kasparov, Garry (2780) - Salov, Valery (2655) / Dortmund (9), 
Dortmund GER 1992} 1-0

[Event "Rossolimo - Sicilian 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 g6"]
[Site "ChessOK"]
[Date "2012.09.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sicilian 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 - Theory"]
[Black "Theory - Rossolimo"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B31d"]
[EventDate "2012.09.01"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 {The most natural continuation: Black 
develops the king's bishop to the active a1-h8 diagonal and play acquires 
features characteristic of the English opening with reverted colors. } 4. 
Bxc6 {This continuation has become especially popular after the Fischer - 
Spassky match 1992. It seems that White looses a tempo by exchanging 
willingly on c6 but this is fully justified. White forces the opponent to 
choose a pawn structure by recapturing either with d7xc6, or with b7xc6. 
Then White selects a concrete deployment of the forces depending on either
choice. } 4. ... dxc6 {This is a reliable continuation. Within the pawn 
structure given, White's plan of preparing the d2-d4 advance is not so 
efficient. At the same time, Black may exploit control of the semi-opened 
d-file for establishing the knight outpost on d4, for example, after the 
Nf6-e8-c7-e6-d4 maneuver. The system of play with d7-d6 proved its value 
after the moves 4.0-0 Bg7 5.Bc6 dc. In this case, White has not yet 
defined the king's position, retaining an opportunity of castling either 
side that increases his chances in fighting for the initiative. By the 
way, this is one of the reasons for the immediate bishop exchange on move 
4. White implements the blockading strategy, which is especially effective
when fighting against a pair of bishops. This unhurried development is 
facilitated by the impossibility for Black to activate the pawn chain in 
the center after d7xc6. } 5. h3!? e5 ( 5. ... Bg7 ) 6. d3 f6! {Yet another
finesse - Black prepares the ¤g8-h6-f7 maneuver, which fortifies his 
position on the kingside, preventing at the same time the dark squared 
bishop exchange on the h6-square beneficial to White. J.-R. Capablanca 
implemented a similar maneuver in the Ruy Lopez. } 7. c3 ( 7. Nc3 Nh6 8. 
O-O Nf7 9. Nh2 Bg7 10. f4 exf4 11. Bxf4 O-O 12. Qd2 Be6 13. Rad1 Qd7 14. 
Be3 b6 15. a3 f5 16. Nf3 fxe4 17. Nxe4 Bd5 18. Nc3 Bxf3 19. Rxf3 Nd6 20. 
Rff1 Rxf1+ 21. Rxf1 Nf5 22. Bf2 Rd8 23. Qe2 Re8 24. Ne4 Nd6 25. c4 Nf5 26.
 b3 Rd8 27. Rd1 Qc7 28. Qe1 Bd4 29. b4 cxb4 30. axb4 h5 31. Bxd4 Rxd4 32. 
Qd2 Rd8 33. c5 bxc5 34. bxc5 h4 35. Rc1 Qe7 36. Qa2+ Qf7 37. Qb2 {1/2-1/2 
Kaidanov, Gregory S (2606) - Goldin, Alexander (2585) / Foxwoods Open 01st
(6), Mashantucket, CT USA 1999} ) 7. ... Nh6! 8. O-O Nf7 9. Be3 g5!? {A 
risky plan - Black strives for the kingside initiative using the white 
h3-pawn as a pretext. } ( 9. ... Bd6 10. d4 cxd4 11. cxd4 O-O 12. Nc3 Qe7 
13. Re1 Kg7 14. Qc2 Be6 15. Rad1 Rfd8 16. a3 Bc4 17. d5 Rdc8 18. dxc6 Rxc6
19. Nd2 Be6 20. Qd3 b6 21. Nd5 Qb7 22. Nb1 Rac8 23. Nbc3 Rc4 24. Qe2 Be7 
25. Rd2 Bd8 26. Red1 Qc6 27. f3 Qe8 28. Bf2 Be7 29. Qd3 Bf8 30. b3 R4c6 
31. Nb5 Qd7 32. Nb4 Qxd3 33. Rxd3 Bxb4 34. axb4 Ra8 35. Ra1 a6 36. Na3 {
1/2-1/2 Svidler, Peter (2635) - Vyzmanavin, Alexey (2605) / RUS Ch (3), 
Elista RUS 1995} ) 10. Ne1 ( 10. d4 cxd4 11. cxd4 g4 12. hxg4 Bxg4 13. 
