Richter-Rauzer

Richter - Rauzer

The Richter-Rauzer has been a very topical subject of discussion in the 90s. It arises after Black plays the Classical Sicilian with 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Nc6 and then White plays the characteristic Richter-Rauzer move 6 Bg5. The basic idea for White is to combine quick development and pressure on the d-file (with Qd2 and O-O-O) with a potential pawn storm on the kingside if Black runs in that direction. White may play for an immediate skirmish with f2-f4 and e4-e5, or a slower but potentially more dangerous buildup with f2-f3 and g2-g4. Particularly if Black has played ... h7-h6 to chase the Richter-Rauzer bishop away, and then he has later castled kingside, then g2-g4-g5 can be extremely dangerous. However, Black does get counterplay against White's queenside-castled king in these lines, playing ... a7-a6 and ... b7-b5-b4. After the moves 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Nc6 6 Bg5 e6 7 Qd2, Black can either play the straightforward 7 ... Be7 and 8 ... O-O, or he can play 7 ... a6, and then, after 8 O-O-O, try either 8 ... Bd7 or 8 ... h6.