36. Grand Prix Attack with 2...d6 (8.Qe1 Nd4)
With 2...d6 Black chooses a Dragon-like structure: 3...Nf6, ...g6, ...Bg7 and castling. When White prepares the attack with 8.Qe1, Black occupies d4 with the knight and after the trade recaptures with the pawn, which kicks the c3-knight away.
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 Nf6 4.Nf3 g6 5.Bc4 Bg7 6.d3 O-O 7.O-O Nc6 8.Qe1 Nd4 9.Nxd4 cxd4
Move by move
- 1.e4 – White occupies the center with the king's pawn, controls d5 and f5 and frees the queen and the f1-bishop. This is the move we answer with the Sicilian.
- 1...c5 – The Sicilian Defense: Black controls d4 with a flank pawn instead of occupying the center. If White plays d4, Black will trade c5 for d4 and have two central pawns against one and the half-open c-file.
- 2.Nc3 – White develops the knight without opening the center: it prepares f4 (Grand Prix) or g3 (Closed Sicilian).
- 2...d6 – Black controls e5 and prepares ...Nf6 and ...g6: against the Closed Sicilian or the Grand Prix it chooses a Dragon-like structure.
- 3.f4 – White enters the Grand Prix: it prepares Nf3, Bc4 or Bb5+ and a kingside attack with f4-f5.
- 3...Nf6 – The knight develops and attacks e4, defended by the c3-knight. Black prepares the fianchetto.
- 4.Nf3 – The knight develops and controls e5 and g5. White prepares Bc4 and O-O.
- 4...g6 – Black prepares ...Bg7, which aims along the long diagonal and protects the king.
- 5.Bc4 – The bishop goes to c4 aiming at f7. White prepares d3 and castling.
- 5...Bg7 – The bishop completes the fianchetto and prepares short castling.
- 6.d3 – White defends e4 and opens the c1-bishop's diagonal.
- 6...O-O – Black castles: the king is safe and Black is ready for ...Nc6 and play on the queenside.
- 7.O-O – White castles and puts the rook on the f-file, supporting f4-f5.
- 7...Nc6 – The knight develops and prepares ...Nd4, Black's strong square in these structures.
- 8.Qe1 – The queen prepares Qh4 to attack the black king, with the idea of f5 and Bh6.
- 8...Nd4 – The knight occupies d4 and attacks c2 and f3. Black prepares the trade on f3 or pressure on c2.
- 9.Nxd4 – White trades the d4-knight so as not to leave it in the center.
- 9...cxd4 – Black recaptures with the pawn, which attacks the c3-knight. The c-file opens for the black rook and queen against c2.
How to exploit the position
Black has good play: the d4-pawn takes space away from White and kicks the c3-knight away, the c-file is open. White will look for an attack with Qh4, f5 and Bh6.
- After the knight retreats, play ...Qb6 or ...Rc8: the c-file and the b2-pawn are the targets.
- Kick the c4-bishop away with ...a6 and ...b5 to take away the piece aimed at f7.
- Against Qh4 and f5 answer with ...Ng4 or ...e5: the black pieces must reach the kingside quickly.
- Keep the g7-bishop: it is the black king's best defender against Bh6.
Master tips
The knight on d4
In the Grand Prix structures the d4 square is Black's natural foothold.