Sicilian Defense

25. Scheveningen: Keres Attack (6.g4 h6 7.h4 Nc6 8.Rg1 d5)

The Keres Attack (6.g4) is the most aggressive weapon against the Scheveningen. Black restrains the g-pawn with 6...h6, develops the knight and, when White has spent time with h4 and Rg1, strikes in the center with 8...d5.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.g4 h6 7.h4 Nc6 8.Rg1 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxd5 Qxd5

Move by move

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 2...d6 – Black controls e5, opens the diagonal for the c8-bishop and prepares ...Nf6: after 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 the e4-pawn will be attacked right away. It is the basis of the Najdorf and the Dragon.
  5. 3.d4 – White opens the center: it offers the d4 pawn trade against c5 to develop quickly and use the lead in development in an open position.
  6. 3...cxd4 – Black trades at once: it removes White's d-pawn, keeps two central pawns (d6 and e7) against one and opens the c-file for rook and queen.
  7. 4.Nxd4 – White recaptures with the knight, which dominates the center from d4. In exchange for faster development it has conceded the central majority to Black.
  8. 4...Nf6 – Black develops with tempo by attacking e4. White has to defend it with 5.Nc3 and loses the chance to play c2-c4, which would give the solid Maróczy structure.
  9. 5.Nc3 – White defends e4 by developing a piece: it is the basic position of the Open Sicilian, from which the Najdorf, Dragon, Scheveningen and Classical arise.
  10. 5...e6 – The Scheveningen: with pawns on d6 and e6 Black forms a small center that controls d5, e5, c5 and f5. It is a solid, flexible structure, which prepares ...Be7, ...O-O and play on the queenside.
  11. 6.g4 – The Keres Attack: White threatens g4-g5 to kick the f6-knight away before Black castles. It is the most aggressive answer to the Scheveningen.
  12. 6...h6 – Black stops g4-g5 for at least one move: now White must prepare the push with h4, and the f6-knight stays in place.
  13. 7.h4 – White supports the g5 push with the h-pawn. If ...hxg5 hxg5, the h-file will open for the white rook.
  14. 7...Nc6 – The knight develops and presses on d4. Black prepares the ...d5 push to strike in the center while White's pawns have advanced on the flank.
  15. 8.Rg1 – The rook supports g4-g5 from the g-file. White has spent three moves on pawns and rook and has not yet developed the bishops.
  16. 8...d5 – Black answers the flank attack with a blow in the center: ...d5 opens the game while White is behind in development and its king is still on e1.
  17. 9.exd5 – White trades so as not to leave Black the choice between ...dxe4 and ...d4. Now the lines in the center open.
  18. 9...Nxd5 – Black recaptures with the knight, which from d5 attacks the c3-knight and controls f4 and e3. The black king is safer than the white one.
  19. 10.Nxd5 – White trades the knights to take the centralized piece away from Black.
  20. 10...Qxd5 – The queen recaptures in the center: it attacks the d4-knight, defended only by the white queen, and controls the d-file and the diagonal toward h1. Black has comfortable development and the g4 and h4 pawns are exposed.

How to exploit the position

A balanced position: Black has freed the game in the center and its queen is active, while White's g4 and h4 pawns are advanced and may become weak.

Master tips

Against a flank attack, play in the center

When White pushes g4, h4 and brings the rook to g1 without developing, the center is the weak point.

Model games