Nbd2 Rg8 14. Qb3 Qd7 15. dxe5 Be6 16. Qc3 fxe5 17. Rfd1 Qc7 18. Rac1 Bh3 
19. g3 Bg4 20. Kg2 h5 21. Rh1 Be7 22. Bc5 Bf6 23. b4 b6 24. Be3 Rc8 25. a4
Qd7 26. Nh4 Nd6 27. Rce1 Qh7 28. a5 Qb7 29. axb6 axb6 30. Qb3 Rg7 31. Nc4 
Nxc4 32. Qxc4 Bxh4 33. Rxh4 Qf7 34. Qc3 Qf3+ 35. Kg1 Re7 36. Qa1 Rb8 37. 
Bg5 Re6 38. Qa7 Rc8 39. Qb7 Rd8 40. Bxd8 Kxd8 41. Qxb6+ Ke7 42. Qc5+ Kf7 
43. Qc4 Kg7 44. Re3 Qf6 45. Kg2 Qf8 46. Qc5 Qd8 47. Ra3 Kg6 48. Rh1 Rf6 
49. b5 cxb5 50. Rha1 Qd2 51. Ra6 Be6 52. Qe3 Qxe3 53. fxe3 b4 54. Kg1 b3 
55. Rb6 Bc4 56. Rxf6+ Kxf6 57. Ra4 Bd3 58. Rb4 Bc2 59. Kf2 Kg5 60. Rb8 Kg4
61. Rb5 Kh3 62. Rb4 Kh2 63. Rb6 Kh3 64. Rb8 Kg4 65. Kg2 Bxe4+ 66. Kf2 Bc2 
67. Rb6 e4 68. Kg2 h4 69. gxh4 Kxh4 70. Kf2 Kg4 71. Ke2 Kg3 72. Kd2 Kf3 
73. Rb8 Kg3 74. Kc1 Kg2 {1/2-1/2 Kalegin, Evgenij (2475) - Goldin, 
Alexander (2585) / RUS Ch (10), Elista RUS 1995} ) 10. ... Be6 11. Nd2 h5 
12. a3 a5 13. Qe2 b6 14. Nc2 Ra7 15. d4 cxd4 16. cxd4 Rd7 17. dxe5 Nxe5 
18. Rfd1 Be7 19. Nf1 Bc4 20. Rxd7 Qxd7 21. Qd2 Bd3 22. Qc3 Bxe4 23. Ng3 
Bd5 24. Bxb6 h4 25. Ne2 g4 26. Nf4 Be4 27. Re1 Qf5 28. Ne6 Rg8 29. Ncd4 
Nf3+ 30. Kf1 Bd3+ 31. Re2 Bxe2+ 32. Kxe2 Qe4+ 33. Qe3 Nxd4+ 34. Nxd4 Qxe3+
35. Kxe3 gxh3 36. gxh3 Rg5 37. Nxc6 Bc5+ 38. Bxc5 Rxc5 39. Nd4 a4 40. Kd3 
Rc1 {0-1 Shirov, Alexei (2740) - Kramnik, Vladimir (2725) / Novgorod (7), 
Novgorod RUS 1994} 0-1

[Event "Rossolimo - Sicilian 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 g6"]
[Site "ChessOK"]
[Date "2012.09.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sicilian 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 - Theory"]
[Black "Theory - Rossolimo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B31f"]
[EventDate "2012.09.01"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 {The most natural continuation: Black 
develops the king's bishop to the active a1-h8 diagonal and play acquires 
features characteristic of the English opening with reverted colors. } 4. 
Bxc6 {This continuation has become especially popular after the Fischer - 
Spassky match 1992. It seems that White looses a tempo by exchanging 
willingly on c6 but this is fully justified. White forces the opponent to 
choose a pawn structure by recapturing either with d7xc6, or with b7xc6. 
Then White selects a concrete deployment of the forces depending on either
choice. } 4. ... dxc6 {This is a reliable continuation. Within the pawn 
structure given, White's plan of preparing the d2-d4 advance is not so 
efficient. At the same time, Black may exploit control of the semi-opened 
d-file for establishing the knight outpost on d4, for example, after the 
Nf6-e8-c7-e6-d4 maneuver. The system of play with d7-d6 proved its value 
after the moves 4.0-0 Bg7 5.Bc6 dc. In this case, White has not yet 
defined the king's position, retaining an opportunity of castling either 
side that increases his chances in fighting for the initiative. By the 
way, this is one of the reasons for the immediate bishop exchange on move 
4. White implements the blockading strategy, which is especially effective
when fighting against a pair of bishops. This unhurried development is 
facilitated by the impossibility for Black to activate the pawn chain in 
the center after d7xc6. } 5. d3 ( 5. h3!? Bg7 ) 5. ... Bg7 6. h3 Nf6 ( 
6. ... e5 7. Nc3 Qe7 8. Be3 Nf6 9. Qd2 Nd7 10. Bh6 f6 11. Bxg7 Qxg7 12. 
