Sicilian Defense: Closed, Smyslov Variation is a chess opening with the ECO code B24, part of the Sicilian Defense family. It goes 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 e6 6. Be3 Nd4 7. Nce2. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... c5. After 13 moves it is Black to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.
The moves
1. e4 – White plays the pawn to e4
1... c5 – Black plays the pawn to c5
2. Nc3 – White plays the knight to c3
2... Nc6 – Black plays the knight to c6
3. g3 – White plays the pawn to g3
3... g6 – Black plays the pawn to g6
4. Bg2 – White plays the bishop to g2
4... Bg7 – Black plays the bishop to g7
5. d3 – White plays the pawn to d3
5... e6 – Black plays the pawn to e6
6. Be3 – White plays the bishop to e3
6... Nd4 – Black plays the knight to d4
The line goes on for 1 more moves; the lesson shows them all.
About the Sicilian Defense
Black answers 1.e4 with 1...c5, fighting for the d4 square from the side. The game becomes unbalanced and sharp, with chances for both sides.
After d4 and ...cxd4, Black trades a side pawn for White's centre pawn and gets an extra centre pawn.
Black uses the half-open c-file: a rook on c8 and pressure on c3 and c2.
Kings often castle on opposite sides, so both players race to attack; every tempo counts.
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