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Sicilian Scheveningen: Keres Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 · B81

Part of Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation

Starting positionWhite to move

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The g-pawn challenges the f6 knight

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The idea

White 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.

Main line: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.g4 h6 7.h4 Nc6 8.Rg1 h5

What White wants

  • Push g4 and h4 and crack open the h-file as fast as possible
  • Support the pawn storm with Rg1 and Be3
  • Castle long once the attack is under way

What Black wants

  • Hit the storm with ...h6 and ...h5 and stop the pawns
  • Counterattack in the centre with ...d5
  • Trade pieces and survive into a position where the weakened white kingside matters

Key idea

Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.

The g-pawn challenges the f6 knight

The g4 advance prepares g5, attacking the f6 knight and gaining kingside space. Black can answer with ...h6 or central counterplay; after h4, ...h5 attacks g4. White must balance the pawn storm with development and the safety of the uncastled king.

Common mistake

Pushing every kingside pawn without watching the centre. The Keres Attack needs piece support as well as speed; if Black achieves ...d5 with tempo, White's uncastled king can become a target before the pawn storm opens useful attacking lines.

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.

r1bqkb1r/pp3pp1/2nppn2/7p/3NP1PP/2N5/PPP2P2/R1BQKBR1 w Qkq - 0 9

Analyze this position

Related openings

Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 · B80–B89A flexible, small-centre setup: Black builds a compact pawn wall with ...d6 and ...e6 and chooses the counterattack after seeing where White commits.Sicilian Najdorf: English Attack1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 · B90The most popular attacking setup against the Najdorf: Be3, f3, Qd2 and long castling, followed by a pawn storm down the g- and h-files.Sicilian Dragon: Yugoslav Attack1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 · B75–B79White castles long and storms the kingside while Black counterattacks on the queenside — the defining opposite-side-castling battle of the Sicilian.Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 · B56–B69The old main line: White pins the knight on f6 with Bg5 and castles long, playing for the e5 break and a kingside attack.