Sicilian 2.Bc4
1.e4 c5 2.Bc4!?
There are 15,123 examples of this move in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database. It goes back to at least 1783, when Thomas Bowdler - famous for bringing out a 'family' version of Shakespeare's plays - used it to gain a draw in a blindfold simul given by André Philidor.
2...e6 3.Nc3 Ne7!?
Trying to insist on a quick ...d5.
4.e5?!
Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 very much dislike this.
4...d5
Insisting on ...d5, but the engines prefer 4...Ng6.
5.exd6 Nf5!? 6.Nf3 Bxf6 7.d3
The engines give 7.d4, assessing the game as equal.
7...0-0 8.Nb5 Nc6!?
Allowing White to win the bishop-pair, but at a cost in time.
9.Nxd6 Qxd6 10.0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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Black has more space, and a lead in development, factors that outweigh the bishop-pair, according to the engines, which reckon Black has the upper hand.
10...e5
The engines prefer an immediate ...b6.
11.Re1 b6 12.Ng5!? Qg6!?
12...h6 13.Ne4 Qg6 may be a little better.
13.Bd5
The engines suggest 13.f4!? or 13.Nf3!?
13...Bb7?!
Probably better is 13...Nfe7, hitting White's light-square bishop while protecting c6, or 13...Bd7, covering both black knights.
14.Be4 h6?
Hitting the white knight is right, but with the other pawn.
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| How should White proceed? |
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15.Qg4?
White has a large advantage after 15.g4!? hxg5 16.gxf5, eg 16...Qd6 (16...Qf6?! 17.h4!? gxh4 18.Qg4 is good for White) 17.h4!? gives a strong attack.
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| What should Black play? |
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15...hxg5?
Missing the strength of 15...Bc8!, eg 16.Bxc6 Qxc6 (16...Nd4 is also good) 17.Ne4 Nd4 18.Qd1 f5, with excellent kingside play.
16.Bxf5 Qd6 17.Bxg5
16.Bxf5 Qd6 17.Bxg5
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| Now White has won a pawn, how would you assess the position? |
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White is up a pawn, and still has the bishop-pair, while also having caught up in development. Black has more space, and a little initiative, but that is not enough compensation, according to the engines.
17...Nd4 18.Re3!?
This is Stockfish17.1's top choice, but Dragon1 prefers 18.Be3. In neither case can Black afford to reply by forking the white rooks.
18...g6?!
Not 18...Nxc2? 19.Rh3, but perhaps best is 18...Nxf5 19.Qxf5 Qc6, relying on opposite-coloured bishops to give counterplay.
19.Be4 Bxe4
Not 19...f5 20.Qh4 fxe4 21.Rh3, when White has a wining attack.
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| How should White recapture? |
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20.dxe4?!
Almost certainly wrong, although not as bad as 20.Rxe4?, when 20...f5 21.Rxd4 gives White a pawn for the exchange, but that is not enough. Instead 20.Qxe4 leaves White on top, eg 20...Nxc2? 21.Rh3, when there is no good answer to Qh4, or 20...Nf5!? 21.Rh3. when White has an attack, as well as being up a pawn.
20...Nxc2!?
This is at last possible, and indeed is Black's only good move.
21.Rd1?!
The problem with 21.Rh3? is that 21...Nxa1 threatens back-rank mate as well as winning a rook, so there is no time for Qh4. However, the engines' 21.Rf1! gives what are perhaps somewhat unexpected chances. After 21...Nxe3 22.fxe3, Black should probably continue with 22...Rfe8, when best-play seems to run 23.Qh4 Re6 24.h3!?, after which Black is up the exchange, and has the better pawn-structure, but White is very active, and possibly only slightly worse (the engines find the position hard to assess - Black's immediate material and structural advantages, against White's long-term compensation).
21...Nxe3 22.fxe3
Not 22.Rxd6? Nxg4 23.h3 f6 24.Bd2 Rad8 25.Rd5 Rxd5 26.exd5 Nxf2 27.Kxf2 Rd8, when Black will have an easily won rook-v-bishop ending.
22...Qe6 23.Qg3?!
Objectively best is swopping queens, but Black should have little trouble converting the exchange-up endgame.
23...Kg7 24.Qf3 f6 25.Bh4 Rad8 26.Rf1!? Rd2 27.g4 Rxb2
Not 27...g5? 28.Bxg5!
28.g5 f5 29.exf5 Rxf5 30.Qb7+ Rf7 31.Rxf7+ Qxf7 32.Qb8!?
Presumably hoping to somehow get a perpetual.
32...Rb1+ 33.Kg2 Qf1+ 34.Kg3 Qg1+ 35.Kf3 Rf1+ 36.Ke2 Qg2+ 37.Kd3 Qd5+ 38.Kc3 Rc1+ 39.Kb2 Qd2+ 0-1
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