The Modern Sicilian Surprise - 5...h5!? in the 2…Nc6-Sicilian

Introduction and 6.f4

 

 

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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 h5
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.f4 6.Be2 The 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.h3 is 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 with e5 7.Ndb5 d6
as gets investigated in its own file. Notably, White's best reply is probably 8.Nd5 and not the conventional 8.Bg5 .
6.Bc4 e6 7.0-0 7.Bf4! 7...Qc7! is treated in the game Ezra,P-Fernandez,D Sunnyvale 2023 6.Nxc6 is simplistic and after bxc6 7.e5 Ng4 Black obtains excellent play. 8.f4 8.Qd4 Qb6 Zivkovic-Fernandez, Paracin 2023 8...g6
Black is ready to play in dynamic fashion and sacrifice up to two pawns. 9.Qf3 9.h3 can be inserted first, however it's clear that after Nh6 Black now also has the alternate plan of simply ...h4 and ...Nf5 without delay. 9...d5 10.exd6 Bg7 11.h3 Nh6 12.Qxc6+ Bd7 13.Qe4 e6
6.Bg5 is examined in Ibarra Jerez- Tilicheev. 6.f3 e5 White has made a move that doesn't go well with the Sveshnikov and so this makes sense. 7.Nb3 7.Ndb5 d6 8.Nd5 Nxd5 9.exd5 Ne7
10.c4 Nf5 Threatening ...a6 followed by ...Qh4+, which highlights the problems with White's structure.
7...Bb4 Intending the equalising break ...d5. It can only really be discouraged by 8.Bg5 but Black plays it anyway. d5!? 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Qxd5 10.exd5 10...Be6 11.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.Bd3 12.Bb5 Rc8 13.0-0-0 Bxc3 14.bxc3 a6= 12...Rc8 13.Kf2 Bxc3 14.bxc3 Ne7=
6.Be3 is not totally unplayable, but vindicates Black's last move. After Ng4 White will more or less need to play 7.Nxc6 entering an endgame which is not better for them. dxc6 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Bd2 e5 10.Bc4 Ke8= 6...e5?!
As the variation matures it maybe becomes more appropriate to play 6...d6 instead and simply argue that White has lost some of the most critical options in the Classical Sicilian. 7.fxe5! 7.Ndb5 Bc5 An idea known from the 4 Knights Sicilian. 8.Nd6+ Ke7 is dangerous for both sides. 9.fxe5 Other move orders are less scary, e.g. 9.Nf5+ Kf8 10.fxe5 Ng4∞ 9...Nxe5 10.Nf5+ Kf8 11.Bf4
White has a narrow path to an advantage, and this is the start of it. 11...d5!? 11...Qc7 also looks playable, e.g. 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.Qxd5 d6 and White's only claim to an advantage is probably their castling rights. Maybe that is not so important! 12.Bxe5 Bxf5 13.Bxf6 Avoiding pins on the e-file, only to step back into one a couple of moves later. Qxf6 14.exf5 d4
15.Ne4 15.Na4?! Bb4+ 16.c3 Qh4+ and so on is shaky for White. 15...Qh4+ 16.Ng3 Re8+ 17.Be2 Re3 18.Qd2 d3 White has avoided moving the king, but now has to return the piece. Note that this is a stronger way to take it than ...Rxg3. 19.0-0-0 dxe2 20.Nxe2 Rh6 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.Qd7 Rxe2 22.Qc8+ Re8 23.Qxc5+ Kg8 24.Qxa7 Ra6
25.Qd4 Qxd4 26.Rxd4 Rxa2 27.Rhd1 Re2
7...Nxe4 The only consistent move. 7...Nxe5 8.Nf3± 8.Nxc6 8.Nxe4 Qh4+ 9.Nf2 Qxd4 10.Qxd4
10...Nxd4 is nothing for White. Both sides have a weak central pawn and a knight developed. 11.Bd3 d6=
8...Qh4+ 9.g3 Nxg3 10.hxg3 Qxg3+ 11.Kd2 dxc6 12.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 is 12...Qf3 13.Be2 Qf4+ 14.Kd1 Qxe5 15.Rxh5 Rxh5 16.Bxh5 Qxe1+ 17.Kxe1 Bf5 but Black lacks serious winning chances here. 13.Ne4 Bb4+ 14.c3 Bf5 15.Nd6+ Bxd6 16.exd6+ Be4 17.Rh4 Qxd6+ 18.Ke2 Qe7
Technically White has some advantage (around +0.8) but with continuing lack of king safety it is not easy to play at all.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Intro and 6.f4 e5--