Rossolimo Sicilian
You play White · 6 variations
Mixed practice
The machine picks a different variation every time.
Take a quiz
10 positions: find the next theory move in each. No take-backs, no hints.
Main variations · 4
- Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Fianchetto Variation, Gufeld GambitB311. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. c3 e5 6. d46 moves
- Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Fianchetto Variation, Lutikov GambitB311. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. c3 Nf6 6. d46 moves
- Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Fianchetto Variation, Totsky AttackB311. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. c3 Nf6 6. Qa46 moves
- Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Gurgenidze VariationB311. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. Re1 e5 6. b46 moves
Other variations · 2
What is the Rossolimo Sicilian?
The Rossolimo Sicilian starts 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5. Instead of opening the center with d4, White pins the c6 knight and often takes it to give Black doubled c-pawns. It is named after Nicolas Rossolimo. The character is positional and flexible: White avoids the huge theory of the Open Sicilian, including the Sveshnikov, and gets a clear structure to play against. The Rossolimo is a mainstream choice at the highest level and a very practical anti-Sicilian for club players, because the same ideas work against Black's most common replies.
Main ideas and plans
Black's main answers are ...g6, ...e6 and ...d6. Against the Fianchetto Variation with ...g6, you can take on c6 at once and set up with d3, h3, Nc3, Be3 and Qd2, aiming for Bh6 to trade the dark-squared bishops and playing against the doubled pawns. Another plan is 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.Re1, preparing c3 and d4; in the Gurgenidze Variation, 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.Re1 e5 6.b4, White even gives a pawn to undermine c5. After 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.c3, the Gufeld and Lutikov Gambits with an early d4 are sharper ways to open the center.
Against ...e6 you usually castle and play Re1, c3 and d4, or take on c6 and choose a slower set-up with d3. Against ...d6 the exchange 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.Bxc6+ bxc6 is common, followed by castling and either c3 and d4 or a slower d3 set-up. In every line the key decision is when to take on c6: you give up the bishop pair, so you want a closed or semi-closed center where knights are strong and the doubled pawns can be targeted. Rare tries like the Brooklyn Retreat with ...Nb8, or the San Francisco Gambit with ...Na5 and b4, are good to recognise but not hard to meet.
Who is it for?
The Rossolimo suits 1.e4 players who like positional chess and want an anti-Sicilian with real ambition but less theory than the Open Sicilian. It is a good choice at every level. The risk is that Black's bishop pair becomes strong if the center opens, so you need patience and a feel for structure. Learn the plan with Bxc6, d3, h3, Nc3, Be3, Qd2 and Bh6 against ...g6 first, and know when the e5 push, or c3 and d4, is the right way to use your development.