The Sveshnikov bishop sacrifice is lesson 10 of 10 in Brilliant sacrifices 4: Sicilian and French fire, an opening course suited to players rated around 1800 (strong club players). Sicilian Sveshnikov, B33. White gives a bishop for two pawns and frees the knight on a3. It has 3 interactive exercises: 3 find-the-move puzzles. You play every move on a board and get feedback straight away. The lesson is free.
What this lesson explains
This is the Sveshnikov. Black's king side pawns are broken, but the b5 pawn keeps your knight on a3 out of play. White has a sharp way to free it. About 191,000 rated games on Lichess have reached this position.
Bxb5! The bishop takes the pawn. If axb5, the a3 knight takes back on b5, and both knights head for c7.
After axb5 and Nxb5, White has two pawns for the piece, and the knights on d5 and b5 hit c7. Black's king cannot castle easily. The engines call it equal.
Recap.
In the Sveshnikov, the knight on a3 is often stuck.
Bxb5 axb5 Nxb5 frees it for two pawns.
The knights on d5 and b5 aim at c7.
The engines say the game is balanced but sharp.
What you practise
First play the line. You are White: play the moves of the Sveshnikov Sicilian, up to the moment of the sacrifice.
Your turn: find the sacrifice. Your knight on a3 is stuck behind the b5 pawn. Free it with a bishop sacrifice.
Black does not take the bishop and plays Bb7. Your bishop is attacked by the a6 pawn. Step back and pin the knight on c6.
Worked examples
First play the line. You are White: play the moves of the Sveshnikov Sicilian, up to the moment of the sacrifice. Good. Black answers f5. Now the position is ready for the sacrifice.
Your turn: find the sacrifice. Your knight on a3 is stuck behind the b5 pawn. Free it with a bishop sacrifice. That is the Bxb5 sacrifice. Two pawns, and two knights jumping toward c7.
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