35. Grand Prix Attack: 3...g6, 5...e6 and ...Nge7
In the Grand Prix Attack (2.Nc3 and 3.f4) White looks for an attack on the kingside. Black fianchettoes with ...g6 and ...Bg7, closes the c4-bishop's diagonal with ...e6 and develops the knight to e7; against the 6.f5 gambit it recaptures on e6 and castles.
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 e6 6.f5 Nge7 7.fxe6 dxe6 8.d3 O-O
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...Nc6 – Black develops the knight and controls d4, the key square if White doesn't push d2-d4.
- 3.f4 – The Grand Prix Attack: White prepares Nf3, Bc4 or Bb5 and a kingside attack with f4-f5.
- 3...g6 – Black prepares the fianchetto: the g7-bishop will aim along the long diagonal against c3 and b2 and will defend the king after castling.
- 4.Nf3 – White develops the knight and prepares Bc4 or Bb5.
- 4...Bg7 – The bishop completes the fianchetto: it presses on d4 and on the diagonal toward b2.
- 5.Bc4 – The bishop goes to c4, aimed at f7: White thinks of f4-f5 and a kingside attack.
- 5...e6 – Black closes the c4-bishop's diagonal toward f7 and prepares ...Nge7, which will control f5 and d5.
- 6.f5 – White pushes f5 as a gambit: it offers a pawn to open the f-file and lines against the black king.
- 6...Nge7 – The knight develops and attacks f5: Black completes the development of the kingside and prepares to castle.
- 7.fxe6 – White trades on e6 to open lines before Black completes development.
- 7...dxe6 – Black recaptures with the d-pawn: it opens the d-file for the queen, which eyes the d2-pawn, and frees the c8-bishop.
- 8.d3 – White opens the diagonal for the c1-bishop and defends e4. It now prepares O-O and Qe1-h4 or Bf4.
- 8...O-O – Black castles: the king is safe behind the g7-bishop and the f7-pawn is defended by the rook.
How to exploit the position
Black has a solid position and good control of the dark squares; White has the half-open f-file and will look for Qe1-h4 or Bg5.
- Eliminate the c4-bishop with ...Na5: after ...Nxc4 dxc4 White no longer has the piece that attacks e6.
- Occupy d4 with a knight (...Nd4): supported by the c5-pawn, it cannot be kicked away by pawns.
- Develop the c8-bishop to b7 after ...b6 or to d7, and use the d-file with ...Qc7 and ...Rd8 against the d3-pawn.
- Against Qe1-h4 and Bh6, keep the g7-bishop and defend with ...Nf5, which attacks the queen.
Master tips
Closing the c4-bishop's diagonal
In the Grand Prix the c4-bishop aims at f7, Black's weak point.