Pin Variation

Reached from the 2...e6 Sicilian after 4...Nf6 5. Nc3, the Pin Variation develops the dark-squared bishop at once to b4. This pins the c3-knight and increases the pressure on e4, instead of transposing to the Scheveningen with 5...d6 or to the Four Knights with 5...Nc6. The drawback is that the bishop leaves the kingside dark squares unguarded, and White's sharpest answer exploits this. The thrust 6. e5, the Koch Variation, drives the f6-knight away. After 6...Nd5 7. Bd2 Nxc3 8. bxc3 Be7 9. Qg4, Black must either weaken the king with 9...g6 or castle and allow Bh6 at the cost of the exchange. The alternative 6...Ne4 runs into 7. Qg4, and 6. Nb5 is another testing try. For these reasons the line has a dubious theoretical reputation, and the engine gives White a slight edge.

In practice, White most often chooses the quieter 6. Bd3, which Black can meet with 6...e5, the Jaffe Variation. The pin 6. Bg5 scores badly for White. Across all Lichess games Black's results are good, since the forcing lines are hard to calculate over the board without preparation.