Sicilian Bb5(+)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6!?
This is fourth in popularity in ChessBase's 2025 Mega database, behind 3...d6, 3...e6 and especially 3...g6, but is the best-scoring percentagewise.
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| How should White respond? |
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4.Qe2
The main line in Mega25 runs 4.Nc3 Qc7 (also popular is 4...g6) 5.0-0 Nd4 6.Re1!? a6!? 7.Bf1 Ng4!? 8.g3 Nxf3+ 9.Qxf3 Ne5 10.Qe2 e6, with a slight edge for White, according to Stockfish17 and Dragon1, although Black scores a resounding 60% with this line in Mega25.
4...g6 5.c3 Bg7 6.0-0 0-0
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| With both sides castling early, how would you assess the position? |
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The engines give White the better side of equality.
7.d4 d5!?
The engines fluctuate between the text and the more-normal 7...cxd4.
8.e5 Ne4 9.Nbd2 Nxd2 10.Bxd2 cxd4 11.cxd4 Qb6 12.Be3 Bg4 13.Rfc1?
Not only does this lose a pawn, but White is left with multiple weaknesses.
13...Bxf3 14.gxf3 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Qxd4 16.Rc7?!
The engines much prefer 16.e6!? or 16.Rd1, but even so reckon Black's advantage is worth about a minor piece.
16...e6 17.Re1 a6 18.Bd3 Rab8 19.Bb1 Bh6!
The engines agree this is best - Black is going after White's weakened kingside.
20.Rd1 Qh4 21.Kg2 Bf4 22.Rh1 Qg5+ 23.Kf1 Qxe5 24.Qxe5 Bxe5 25.Rc2 Rfc8 26.Re2 Bf4 27.Kg2 Rc5 28.h4 Rbc8 29.h5 Rc1 30.Ree1 Rxe1 31.Rxe1 Rc1!? 32.Rxc1 Bxc1
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| White has obtained an ending of opposite-coloured bishops, but Black's advantage is too large to give real drawing chances |
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33.hxg6 fxg6!?
This gives Black a second passed pawn, but the engines reckon 33...hxg6 is even stronger.
34.b3 Kg7 35.Kg3 e5 36.Kg4 Kf6 37.a4 Bd2 38.Bd3 Be1 39.Kg3 h5 40.Bc2 g5 41.Bd3 Bd2 42.Bh7 Bf4+ 43.Kh3 a5 44.Bg8 d4 45.Bc4 Ke7 46.Bd3 Kd6 47.Kg2 Kc5 48.Kf1 Kb4 49.Bc4 Kc3 50.Ke2 h4 51.Be6 Kc2 52.Kf1 d3 53.Bf5 0-1
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