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Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical (B85)
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6 6 Be2 a6
7 O-O Qc7 8 f4 Nc6

Number of games in database: 776
Years covered: 1925 to 2024
Overall record:
   White wins 38.3%
   Black wins 24.9%
   Draws 36.9%

Popularity graph, by decade

Explore this opening  |  Search for sacrifices in this opening.
PRACTITIONERS
With the White Pieces With the Black Pieces
Andrei Volokitin  6 games
Robert Kuczynski  6 games
Igor-Alexandre Nataf  6 games
Dragoljub Janosevic  20 games
Vasja Pirc  16 games
Alexander Kotov  14 games
NOTABLE GAMES [what is this?]
White Wins Black Wins
Lasker vs Pirc, 1935
Karpov vs E Cobo Arteaga, 1972
C H Alexander vs Szabo, 1947
L Barden vs Rossolimo, 1950
A Vajda vs Kotov, 1949
Bronstein vs Kotov, 1947
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 page 1 of 32; games 1-25 of 776  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. M Gyorgy vs B Stupan  1-0321925Yugoslav Amateur ChampionshipB85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical
2. Istvan Gyorgy vs G Machate  1-0301926FIDE Congress-03 Little OlympiadB85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical
3. H Weenink vs Euwe 1-0231927Amsterdam VASB85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical
4. P Leonhardt vs W Hilse  ½-½46192725. DSB KongressB85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical
5. P Gombos vs Pirc  0-1241931Pre-Olympic TournamentB85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical
6. E Steiner vs Pirc 0-1411934UjpestB85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical
7. L Steiner vs B Stupan  1-0391934MariborB85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical
8. Lasker vs Pirc 1-0201935MoscowB85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical
9. L Merenyi vs L Steiner  0-1171935TatatovarosB85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical
10. S Fazekas vs Pirc 1-0561936PodebradyB85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical
11. Szabo vs F Gygli  ½-½331936non-FIDE Munich OlympiadB85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical
12. Euwe vs W de Boer 0-1161936Simul, 37bB85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical
13. W H Vos vs Fine  ½-½421937Amsterdam ASC/VAS Group DB85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical
14. L Asztalos vs L Steiner  1-0391938LjubljanaB85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical
15. L Furlani vs Pirc  ½-½381938LjubljanaB85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical
16. K Richter vs E Reinhardt  ½-½571938German ChampionshipB85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical
17. H Grob vs J Szily  ½-½531939StuttgartB85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical
18. Boleslavsky vs Kotov 1-0331940USSR ChampionshipB85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical
19. I Kan vs B Goldenov  1-0361941Ch URS (1/2 final)B85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical
20. R Palme vs K Junge 0-1311941German ChampionshipB85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical
21. N Cortlever vs P Rethy  ½-½621941MunichB85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical
22. Bogoljubov vs K Junge ½-½4619412nd General GovernmentB85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical
23. R Charlier vs J de Souza Mendes  ½-½331943BRA-ch MatchB85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical
24. J Fichtl vs Pachman  0-1441943PragueB85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical
25. V Soultanbeieff vs V I Borodin 1-0261943Belgian ChampionshipB85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical
 page 1 of 32; games 1-25 of 776  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)  