Qe3 Qe7 13. Nd2 Nf8 14. f4 Ne6 15. fxe5 fxe5 16. O-O-O Nf4 17. Rhg1 Bd7 
18. Nf3 O-O-O 19. Nb1 g5 20. Nbd2 h6 21. Nc4 Ng6 22. b4 g4 23. hxg4 cxb4 
24. Qxa7 Bxg4 25. Rdf1 Rde8 26. Nfd2 Rhf8 27. Nb3 Be6 28. Nba5 Qc7 29. 
Nb6+ Kd8 30. Na8 {1-0 Psakhis, Lev (2575) - Roeder, Frank (2290) / Vienna 
Open (6), Vienna AUT 1991} ) 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Be3 b6 9. Qd2 Re8 10. a3 a5 11.
 O-O Nd7 12. Nh2 Nf8 13. f4 f5 14. Rae1 Ne6 15. exf5 gxf5 16. Nf3 Nd4 17. 
Ne5 Be6 18. Qf2 Bxe5 19. fxe5 Kh8 20. Bxd4 Qxd4 21. Ne2 Qxf2+ 22. Rxf2 
Red8 23. Ng3 Rf8 24. Ref1 Rad8 25. Nxf5 Rd5 26. Nxe7 Rxf2 27. Kxf2 Rxe5 
28. Nxc6 Rf5+ 29. Kg1 {1-0 Rublevsky, Sergei (2650) - Andersson, Ulf 
(2640) / Rubinstein Memorial 34th (8), Polanica Zdroj POL 1997} 1-0

[Event "Rossolimo - Sicilian 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 g6"]
[Site "ChessOK"]
[Date "2012.09.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sicilian 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 - Theory"]
[Black "Theory - Rossolimo"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B31n"]
[EventDate "2012.09.01"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 {The most natural continuation: Black 
develops the king's bishop to the active a1-h8 diagonal and play acquires 
features characteristic of the English opening with reverted colors. } 4. 
O-O Bg7 5. c3 {As we can see, the idea of erecting the white pawn center 
by means of c2-c3 and d2-d4 is frequently found in various ramifications 
of the system with Bb5.} 5. ... Nf6 6. Re1 O-O 7. d4 d5! {This is the most
apt occasion for implementing the typical counter strike in the center. 
Black delays the pawn exchange on d4 for a while in order to prevent the 
white queen's knight development to c3.} ( 7. ... cxd4 8. cxd4 d5 {A 
typical counterblow against the white mobile pawn center. } 9. e5 Ne4 10. 
Nc3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bf5 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Ba3! += {A situation has arisen 
typical for this variation. White's position is preferable since it is 
difficult for Black to bring into play his g7-bishop restricted by the 
white pawn chain c3-d4-e5. 
} ( 13. Ba3 a5 14. Nh4 Be6 15. Rb1 Qc7 16. h3 Rfb8 17. f4 Qd7 18. Qd3 f5 
19. Nf3 Qc7 20. Rxb8+ Rxb8 21. Rb1 Rxb1+ 22. Qxb1 Bc8 23. Bc5 Ba6 24. a4 
Bh6 25. g3 e6 26. Kf2 Bf8 27. Qb6 Qxb6 28. Bxb6 Bc4 29. Bxa5 Bb3 30. Bb4 
Bxb4 31. cxb4 Bxa4 32. Ng5 h6 33. Nxe6 Kf7 34. Nc7 Ke7 35. b5 Kd7 36. b6 {
1-0 Hracek, Zbynek (2615) - McShane, Luke J (2497) / Bundesliga 9899 
(9.1), GER 1999} ) ) 8. e5 ( 8. exd5 Qxd5 9. c4 ( 9. Bxc6 Qxc6 10. Rxe7? 
Be6 ) 9. ... Qd6 10. d5 ( 10. dxc5 Qxd1 11. Rxd1 Ne4 = ) 10. ... Nd4! 11. 
Nxd4 cxd4 12. Nd2 a6 13. Ba4 b5 14. Bb3 Bb7 15. cxb5 axb5 16. Nf3 Nxd5 17.
