Sicilian 2.g3
1.e4 c5 2.g3!?
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| There are 9,120 examples of this position in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database |
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One of the ideas of 2.g3!? is to play a Closed Sicilian without the move Nc3. The point is that often in the Closed Sicilian White feels obliged to move the queen's knight a second time in order to get in the pawn-push c3 to expel a black knight from d4.
2...d5
The main line in Mega26 runs 2...Nc6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Ne2 Bg7 5.0-0 d6 6.c3, with what Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 reckon is an equal position.
3.Bg2!?
Much more popular is 3.exd5, after which play usually goes 3...Qxd5 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Bg2 Qe6+!? 6.Kf1!? Nc6 7.h3 Bh5 8.d3, again with what the engines reckon is equality.
3...dxe4 4.Bxe4 Nf6 5.Bg2 Nc6 6.Nc3 Bg4
The engines like 6...e5.
7.f3!?
Here they much prefer 7.Nf3, meeting 7...Nd4 8.h3 Bh5 with 9.g4, claiming a slight edge for White (Stockfish17.1) or at least equality (Dragon1).
7...Bh5
Withdrawing the bishop to f5 or e6 gives the upper hand, according to the engines.
8.Nge2 e5 9.0-0 Be7 10.d3 0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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Black has more space, but the engines reckon White keeps the balance with vigorous play.
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11.Bg5
The engines give 11.g4!? Bg6 12.f4! exf4 13.Nxf4, and if 12...Nxg4!?, then 13.f5 Bh5 14.Bxc6!? bxc6 15.Ng3 with promising kingside play.
11...h6 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Ne4 Be7 14.Qd2?
The engines suggest 14.g4!? Bg6 15.f4, but reckon Black has at least a slight edge.
14...Qd7
Possibly slightly stronger is 14...f5.
15.f4 f5 16.N4c3 e4!?
Exploiting the fact 14.Qd2? left the queen unprotected.
17.Qe3 exd3 18.cxd3 Rad8 19.Rad1 Nd4
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| How should White proceed? |
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20.Qe5?
The engines give best-play as something like 20.Rd2 Bf6 (they fluctuate between this and 20...Rfe8) 21.Kh1 (or possibly 21.Qf2) Rfe8 22.Qf2 b5!? 23.Ng1 (or maybe 23.Nc1) Bf7 24.Nf3 b4 25.Nd1 Bxa2, with a large advantage for Black.
20...Bf6
Other moves also win.
21.Qd5+ Qxd5 22.Bxd5+ Rxd5! 23.Nxd4
23.Nxd5 Bxe2 is not much of an improvement for White.
23...Rxd4 24.Rd2 Rfd8 25.Nb5 Rxd3 26.Rxd3 Rxd3 0-1
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