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 1 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Jul-10-03  mj29479: this opening seems like a very simple one but infact this require precision and highest level of tactics. look at the names of players who have practiced this over the years. i am amazed that this opening has not being discussed so far on chessgames!!!
Jul-10-03  JGD: I used to play this opening exclusively. It requires a considerable amount of study and depp strategic understanding. I would not recommend it to any players just starting the game, especially if you don't want to devote chunks of your life to beating the Keres attack!
Jul-10-03  ksadler: <Avoiding the Keres attack> To tell you the truth, I don't find the Keres attack any worse than any of the other sharp lines in any other sicilian (Najdorf Poisoned pawn, Yugoslav attack in the dragon etc.)
Jul-10-03  JGD: I don't avoid it, but if black isn't careful and aware of the correct theoretical lines he can get run off the board.
Jul-13-04  russep: This opening is great for players who like slow controlled attacks
Jul-21-04  russep: Does anyone have any thoughts about this opening?
Jul-21-04  OneBadDog: This is a great opening. Both Black and White's plans are relatively easy to understand-it's the accuracy in implementing these plans that is important. White will often look for a well timed g4 or e5 pusk. Black looks for b5 and/or e5 breaks.
Jul-21-04  russep: what about variations with queen to e1?
Jul-21-04  OneBadDog: The Queen often goes to e1 and then g3. This supports an e5 break and indirectly puts pressure on the g7 square.
Jul-21-04  OneBadDog: I think that a player with a good understanding of these positions will have a good understanding of Chess in general.
Jul-21-04  russep: thanks
Jul-21-04  dragon40: LEts not forget that a common way to get into the Scheveningen is through the Najdorf Sicilian when White decides to play 6.Be2, so the transposition is a very viable way to get into this. I use it from time to time as Black and it is a very interesting and complex opening to try and learn AND understand! The Keres Attack is as aggressive as the Popison PaAwn Najdorf, Yugoslav Dragon and English Attack Najdorf as well, so it is just another double edged way to fight this opening! I think the major point to remember is to control the dark squares and try to maximize the Qside play and not let White build up a pawn storm on the KSide, at least in general principle. This classical variation is very positional and poisonous in its own right and should not be taken lightly at all by Black!
Jul-22-04  russep: I am really interested in playing the scilian with the white pieces i only use the dragon with the black pieces
Jul-23-04  OneBadDog: Nunn's "Beating The Sicilian" is a great book for 1 e4 players. Unfortunately, I think it's out of print.
Jul-23-04  russep: I have the book but it only looks at one system against a particular variation
Jul-23-04  dragon40: I am lock and stock D Pawn player, so I don not face the Sicilain as White. As Black, I usually use the Najdorf when I decide on the Sicilian... and if White playes 6. Be2, I willingly go into the 6...e6 positions! they are great study material and really do take an understanding of the type of positions that come from the classic Schveningen...It isnt easy tho:)
Jul-24-04  OneArmedScissor: Hello. I'm new to the "Kibitz." Although I've been reading these things for almost 3 months now.

Anyways, I've used this opening many times as black. I find it very difficult to use. Your tactics must be sharp as a needle, and your strategy must be as solid as a brick. 8. f4 always scares me. =]

Jul-24-04  Lawrence: Hi, <OneArmedScissor>, glad to have you as a kibbitzer. A warm welcome from all of us.
Jul-24-04  dragon40: <OneArmedScissor> I agree and welcome to our happy little spot on the Web!:) Don't be TOO scared of 8.f4 in the Sicilian becasue it is one of White's main moves in many variations that are consistent with the overall theme of the Sicilian for him...begin to prepare for a KSide assault and to clamp down on the E5 square...try and make him worry about his own QSIDE and center so he has less time to try and run you over on the Kingside! 8. f4 is an aggresive move, but you can play against it as long as you keep your wits about you:)
Jul-24-04  OneBadDog: In chess, in order to gain an advantage, you often have to accept a disadvantage; the hope is that the advantage outweighs the disadvantage. Playing 6 f4 is an aggressive move as it potentially threatens either an e5 or an f5 push. However, this move weakens the the dark squares around white's king and it weakens the a7-g1 diagonal. If white does play f4, he usually has to invest an additional tempo in moving his king to h1.
Jul-31-04  russep: The best game i have seen when this open was used was the game Shirov vs Benjamin
Aug-01-04  russep: has anyone seen any great games when this opening was used?
Aug-01-04  OneBadDog: I think that both Geller and Tal played some great games on the white side of this opening.
Aug-02-04  russep: do you know the specific games or should i just browse?
Aug-02-04  OneBadDog: Geller-Anikaev (I'm not sure of the spelling), Tal-Andersson and Tal-Ribli come to mind.
search thread:   
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