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Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack (B86)
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6 6 Bc4

Number of games in database: 555
Years covered: 1925 to 2022
Overall record:
   White wins 32.3%
   Black wins 39.6%
   Draws 28.1%

Popularity graph, by decade

Explore this opening  |  Search for sacrifices in this opening.
PRACTITIONERS
With the White Pieces With the Black Pieces
Mikhail Golubev  9 games
Diogo Fernando  7 games
Andrei Istratescu  6 games
Mihai Suba  13 games
Igor Stohl  7 games
Burkhard Malich  6 games
NOTABLE GAMES [what is this?]
White Wins Black Wins
D Perovic vs M Cebalo, 1986
Navara vs S Mahtesian, 1995
G Camacho Penate vs A Hernandez, 1994
Fischer vs Smyslov, 1959
A Novopashin vs Tal, 1962
R Plunkett vs S Fink, 2003
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 page 1 of 23; games 1-25 of 555  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. J W te Kolste vs Bogoljubov 0-1201925Baden-BadenB86 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
2. M Eisinger vs E Reinhardt  0-1481937HamburgB86 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
3. M Eisinger vs E Reinhardt  0-1701938German ChampionshipB86 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
4. Tartakower vs L Steiner  1-0541948BudapestB86 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
5. V Ciocaltea vs Filip  ½-½311953BucharestB86 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
6. J Fichtl vs K Urbanec 1-0381954Czechoslovak ChampionshipB86 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
7. I Nei vs E Chukaev 1-04019554th Soviet Team-ch finalB86 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
8. N Padevsky vs B Koch  0-1441955ErfurtB86 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
9. J Sefc vs M Ujtelky 1-0241956Steinitz MemorialB86 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
10. K Opocensky vs M Ujtelky 1-0231956Czechoslovak ChampionshipB86 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
11. R Bogdanovic vs M Udovcic  1-0381957Yugoslav ChampionshipB86 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
12. A Kaufman vs M Osher  0-1481958Marshall CC-ch 1957/58B86 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
13. Vasiukov vs M Pasman  1-03919585th Soviet Team Championship FinalB86 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
14. S Witkowski vs P H Clarke  ½-½511958Munich Olympiad qual-3B86 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
15. O Rubtsova vs E Keller-Herrmann  0-1561959Candidates Tournament (Women)B86 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
16. J Augustin vs L Alster  0-1471959Czechoslovak ChampionshipB86 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
17. R B Johnson vs J F Donovan  0-127195960th US OpenB86 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
18. Fischer vs Smyslov 0-1481959Bled-Zagreb-Belgrade CandidatesB86 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
19. J Klavins vs Spassky 0-1331959URS-ch sf TallinnB86 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
20. D Minic vs S Puc  ½-½431960Yugoslav ChampionshipB86 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
21. R Bogdanovic vs M Udovcic  0-1401960SarajevoB86 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
22. R Bogdanovic vs Matulovic 0-1591960SarajevoB86 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
23. Gufeld vs Gipslis  ½-½401960URS-ch sf VilniusB86 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
24. E Guthi vs G Larusson 1-0271960Leipzig Olympiad Final-BB86 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
25. Y Pustina vs M Borja  0-1441960Leipzig Olympiad Final-CB86 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
 page 1 of 23; games 1-25 of 555  PGN Download
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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 2 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Aug-17-05  Stevens: <KKW> after ...b4 just play Na4 or retreat to Nb1. You could always try playing a3 at some point to prevent ...b4 if you don't like that move. You may come up with a position that's very playable.

Sep-07-05  FearsomePawn: <after ...b4 just play Na4 or retreat to Nb1> I think he--and I as well--want to know what to do after the risky-looking pawn grab Nxe4. I am currently rehabilitating my Open Sicilian Repetoire (I tired the Morra Gambit, but I disliked that Black can force White into the Alapin), and I am thinking of playing the Sozin against the Najdorf, so this would, of course, be a key concept to know.
Sep-09-05  FearsomePawn: I found the answer here in this game:
Fischer vs O Gadia, 1960 and under ECO code B87: Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin with ...a6 and ...b5 (B87)
Sep-09-05  RookFile: Think I looked this up on chessbase once and saw games going 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 b5 8. 0-0 b4 9. Na4 Nxe4 10. Re1 with white coming out on top. I don't think it's a forced win, though.
Sep-09-05  CGreene: <FearesomePawn> I was thinking of rehabilitating my own Open Sicilian repertoire and last weekend bought the two current books out on the English Attack (white plays f3, Be3, Qd2/g4). However, I remembered Schiller had recommended the Halasz Gambit in his book "A Gambit Opening Repertoire for White". At the time, I ignored it because I was playing the Smith-Morra but, like you, I've become disenchanted with so many Alapin declinations.