 Nxd4 Rfd8 =+ {Speelman & others - Kasparov, London 1993} ) 8. ... Ne4 9. 
Bxc6 ( 9. h3 Qb6 10. Ba4 Bf5 11. Na3?! ( 11. Re2 {Be3, Nbd2 = Kramnik} ) 
11. ... cxd4 {When the white queen's knight is developed, Black exchanges 
on d4.} 12. cxd4 f6! {This typical detriment of the white pawn 
fortification in the center is especially effective due to the white 
knight stance on the edge of the board. } 13. Bb3 Rad8 14. exf6 exf6 =+ 
15. Nc2 Rfe8 16. Bf4 Be6 17. Re2 g5! 18. Bh2 f5 19. Qe1 Bf7 20. Rd1 ( 20. 
Ne3 Nxd4 21. Nxd4 Bxd4 22. Nxf5 -/+ {xf2} ) 20. ... f4 21. g3 fxg3 22. 
fxg3 Rf8 23. Kg2? ( 23. g4! =+ ) 23. ... Na5! 24. Qb4 ( 24. Re3 Nc4! 25. 
Bxc4 dxc4 26. Rxe4 Bd5 -/+ ) 24. ... Qxb4 25. Nxb4 Nxb3 26. axb3 Rd6! -/+ 
27. Nd3 Rb6 28. b4 Rc8 29. Nfe5 Be8! 30. g4 Ba4 31. Ra1 Bb5 32. Rd1 Bf8! 
33. Rde1 Bd6 34. Re3 Rc2+ 35. Kg1 Bxd3 36. Rxd3 Rxb2 {0-1, Rozentalis - 
Kramnik, Germany 1994} ) 9. ... bxc6 10. Nbd2 {The centralized black 
knight must be exchanged.} 10. ... Nxd2 ( {More precise would be} 10. ... 
cxd4 11. cxd4 c5! {getting rid of the weaknesses on the c-file: } 12. dxc5
Nxc5 13. Nb3 Nxb3 14. Qxb3 Qb6 ( 14. ... Bg4 15. Nd4 Rb8 16. Qg3 Bd7 17. 
b3 Qa5 18. Bg5 Rfe8 19. Qh4 f6 20. Bh6 +/- {Rozentalis - W.Schoen, 
Groningen 1995)} ) ( 14. ... Re8 15. Qb4 a5 16. Qh4 Rb8 17. Nd4 Qb6 18. b3
Bd7 19. Bd2 h6 20. Nf3 g5 {Kveinys - Van Der Wiel, Koszalin 1998} ) 15. 
Qa3 ( 15. Qxd5 Bb7 ) 15. ... Bg4 16. Be3 Qb7 17. Bd4 Rfc8 18. h3 Bxf3! 19.
 Qxf3 Rc4 20. Rad1 e6 = {Rozentalis - Salai, Senek 1998} ) 11. Nxd2 cxd4 
12. cxd4 f6?! ( 12. ... c5 13. dxc5 Qc7 14. Nf3 Qxc5 15. Nd4 Bd7 16. b3 
Rfc8 17. Bb2 += {Rozentalis - Degraeve, Belfort 1997} ) 13. exf6 Bxf6 14. 
Nb3 Qd6 15. Bh6 Rf7 16. Qd2 += {Bf4-e5 xc5, e5} 16. ... Bh8! 17. Rac1 {
Pressure down the c- and e-files defines White's positional advantage.} 
17. ... Bd7 {e5} 18. f4! {This fixes the opponent's weaknesses along the 
e-file. } 18. ... Bf5 19. Re3 Bf6 20. Kh1 Rb8 21. Nc5 Bh8! 22. Ra3 Qf6! {A
witty attempt of counterplay - Black tries to obstruct White's design by 
pressurizing the d4-pawn.} 23. Nb3 Qh4! 24. Bg5 Qh5 25. Rxa7 h6 26. Bxe7 
Re8 27. Re1 Be4 {Distracting the white knight from the c5-square enables 
Black to exploit the weakness of the e4-square. } 28. Bc5 Rxa7 29. Bxa7 
Bxg2+ 30. Kxg2 Qg4+ 31. Kh1 Qf3+ 32. Kg1 Qg4+ {1/2-1/2, Movsesian - 
Rogozenko, Koszalin 1998} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Rossolimo - Sicilian 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 g6"]
[Site "ChessOK"]
[Date "2012.09.01"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sicilian 2...Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 - Theory"]
[Black "Theory - Rossolimo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B31n"]
[EventDate "2012.09.01"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 {The most natural continuation: Black 
develops the king's bishop to the active a1-h8 diagonal and play acquires 
features characteristic of the English opening with reverted colors. } 4. 
