Zukertort Opening: Sicilian Invitation

Zukertort Opening: Sicilian Invitation is a chess opening with the ECO code A04, part of the Zukertort Opening family. It goes 1. Nf3 c5. White opens with 1. Nf3 (the Zukertort/Réti knight move) and Black answers 1... c5. After 2 moves it is White 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. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3
• 1... c5 – Black plays the pawn to c5

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 2. g3.

About the Zukertort Opening

White starts with 1.Nf3, a flexible move that develops and controls e5 and d4. White can later go into many different openings.

• It stops ...e5 for now and keeps d4 or c4 options open.
• Common follow-ups are g3, Bg2, O-O (a King's Indian Attack style).
• Black can take the centre with ...d5 and ...c5; react calmly.

chessGM has a full course for this line: open the Zukertort Opening: Sicilian Invitation course lesson.

Related openings

• It extends: Zukertort Opening (1. Nf3)
• Continues with: Colle System: Rhamphorhynchus Variation – adds 2. e3 g6 3. d4 Bg7
• Continues with: Modern Defense: Semi-Averbakh Variation, Polish Variation – adds 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7
• Continues with: Modern Defense: Semi-Averbakh Variation, Pterodactyl Variation – adds 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7
• Continues with: Zukertort Opening: Speelsmet Gambit – adds 2. d4 cxd4 3. e3
• Related line: Zukertort Opening: Shabalov Gambit (1. Nf3 e6 2. c4 a6 3. Nc3 c5 4. g3 b5)
• Related line: Zukertort Opening: Slav Invitation (1. Nf3 c6)
• Related line: Zukertort Opening: Ross Gambit (1. Nf3 e5)
• Related line: Zukertort Opening: Speelsmet Gambit (1. Nf3 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. e3)
• Related line: Zukertort Opening: Queenside Fianchetto Variation (1. Nf3 b6)
• Related line: Zukertort Opening: St. George Defense (1. Nf3 a6)

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