Sicilian Defence

The Sicilian is the biggest body of theory in chess. The way through it is to learn one variation properly rather than six badly, and to learn the Anti-Sicilians first, because that is what you will actually be shown.

1. FoundationWeeks one to three

   Goal. Have an answer to every second move, and understand the trade you are making.

   • The core bargain: you give up a wing pawn for a centre pawn and receive the half-open c-file. Everything else follows from that.
   • The Anti-Sicilians you will actually face more than the Open: 2.c3 (Alapin), 2.Nc3 (Closed), 3.Bb5 (Rossolimo and Moscow), 2.d4 (Smith-Morra) and 2.f4.
   • Then pick one Open Sicilian: Najdorf (sharpest, most theory), Accelerated Dragon (solid, less theory), Sveshnikov (unbalanced, forcing).
   DrillPrepare your Anti-Sicilian answers first, in this order: 2.c3, 3.Bb5, 2.Nc3, 2.d4. Below master level you will meet all four more often than the Open Sicilian.
   Common mistakeLearning twenty moves of the Najdorf and nothing against 2.c3. You will lose to the Alapin repeatedly and never reach your preparation.
   Move on whenYou have one line against every White second and third move, written down.
2. StructureMonths one to three

   Goal. Learn your chosen structure's skeleton and the squares that decide it.

   • In the Najdorf: the d5 square. Every move in the opening is about whether you achieve ...d5 in one move or not.
   • In the Dragon and Accelerated Dragon: the long diagonal and the g7-bishop. It is worth more than a rook in many positions.
   • In every Sicilian: the half-open c-file, the exchange sacrifice ...Rxc3, and the ...b5–b4 lever.
   DrillPlay out your tabiya twenty times from move ten. Do not study new lines until the tabiya is second nature.
   Common mistakePlaying ...d5 because it is 'freeing' when it loses a pawn or a piece. Count the defenders every time.
   Move on whenYou know the key square in your variation and can explain what happens if you never control it.
3. PlansMonths three to nine

   Goal. Win the race.

   • The counting principle in opposite-castling positions: count how many moves each attack needs. That number, not the evaluation, decides the game.
   • The standard sacrifices: ...Rxc3 (exchange), ...Nxe4 (opening lines), ...b4 and ...a5–a4 (pure pawns).
   • When to defend instead: ...h5 stopping the g-pawn, ...Kb8 and ...Rc8 tucking away.
   DrillTake ten opposite-castling Sicilians and, at move fifteen, count both attacks before looking at the result. Train the counting.
   Common mistakeDefending passively. In a race, one defensive move is one attacking move you did not make. Defend only when the arithmetic demands it.
   Move on whenYou can look at an English Attack position and say who is faster, with a reason.
4. MasteryYear two and beyond

   Goal. Depth in your line, plus the endgames.

   • Your variation's deepest branches: in the Najdorf that means the Poisoned Pawn and the 6.Bg5 complex.
   • The Maroczy Bind and how to break it: ...b5 sacrifices, ...Nxd4 trades and the ...f5 break.
   • Sicilian endgames: what the doubled c-pawns of the Rossolimo are actually worth, and why a good knight beats a bad bishop in these structures.
   DrillAnalyse five of your own losses in the Sicilian and classify them: lost the race, lost the structure, or lost to preparation. Fix the biggest category.
   Common mistakeSwitching variations after a loss. Depth beats breadth in the Sicilian by an enormous margin.
   Move on whenYou have a line you have played fifty times and still find new ideas in.