ChessScreenshot

Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 · B80–B89

Part of Sicilian Defense

Starting positionWhite to move

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A compact centre covers key squares

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The idea

A flexible, small-centre setup: Black builds a compact pawn wall with ...d6 and ...e6 and chooses the counterattack after seeing where White commits.

Main line: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be2 Be7 7.O-O O-O 8.f4 Nc6

What White wants

  • Attack with f4 or choose the Keres g4 push
  • Keep the king safe and coordinate the pieces before opening lines
  • Prepare e5 to challenge the compact centre at the right moment

What Black wants

  • Develop with ...Be7, ...O-O and ...Nc6 and keep the centre flexible
  • Counterattack on the queenside with ...a6 and ...b5
  • Free the position with ...e5 or ...d5 when the time is right

Key idea

Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.

A compact centre covers key squares

Black's pawns on d6 and e6 do not defend each other: they control c5, d5, e5 and f5. This compact centre keeps pawn breaks flexible but concedes space. Black develops behind it, then chooses ...d5 or ...e5 according to the position.

Common mistake

Breaking with e5 before the pieces are ready. The wall is meant to be opened with everything in place; played early, e5 just gives Black ...dxe5 and a strong ...Nd5 blockade, and the space White paid for disappears.

Representative position

The position this opening is aiming at. Copy the FEN, or open it in the analysis board and let the engine tell you what it is worth.

r1bq1rk1/pp2bppp/2nppn2/8/3NPP2/2N5/PPP1B1PP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 1 9

Analyze this position

Variations

1 line branching from here.

Related openings

Sicilian Scheveningen: Keres Attack1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 · B81White plays 6.g4 before developing the bishops, but after bringing both knights into play. The pawn thrust aims to displace the f6 knight and challenge Black's kingside setup immediately.Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 · B90–B99The most analysed opening in chess: 5...a6 takes the b5 square away from White's pieces and prepares ...e5 and ...b5 in one move.Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 · B47–B49Black develops both knights and the queen to natural squares before committing the pawn structure — flexible, sound, and very hard to attack.Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 · B70–B79Black fianchettoes the bishop onto the long diagonal, where it rakes White's queenside — the most direct and most tactical Sicilian.Sicilian Defense1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 · B20–B99Black answers 1.e4 with the c-pawn, refusing to mirror and instead trading a wing pawn for a centre pawn — the most ambitious and most popular reply in chess.Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 · B34–B39The Dragon without ...d6 first — Black fianchettoes immediately and keeps the option of the freeing ...d5 break in one move.