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The mysterious Scheveningen Variation arises after 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3
d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6. The Scheveningen bears a close relationship to the Najdorf (where Black plays 5 ... a6 instead of 5 ... e6.) One of the main reasons players prefer the Najdorf to the Scheveningen is that 5
... e6 allows the spike 6 g4 (the Keres Attack) whereas 5 ... a6 does not. The Najdorf is very much like the Scheveningen if Black plays ... e7-e6
instead of ... e7-e5. White has a tremendous number of 6th move alternatives in the Najdorf. In the Najdorf after 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6: 6 Be2 e6 [Kasparov's favored transposition into the
Scheveningen from the Najdorf] or 6 Be2 e5 [Considered to be a Najdorf] 6 Bc4 virtually forces ... e7-e6 now or later to block the diagonal; however, this is not considered a transposition to the Scheveningen. 6 Bg5 e6
(6 ... Nc6 is a Richter-Rauzer) 7 f4 [main line] and now 7 ... Qb6 (poisoned pawn), 7 ... b5 (Polugaevsky), 7 ... Qc7 (nameless and very sharp), 7 ... Be7 (main line), 7 ... Nbd7 (will probably transpose to main line).
6 a4 e6 - This is the Scheveningen. Here 6 ... e5 is not very good because White's bishops are still ready to go to both c4 and g5, controlling the d5 square. 6 f4 e6 - this is a Scheveningen. Also played is 6 ... e5 7
Nf3 Qc7, or 6 ... Qc7. 6 Be3 e5 [ok here] 7 Nf3 or 7 Nb3; 6 ... e6 is like a Schev but White can try 7 g4 e5 8 Nf5 g6 9 g5. Also after 6 ... e6 is the English Attack 7 f3 with g4 in mind later. |