The Halasz Gambit goes 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cd 3. f4 (with the idea of playing Nf3, Bd3, O-O, a3, b4, Nbd2/Bb2/Qe1). Schiller's lines were generally helpful, but it wasn't until I went on Chessbase.com and looked at the games. Very impressive results and original play. A fringe benefit is that it also be played against the French, making it very economical indeed (1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e4 c5 4. f4 cd 5. Nf3)

Jan-22-07  who: I assume you mean 3.e5 in your line in the French.
Apr-16-07  Bob726: This line is terrible. Black wins slightly more than white actully. 36.3% compared to 37.0% for blkack.
Apr-16-07  Bob726: Sicilian, Najdorf (B90) white wins almost 10 % more in that line. so bc4 is clearly bad-even if fischer liked it!
Apr-16-07  Bob726: 10% more compared than black, i meant.
Jun-05-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  WTHarvey: Here are some traps n zaps in Fischer-Sozin miniatures: http://www.wtharvey.com/b86.html
Aug-26-08  refutor: is 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 a good way to force a Najdorf or Dragon-player to play the Scheveningen?

assuming the likely 3. ...e6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 and what does Black have besides 5. ...Nc6 or 5. ...Nf6? after 5. ...Nf6 6.Nc3 i guess the najdorf guys can go back in with 6. ...a6 but in any case i think it's worth a try

if 3. ...Nf6 4.Nc3 followed by 5.d4 transposes back in. i guess the only thing it avoids is the Dragon? a little evening food for thought (at least for me anyways)

Aug-26-08  AnalyzeThis: I think 3. Bc4 is ok, but if black wants to play the same type of Sicilian that he otherwise would get after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 I see an inevitable transposition.
Sep-28-08  Octal: How easy is it a 6 Bc4 Najdorf/Scheveningen to transpose into a Velimoric Attack?
Nov-06-08  niemzo: <refutor> I think black can force a closed sicilian after 3..e5 preventing d4. I don't know if it's good but it could be a nice surprise weapon.
Jan-06-09  ILikeFruits: why is...
this called...
fischer...
sozin...
tell me...
why...
Jan-06-09  kackhander: because...
you...
touch yourself...
at...
night...
Jan-06-09  ILikeFruits: only...
on...
weekends...
Jan-06-09  Kaspykov: 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Bc4 e6

(6... b5 is good also to prevent 7. a4 or a3 with the idea of 7... b5 Ba2)

7. Bb3 b5 is a more common choice

:)

Aug-11-09  WhiteRook48: who is sozin here?
Aug-12-09  Albertan: <WhiteRook48: who is sozin here?>

<WhiteRook48> the Sozin attack is named for Soviet player Veniamin Sozin (1869-1956). He experimented with the move 6.Bc4 in the 1930's The move order 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4, first time used in 1929 by this Soviet master Veniamin Sozin. The line became famous mainly owing to Bobby Fischer who succesfully used it in 1950s and 1960s. Today, I have mostly seen this variation be called the "Fischer-Sozin" attack.

May-06-10  rapidcitychess: <refutor> So we meet again...

Often this is called the "High School Attack" It is often met by 3...a6 Now if you enjoy the Bc4 lines against the Najdorf this is fine. But this does not force him to play the Schvenigan.

Feb-06-11
Premium Chessgames Member
  Penguincw: < Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack 1. e4 c5 2. ♘f3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. ♘xd4 f6 5. ♘c3 e6 6. ♗c4 > Opening of the day.
Feb-24-12
Premium Chessgames Member
  Penguincw: Opening of the Day

Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack
1.e4 c5 2.♘f3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.♘xd4 ♘f6 5.♘c3 e6 6.♗c4


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Nov-08-20  dw98: Fischer vs Tal, 1959

This is the game Fischer introduced this opening at the highest level of chess. Grand champion Tal made the grab of the e-pawn some of you are asking about and went on to win, but everyone was impressed with the position Bobby had out of the opening leading to the popularity of the opening for about 3 decades. I think today, black is considered better if he doesn't take the pawn. The game was analyzed in Fischer's "My Sixty Most Memorable Games." You can also find it in numerous other sources including here as The Game of the Day.

Nov-08-20  dw98: Sozin was the first to analyze the opening. He questioned which was better, Nb1 or Na4, when black pushes the pawn to b4. Bobby decided Na4 was better. Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin with ...a6 and ...b5 (B87) is a better page for this discussion.
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