Sicilian Defense: The Chelyabinsk Variation

by Gennadi Timoshchenko, Garry Kasparov (Foreword by)

Overview

A Variation by Any Other Name... One of the most popular – and intriguing – variations of the Sicilian Defense is the so-called Chelyabinsk Variation. In the West, it is known as the Sveshnikov Variation, while older opening monographs may refer to it as the Lasker-Pelikan Variation. It is called the Chelyabinsk Variation in Russia. It is the variation that arises after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5. Once dismissed by theoreticians as “anti-positional,” it is now common at all levels. In this monumental work, grandmaster Gennadi Timoshchenko, one of the creative founders of the entire line, puts the entire variation into both a personal and historical perspective and then examines the theory and practice of this line in great detail. From the foreword by Garry Kasparov: “Timoshchenko’s book on the Chelyabinsk Variation is both very interesting and necessary. Behind it lies an enormous amount of work, as will become evident as you read and especially play through the author’s analysis. Readers will be able to get a definitive insight into the genesis of the Chelyabinsk Variation...In its 200 chapters, more or less every important branch of the Chelyabinsk Variation is examined. It is also unusual as it contains a huge amount of novelties at various levels of importance.” Extraordinary analytical depth, cross-checked by strong engines, is complemented by historical and biographical perspectives to make this a truly unique opening manual. Regardless of what name you give it, Sicilian Defense: The Chelyabinsk Variation will provide you with a powerful weapon against 1.e4.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781941270547
Publisher:	Russell Enterprises, Incorporated
Publication date:	10/15/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	31 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Gennadi Timoshchenko is one of two founding theoreticians of the popular variation of the Sicilian Defense called the Chelyabinsk. This variation has also been called the Svenshinikov or the Pelikan.

He was a Russian grandmaster but later emigrated to Slovakia where he is a current residence.

Considered by many to be the greatest chessplayer ever, Garry Kasparov was world chess champion from 1985-2000.

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 152
11.c3 Bg5 12.Nc2 Ne7 13.Ncb4 0-0 14.a4 bxa4 15.Qxa4

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Nd5 Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.c3 Bg5 12.Nc2 Ne7 13.Ncb4 0-0 14.a4 bxa4 15.Qxa4 [Diagram]

Taking with queen is roughly as popular in the database as capturing with the rook, but strong players clearly prefer the queen move. Moreover, its success rate is also notably higher.
15...Nxd5
15...a5 leads to small White edge, for example, 16.Bb5! Nxd5 17.Nxd5 Be6! (17...f5 is slightly weaker in view of 18.b4! fxe4 19.Bc6, and White has an advantage) 18.Bc6 Rb8 19.b4! (the usual 19.Ra2 does not bring any advantage: Black should not play 19...Qc8 (Kamsky-Carlsen, Khanty Mansyisk 2005), but 19...f5! with equal play, for example, 20.h4 Bf6 21.exf5 Bxf5 22.Qc4 Be6!N 23.b4 axb4 24.cxb4 Qc7!, and the queen moves to the comfortable square f7) 19...Bxd5 20.Bxd5 axb4 21.cxb4 Qb6 22.Rb1!N and White has a small advantage.
16.Nxd5 Bd7
After 16...a5 17.Bb5, the game transposes to the 15...a5 variation. (Diagram)

This is the critical position for the 15.Qxa4 variation. Where does queen have to withdraw to? Five possible retreats have been tested.
This move seems to be the best. All the other retreats are slightly weaker, and their evaluations are practically the same.
(a) On 17.Qa5, the simplest reply is 17...Qxa5! 18.Rxa5 Rfb8, for example, 19.b4 Bd8 20.Rxa6 Rxa6 21.Bxa6 Ra8 22.Be2 Ra1 23.Bd1 Bb5 24.h4 Bd3 25.f3 Ra2, etc.
(b) In the game Inarkiev-Wang, Nizhni Novgorod 2007, there occurred 17.Qa3 Bc6 18.Bc4 a5 19.b3 Kh8 20.0-0 f5. Here, instead of the strange move 21.Qb2?!, White should have played 21.exf5!N with a very slight advantage.
(c) In Anand-Carlsen, Morelia/Linares 2008, White chose 17.Qa2. There followed 17...a5 18.Bd3!? (or 18.Bc4 a4! with equal play) 18...Bc6 (worth attention is 18...a4!? 19.0-0 Qb8) 19.0-0 Qb8 20.Bc4 Kh8 21.b3 f5 22.exf5, and here the game was drawn. However, White retains small advantage after more precise 21.Qb1!N. By the way, this move shows that the queen retreat to а2 was not the most successful decision.
(d) In Korneev-Moiseenko, Fuegen 2006, there was 17.Qd1 a5 18.Bc4 Kh8 19.0-0 f5 (19...Rb8!? 20.b3 f5 is more accurate) 20.exf5 Bxf5 21.Qe2 (and here White has the unpleasant 21.Bd3!) 21...Qb8 (21...Be6N seems to be more precise) 22.Rfd1 (after 22.b4!N White has a small edge), and after all those mutual slips, the game lost its theoretical interest. (Diagaram)

Editorial Reviews

"...very interesting and necessary...also unusual as it contains a huge amount of novelties at various levels of importance."—Garry Kasparov from the Foreword

From the Publisher