Sicilian Bb5(+)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e5
This is only sixth-most popular in ChessBase's 2026 Mega database, but has been tried by Carlsen, Caruana, Nakamura and other strong grandmasters.
4.0-0
This is far more popular than the second commonest move, 4.Bxc6.
4...Nge7!?
The main line in Mega26 runs 4...Bd6!? 5.c3 a6 6.Ba4 b5 7.Bc2 Nge7 8.d4 (8.a4 is also popular) cxd4 9.cxd4 Nxd4 10.Nxd4 Nxd4 exd4Qxd4, when Stockfish17.1 and Dragon1 come to agree White is a tad better.
5.c3 a6 6.Ba4 b5 7.Bc2 Ng6 8.d4 d6!?
The engines prefer double-capturing on d4.
9.d5!?
This appears to be a novelty - Mega26 has only 9.a4 and 9.h3.
9...Na5 10.a4 Bd7 11.Nbd2 Be7 12.b4 Nb7 13.Rb1 0-0
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| Now both sides have castled, how would you assess the position? |
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White has more space in the centre, but the white pieces do not appear particularly well-placed to exploit this. However the engines give White a slight edge.
14.Ne1!? Qc8 15.g3!?
This is the engines' second choice, behind 15.a5!?
15...f5 16.exf5 Bxf5 17.Ne4 cxb4 18.Rxb4
The engines prefer 18.cxb4, and if 18...Qc4, then 19.f3.
18...Nc5 19.Nxc5 dxc5 20.Rb2 Rb8 21.Qe2 c4 22.axb5 axb5 23.Be3
The engines much prefer 23.Bxf5.
23...Rd8 24.Bxf5 Qxf5 25.Rd2 h5
The engines reckon Black has a slight edge after 25...h6, and if, as in the game 26.Qf3, then 26...Qxf3 27.Nxf3 Bf6, when ...e4 is a threat.
26.Qf3 Qh3
Now 26...Qxf3 27.Nxf3 Bf6 can be met by 28.Ng5.
27.Qe4 Kh7?!
Self-pinning usually requires exact calculation. Almost certainly better is 27...Qg4, when 28.Qxg4 hxg4 29.Nc2 is equal, according to the engines.
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| White to play and gain what the engines reckon is a winning advantage |
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28.Nf3?!
Black does not seem to have a good answer to 28.d6!, eg 28...Bxd6 29.Nf3 Be7 (even worse is 29...Qg4? 30.Ng5+ etc) 30.Rxd8 Rxd8 31.Nxe5 Qe6 32.f4 Rd5 33.Ra1! Bd6 34.Ra6, or 28...Rxd6?! 29.Rxd6 Bxd6 30.Nf3, with a slightly worse-for-Black line than the previous one, or 28...Bf6 29.Ba7! Ra8 30.Bb6 Rf8 31.d7 Qg4 32.Qxg4 hxg4 33.Nc2, when Black has not lost material, but the pawn on d7 is a monster that will win material in the long run.
The engines reckon other 28th moves also give White an edge, including 28.Nc2 and 28.Ng2, eg 28.Ng2 Qg4 29.f4.
28...Qg4
But now this is good enough for equality.
29.Qxg4 hxg4 30.Ng5+ Bxg5 31.Bxg5 Rd7!?
The engines reckon this is slightly better than 31...Rd6.
32.d6 b4 33.cxb4 Rxb4 34.Rc1 Kg8 35.Rdc2
Dragon1 reckons 35.Be3 gives a slight edge, but Stockfish17.1 disagrees.
35...Rxd6 36.Rxc4 Rxc4 37.Rxc4 Rd4 38.Rc6
38.Rxd4!? may be playable, although Dragon1 at first calls it a blunder, but comes to agree with Stockfish17.1, which quickly assesses the position as still equal.
38...Kf7 39.Be3 Ra4 40.h3!? gxh3 41.Kh2 Ne7 42.Rc7 Kf6 43.Kxh3 Ra6 44.Bg5+!? ½–½
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