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Or risk a small, but sound advantage for White after 6.Nxc6. The simple fact is, that this variation has not as good a reputation as the Svesjnikov itself.

Yes. And even if Black can equalise after 6 Nxc6, this can be a very tedious variation for him/her to play.

7. Nd5 is certainly a good option in the Sveshnikov, but you can't get it against the clever guys who play 2... or 3... e6 and just "allow" the sveshnikov after e.g. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. d4 cd 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Nbd5 d6 7. Bf4 e5 8. Bg5. Playing an early ...e6 is a nice tradeoff for Black if he's more happy with (lesser?) 4-Knights variations than with with 2...Nc6 3. Bb5 or 2...Nc6 3. Nc3 e5. Note that 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 is also possible, but this is not exactly a "Maroczy bind", see for instance that funny Rublevsky-Bologan game. So, maybe it is useful to prepare a mainline sveshnikov variation. If you insist on something "crazy", some time ago there was a topical piece sacrifice with  10. Nd5 f5/Bg7 11. c3 Bg7/f5 12. Bd3 Be6 and only now 13. Nxb5 axb5 14. Bxb5 Bd7, is it still playable for White ? don't know much about corr. chess, but iirc Black first has to avoid some early catastrophe on the kingside, and then play a tense piece vs passed pawns game, maybe this is a good option against some of your opponents ?

photophore wrote on 01/28/07 at 00:10:02:


You might ask yourself, if crazy lines are the best way to beat weaker players. Anyway, if Black keeps on doing well in the main lines of the Svesjnikov, I predect a raise in popularity of 7.Nd5. I think it is very suitable for corr. play; the asymmetrical pawn structure offers many opportunities to outplay your opponents, especially weaker ones.

Some of you wonder why i want to avoid  the Svesh'
Well ! I am a corespondence player , and you know that corr. tournament are qualificative ones
Then , it's essential to win chiefly vs a weaker player , and it's not the case when he choses a Svesh' , as it's the case for instance with a Najdorf
On the other side 3 Bb5 , and the positions that occur don't eactly suit me
I should change my mind if somebody could give me a "crazy" line in the Svesh' , but I have not yet found such a line

The line 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 (e6) 3.Bc4 has arisen more frequently in my internet games than ANY other anti-sicilian OR open sicilian BY FAR, even though it is not that good of a variation.  It used to annoy me, but after the millionth time seeing it, I've gotten used to it and usually enjoy a very pleasant game (with a variety of approaches, too).  Of course I have yet to refute it outright.  If the REAL Santa Claus knocked on my door and told me I could have any chess refutation as a Christmas present, this one would be the most practical choice for me(of course I would have a long hard think about the Najdorf Poisoned Pawn).

As a player who likes the Sveshnikov quite a bit, I must admit that 3.Nc3 is my least favorite move to play against.  I actually look forward to 3.Bb5 as much as 3.d4.  Responding with 3...e5 is fairly boring.  I usually go 3...Nf6 and after 4.Bb5 either Qc7 or g6.  Actually I've been into the Kalashnikov and Lowenthal lately and then 3.Nc3 is even more annoying.  This would be my pick.  I remember seeing an interesting game between L.Domingez and T.Radjabov a while back here, and S.Polgar had a nice little intro article on it one time in Chess Life mag.

against 2...d6 then 3.Bc4 is not a bad option, angling for some type of Spanish game!? But with the 2...Nc6 I dont think its on maybe the immediate ...e6, ...d5