Moscow Variation | Sicilian Defense Theory

The Moscow Variation (also known as the Canal-Sokolsky Attack) is one of the most popular “Anti-Sicilians), and a great way to avoid tons of main line theory.

For an introduction to the Sicilian Defense watch this video: youtu.be/impkeLfyyVM

The variation avoids all the most common Sicilians for black – you don’t allow black to enter the Dragon, the Najdorf, or whatever his pet opening is. The Moscow is straightforward and gives white the control in the opening.

By checking the king early on, firstly you are developing a piece with tempo, and, secondly, you are forcing black to make a decision. Depending on that decision, the game can branch out in three different ways. Black could choose from three different moves (there are timings next to them so you can skip to the one you’re interested in):

3...Bd7 19:27
3...Nd7 11:28
3...Nc6 02:08

They lead to different positions, but they all seem to give white a pleasant enough attacking setup to enter the middlegame with.

Here are some notable games to study. I would suggest you look at each one over the board to get a better feel for the Moscow Sicilian.

Vassily Ivanchuk vs Garry Kasparov (Linares 1991)
Alexey Sokolsky vs Alexander Kotov (USSR Championship 1949)
Ruslan Ponomariov vs Veselin Topalov (rapid, 1991 Fide world championship playoff)
Sergei Vladimirovich Rublevsky vs Pentala Harikrishna (Aerosvit 2006)

#chess #siciliandefense