O-O Bg7 5. c3 {As we can see, the idea of erecting the white pawn center 
by means of c2-c3 and d2-d4 is frequently found in various ramifications 
of the system with Bb5.} 5. ... Nf6 6. Re1 O-O 7. d4 cxd4 ( 7. ... d5! {
This is the most apt occasion for implementing the typical counter strike 
in the center. Black delays the pawn exchange on d4 for a while in order 
to prevent the white queen's knight development to c3.} 8. e5 ( 8. exd5 
Qxd5 9. c4 ( 9. Bxc6 Qxc6 10. Rxe7? Be6 ) 9. ... Qd6 10. d5 ( 10. dxc5 
Qxd1 11. Rxd1 Ne4 = ) 10. ... Nd4! 11. Nxd4 cxd4 12. Nd2 a6 13. Ba4 b5 14.
 Bb3 Bb7 15. cxb5 axb5 16. Nf3 Nxd5 17. Nxd4 Rfd8 =+ {Speelman & others - 
Kasparov, London 1993} ) 8. ... Ne4 9. h3 ( 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. Nbd2 cxd4 11.
 cxd4 c5! 12. dxc5 Nxc5 13. Nb3 Nxb3 14. Qxb3 Qb6 15. Qa3 Bg4 16. Be3 Qb7 
17. Bd4 Rfc8 18. h3 Bxf3! 19. Qxf3 Rc4 20. Rad1 e6 = {Rozentalis - Salai, 
Senek 1998} ) 9. ... Qb6 10. Ba4 Bf5 11. Na3?! ( 11. Re2 {Be3, Nbd2 = 
Kramnik} ) 11. ... cxd4 {When the white queen's knight is developed, Black
exchanges on d4.} 12. cxd4 f6! {This typical detriment of the white pawn 
fortification in the center is especially effective due to the white 
knight stance on the edge of the board. } 13. Bb3 Rad8 14. exf6 exf6 =+ 
15. Nc2 Rfe8 16. Bf4 Be6 17. Re2 g5! 18. Bh2 f5 19. Qe1 Bf7 20. Rd1 ( 20. 
Ne3 Nxd4 21. Nxd4 Bxd4 22. Nxf5 -/+ {xf2} ) 20. ... f4 21. g3 fxg3 22. 
fxg3 Rf8 23. Kg2? ( 23. g4! =+ ) 23. ... Na5! 24. Qb4 ( 24. Re3 Nc4! 25. 
Bxc4 dxc4 26. Rxe4 Bd5 -/+ ) 24. ... Qxb4 25. Nxb4 Nxb3 26. axb3 Rd6! -/+ 
27. Nd3 Rb6 28. b4 Rc8 29. Nfe5 Be8! 30. g4 Ba4 31. Ra1 Bb5 32. Rd1 Bf8! 
33. Rde1 Bd6 34. Re3 Rc2+ 35. Kg1 Bxd3 36. Rxd3 Rxb2 {0-1, Rozentalis - 
Kramnik, Germany 1994} ) 8. cxd4 d5 {A typical counterblow against the 
white mobile pawn center. } 9. e5 Ne4 10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bf5 12. Bxc6 
bxc6 13. Ba3! += {A situation has arisen typical for this variation. 
White's position is preferable since it is difficult for Black to bring 
into play his g7-bishop restricted by the white pawn chain c3-d4-e5. 
} ( 13. Ba3 a5 14. Nh4 Be6 15. Rb1 Qc7 16. h3 Rfb8 17. f4 Qd7 18. Qd3 f5 
19. Nf3 Qc7 20. Rxb8+ Rxb8 21. Rb1 Rxb1+ 22. Qxb1 Bc8 23. Bc5 Ba6 24. a4 
Bh6 25. g3 e6 26. Kf2 Bf8 27. Qb6 Qxb6 28. Bxb6 Bc4 29. Bxa5 Bb3 30. Bb4 
Bxb4 31. cxb4 Bxa4 32. Ng5 h6 33. Nxe6 Kf7 34. Nc7 Ke7 35. b5 Kd7 36. b6 {
1-0 Hracek, Zbynek (2615) - McShane, Luke J (2497) / Bundesliga 9899 
(9.1), GER 1999} ) 1-0

