Sicilian Defence, Chekhover Variation

Sicilian Defence, Chekhover Variation
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
g8 black knight
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
e7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
d6 black pawn
d4 white queen
e4 white pawn
f3 white knight
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
c2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
e1 white king
f1 white bishop
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Moves1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4
ECOB53
Named afterVitaly Chekhover
ParentOpen Sicilian
Synonym(s)Szily Variation
Hungarian Variation

The Sicilian Defence, Chekhover Variation (also sometimes called the Szily Variation or Hungarian Variation) is a chess opening named after Vitaly Chekhover, from the game Chekhover–Lisitsin, Leningrad 1938.[1] It is defined by the moves:

1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 d6
3. d4 cxd4
4. Qxd4

On move four White ignores the standard opening principle to not develop the queen too early in the game. Although the Chekhover Variation is somewhat rare at grandmaster level, it is not uncommon among amateurs.[2]

The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings assigns code B53 to this opening.[3]

This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.
  1. ^ Hooper, David; Whyld, Kenneth (1992), The Oxford Companion to Chess (2nd ed.), Oxford University Press, p. 75, ISBN 0-19-280049-3
  2. ^ The Chekhover Variation chessgames.com Chess Opening Explorer
  3. ^ Sicilian ECO: B53