Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+
Moscow Variation
1.2.3.
What Is The Moscow Variation?
3.Bb5+ sidesteps the Open Sicilian. Rather than 3.d4 and its sharp theory, White forces Black to block on move three and steers into quiet, structurally clear play. After 3...Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 the light-squared bishops come off, leaving White a sound position and Black a slightly awkward queen. This is a fight for the d5 square, not a drawing attempt.
The Sokolsky Variation, 5.c4, is the point: pawns on c4 and e4 form the Maroczy Bind and deny Black the freeing ...d5. Black's entire game rests on landing ...d5 or ...b5, and when neither break arrives White's space decides the endgame. Blocking with 3...Nd7 instead keeps every piece on the board, at the cost of a cramped position.
How Does Play Continue From Here?
| Move | Share | Games | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bd7 | 58% | 420 | |
| Nd7 | 27% | 195 | |
| Nc6 | 16% | 113 | |
| Qd7 | 0% | 1 |
The Named Lines Of The Moscow Variation
| Line | Moves |
|---|---|
| Main Line | 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 |
| Sokolsky Variation | 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.c4 |
| Dorfman Gambit | 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nc6 4.O-O Bd7 5.Qe2 g6 6.e5 |
| Haag Gambit | 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.O-O Nc6 6.c3 Nf6 7.d4 |
| Moscow Gambit | 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nc6 4.O-O Bd7 5.c3 Nf6 6.Re1 a6 7.Bxc6 Bxc6 8.d4 Bxe4 9.Bg5 |