Theoria
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Sicilian Defense

Scheveningen Variation, Classical Main Line

B85positionalaggressive

  1. 1.e4c5
  2. 2.Nf3e6
  3. 3.d4cxd4
  4. 4.Nxd4Nc6
  5. 5.Nc3Qc7
  6. 6.Be2a6
  7. 7.O-ONf6
  8. 8.Be3Be7
  9. 9.f4d6
  10. 10.Qe1O-O
82 games55%43%

A Scheveningen Sicilian main line in which White, after Be2, O-O, Be3 and f4, plays 10. Qe1 to bring the queen toward the kingside for an attack.

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About the Classical Main Line

This is the classical Scheveningen setup, with ...Nc6, ...Qc7 and ...a6 facing Be2, O-O, Be3 and f4. Here it is reached through the Bastrikov order 4...Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7. With 10. Qe1, White reroutes the queen toward the kingside. The usual follow-up is 11. Qg3, aimed at g7 and supporting a later e5 or f5. The main alternatives are 11. Rd1 and 11. Kh1. The engine rates the position as roughly balanced.

Popular continuations