Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation

The Sveshnikov Variation is the main line of the Sveshnikov Sicilian. It arises when Black answers 8. Na3 with 8...b5. This move was Evgeny Sveshnikov's own innovation; before it, 8...Be6 was the usual choice. The pawn takes space on the queenside, denies the a3-knight the c4-square and threatens ...b4, attacking both white knights at once. Black accepts the backward d6-pawn and the hole on d5 in return for time and active piece play.

White must deal with the ...b4 threat. The Chelyabinsk Variation, 9. Nd5, is chosen in about three games out of four and plants the knight on the key square immediately. In the alternative, 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5, White removes the defender of d5 and saddles Black with doubled f-pawns. Black then chooses between the Novosibirsk Variation, 10...Bg7, and 10...f5, which can be met by Peresypkin's Sacrifice, 11. Bxb5. White scores somewhat better after 9. Bxf6 than after 9. Nd5, and the engine gives White a slight edge. The line is deeply analyzed and has been played by Magnus Carlsen, Vladimir Kramnik, Veselin Topalov and Teimour Radjabov. Many White players avoid it altogether with the Rossolimo Variation, 3. Bb5.