29. Kan Variation (4...a6 5.Bd3 Bc5)
The Kan Variation plays 2...e6 and 4...a6 and keeps every plan open. Against 5.Bd3 the move 5...Bc5 kicks the knight to b3; then Black plays ...Be7, ...d6 and ...Nf6, a solid structure against the Maróczy.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Bc5 6.Nb3 Be7 7.O-O d6 8.c4 Nf6
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.Nf3 – White develops the knight toward the center and prepares d2-d4 to open the game: it is the road to the Open Sicilian, the most ambitious try against us.
- 2...e6 – Black plays ...e6: it controls d5, opens the diagonal for the f8-bishop and keeps many roads open (Kan, Taimanov, Scheveningen).
- 3.d4 – White opens the center with d4, as in all Open Sicilians.
- 3...cxd4 – Black trades and opens the c-file. With the pawn already on e6, after Nxd4 it will be able to choose between the Kan (...a6), the Taimanov (...Nc6) or the Scheveningen.
- 4.Nxd4 – White recaptures with the knight, which dominates the center from d4.
- 4...a6 – The Kan: Black takes the b5 square away from the white pieces and prepares ...Qc7 and ...b5, without yet developing the knights.
- 5.Bd3 – White develops the bishop to d3, where it defends e4 and leaves the c-pawn free for c2-c4, the Maróczy Bind.
- 5...Bc5 – The bishop attacks the d4-knight and forces it to decide at once: on b3 the knight is far from the center.
- 6.Nb3 – The knight retreats to b3 and attacks the c5-bishop. From b3 it controls d4 and c5, but no longer takes part in the center.
- 6...Be7 – The bishop returns to e7, from where it defends d6 and the kingside. The alternative ...Ba7 keeps it on the a7-g1 diagonal but farther from the defense.
- 7.O-O – White castles and prepares c4 and Nc3, the Maróczy structure against the Kan.
- 7...d6 – Black controls e5 and c5 and prepares ...Nf6 and ...Nbd7: it is the Hedgehog structure, with pawns on a6, b6 (after ...b6), d6 and e6.
- 8.c4 – White takes space with c4: now ...b5 and ...d5 are harder, and Black settles in behind its pawns.
- 8...Nf6 – The knight develops and attacks e4, defended only by the d3-bishop. White will have to play Nc3 before other plans.
How to exploit the position
White has more space in the center with c4 and e4, Black has a solid, elastic Hedgehog structure, without weaknesses.
- Complete the Hedgehog scheme: ...b6, ...Bb7, ...Nbd7, ...Qc7 and ...O-O, with the b7-bishop against e4.
- Prepare the ...b5 or ...d5 pushes: they are the breaks that free Black's game when White has finished development.
- Bring a knight to c5 (via d7) to attack the d3-bishop and the e4-pawn.
- Don't be in a hurry: in the Hedgehog Black waits for White to overextend and then strikes with the breaks.
Master tips
The Hedgehog breaks
In the structure with a6, d6 and e6 Black has little space, but the ...b5 and ...d5 breaks give it counterplay.