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The Modern Sicilian Surprise - 5...h5!? in the 2…Nc6-Sicilian
A novel Sicilian variation that has only really existed since around 2021. Black's idea is to set up ...Ng4 and also reserve judgement on which central pawn to move next- there are 4 options after all- while the move itself also makes structural sense in a wide variety of Sicilian lines, notably the Dragon and Sveshnikov.6.f46.Be2The most common move, and a likely one if someone doesn't particularly know the position. Discussed in Carroll-Fernandez.6.Bf4 likely leads to an endgame and is discussed in a theoretical file. The move looks awkward and at this stage is an indication of facing a prepared opponent. 6.h3is rather cynical, challenging Black to prove that ...h5 had ideas beyond setting up ...Ng4. That this is true is most readily seen by transposing to a modified Sveshnikov withe57.Ndb5d6
as gets investigated in its own file. Notably, White's best reply is probably8.Nd5and not the conventional8.Bg5.6.Bc4e67.0-07.Bf4!7...Qc7!is treated in the game Ezra,P-Fernandez,D Sunnyvale 20236.Nxc6 is simplistic and afterbxc67.e5Ng4Black obtains excellent play.8.f48.Qd4Qb6Zivkovic-Fernandez, Paracin 20238...g6
Black is ready to play in dynamic fashion and sacrifice up to two pawns.9.Qf39.h3 can be inserted first, however it's clear that afterNh6Black now also has the alternate plan of simply ...h4 and ...Nf5 without delay.9...d510.exd6Bg711.h3Nh612.Qxc6+Bd713.Qe4e66.Bg5is examined in Ibarra Jerez- Tilicheev.6.f3e5White has made a move that doesn't go well with the Sveshnikov and so this makes sense.7.Nb37.Ndb5d68.Nd5Nxd59.exd5Ne7
10.c4Nf5Threatening ...a6 followed by ...Qh4+, which highlights the problems with White's structure.7...Bb4Intending the equalising break ...d5. It can only really be discouraged by8.Bg5but Black plays it anyway.d5!?9.Bxf6gxf610.Qxd510.exd510...Be611.Qxd8+Rxd8
Despite the reduced material, Black has compensation in all variations since White's doubled pawns will be much weaker than his own, e.g.12.Bd312.Bb5Rc813.0-0-0Bxc314.bxc3a6=12...Rc813.Kf2Bxc314.bxc3Ne7=6.Be3is not totally unplayable, but vindicates Black's last move. AfterNg4White will more or less need to play7.Nxc6entering an endgame which is not better for them.dxc68.Qxd8+Kxd89.Bd2e510.Bc4Ke8=6...e5?!
As the variation matures it maybe becomes more appropriate to play6...d6instead and simply argue that White has lost some of the most critical options in the Classical Sicilian.7.fxe5!7.Ndb5Bc5 An idea known from the 4 Knights Sicilian.8.Nd6+Ke7is dangerous for both sides.9.fxe5Other move orders are less scary, e.g.9.Nf5+Kf810.fxe5Ng4∞9...Nxe510.Nf5+Kf811.Bf4
White has a narrow path to an advantage, and this is the start of it.11...d5!?11...Qc7also looks playable, e.g.12.Nd5Nxd513.Qxd5d6and White's only claim to an advantage is probably their castling rights. Maybe that is not so important!12.Bxe5Bxf513.Bxf6Avoiding pins on the e-file, only to step back into one a couple of moves later.Qxf614.exf5d4
15.Ne415.Na4?!Bb4+16.c3Qh4+ and so on is shaky for White.15...Qh4+16.Ng3Re8+17.Be2Re318.Qd2d3White has avoided moving the king, but now has to return the piece. Note that this is a stronger way to take it than ...Rxg3.19.0-0-0dxe220.Nxe2Rh6 Black's piece activity means that White should probably sue for a queen trade with the following further forced line, entering a very slightly better rook ending!21.Qd7Rxe222.Qc8+Re823.Qxc5+Kg824.Qxa7Ra6
25.Qd4Qxd426.Rxd4Rxa227.Rhd1Re27...Nxe4The only consistent move.7...Nxe58.Nf3±8.Nxc68.Nxe4Qh4+9.Nf2Qxd410.Qxd4
10...Nxd4 is nothing for White. Both sides have a weak central pawn and a knight developed.11.Bd3d6=8...Qh4+9.g3Nxg310.hxg3Qxg3+11.Kd2dxc612.Qe1!In this way White seems to keep an advantage, though in a very artificial position with the king getting in the way of everything. Therefore it seems like a reasonable punt for Black.
12...Qg6!?The damage limitation play is12...Qf313.Be2Qf4+14.Kd1Qxe515.Rxh5Rxh516.Bxh5Qxe1+17.Kxe1Bf5but Black lacks serious winning chances here.13.Ne4Bb4+14.c3Bf515.Nd6+Bxd616.exd6+Be417.Rh4Qxd6+18.Ke2Qe7
Technically White has some advantage (around +0.8) but with continuing lack of king safety it is not easy to play at all.