Kramnik Variation

The Kramnik Variation meets 2...e6 with 3. c4, placing pawns on c4 and e4 before the d-pawn moves. The point is to establish the Maróczy Bind clamp on d5 at once. In most ...e6 Sicilians, Black's freeing ...d5 break is a central resource, and the early c-pawn advance makes it much harder to achieve. White can still play d4 later and recapture with the knight, reaching a Maróczy structure. Black then usually aims for a Hedgehog-type setup, with play based on ...b5 or a well-timed ...d5. The cost for White is a permanent hole on d4 and a slight delay in development.

The most common reply, played in about half of games, is 3...Nc6, which develops and keeps an eye on d4. Next comes 3...a6, which leads into the O'Kelly and Paulsen territory against a Maróczy Bind. Striking at once with 3...d5 is less popular and scores noticeably worse for Black. Overall results are nearly even, and the engine regards the position as balanced, with 3...Nc6, 3...Nf6 and 3...b6 as its preferred replies.