Sicilian Defence, Chekhover Variation
The Sicilian Defence, Chekhover Variation is a chess opening named after Vitaly Chekhover, from the game Chekhover–Lisitsin, Leningrad 1938. It is defined by the moves:
On move four White ignores the standard opening principle to not develop the queen too early in the game. Although the Chekhover Variation is somewhat rare at grandmaster level, it is not uncommon among amateurs.
The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings assigns code B53 to this opening.
Main line: 4...Nc6
Black's main response to the Chekhover Variation is 4...Nc6 immediately attacking White's queen, leading to:- 5.Bb5 pinning the knight: 5...Bd7 6.Bxc6 Bxc6.
- 5.Qa4?! avoiding an exchange and keeping the light-square bishop.
- 5.Qe3 a non-ambitious reply, often played in conjunction with Be2, 0-0, Nc3, and Bd2. This system has been coined the Harikrishna System by IM Alexandru-Bogdan Banzea, as it has recently been used by super grandmaster Pentala Harikrishna in over-the-board games with positive results as White.
Other continuations
- 4...a6 prevents a future pin: 5.c4 Nc6 6.Qd1.
- 4...Bd7 prepares 5...Nc6.
- 4...Nf6 avoids exchanges and continues with.
Example games
- Evgeni Vasiukov vs. Loek van Wely, 2002
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Bxc6 Bxc6 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Bg5 e6 9.0-0-0 Be7 10.Rhe1 0-0 11.Qd2 Qa5 12.Nd4 Rac8 13.Kb1 Kh8 14.f4 h6 15.h4 hxg5 16.hxg5 Nxe4 17.Qd3 Bxg5 18.Nxe4 Bxe4 19.Rxe4 Bh6 20.g4 f5 21.Rxe6 Bxf4 22.Nxf5