Sicilian Defense: Rossolimo, Moscow & O'Kelly (B30)

ECO B30 · Vol.08 · Ch.4 · 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5

EPD: r1bqkbnr/pp1ppppp/2n5/1Bp5/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R b KQkq - · Eval +0.15

Pioneered by Franco-American grandmaster Nicolas Rossolimo and tactical wizard Rashid Nezhmetdinov, then vaulted onto the global front page when Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana contested it across the opening three White games of their 2018 World Championship match, the Rossolimo Attack (B30: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5) brings Spanish elegance to the Sicilian. Together with its 2...d6 cousin the Moscow Variation (3. Bb5+, B51) and Black's prophylactic 2...a6 O'Kelly (B28), White sidesteps Sveshnikov theory to threaten structural damage on c6 while preparing O-O, Re1, c3, and d4.

Think of 3. Bb5 as a Ruy Lopez inside the Sicilian! Otto times Bxc6 carefully to saddle Black with rigid doubled c-pawns before building c3 and d4.

Historical Origins & Pawn-Structure DNA

20th-Century Anti-Mainline Pioneers (Alapin, Rossolimo, Smyslov & Spassky) · IQP (2. c3), Doubled c-Pawns (Bb5+) & Closed f4 Kingside Wedge · Semyon Alapin, Nicolas Rossolimo, Evgeny Sveshnikov, Magnus Carlsen

Once treated as modest sidelines, the Rossolimo and Moscow variations took center stage in the 2018 Carlsen–Caruana World Championship match, proving that structural Anti-Sicilians pose deep strategic problems even at the 2800+ level.

In the Alapin (2. c3), White rebuilds an ideal d4 center often leading to dynamic Isolated Queen's Pawn battles; in 3. Bb5+ systems, White willingly trades bishop for knight to saddle Black with rigid doubled c-pawns or fight for the d5 Maroczy bind.

White's Strategic Blueprint

Against the Fianchetto Mainline 3...g6, capture 4. Bxc6 dxc6 (or play 4. O-O Bg7 5. c3 / 5. Re1) and clamp down with d3, h3, Nc3, and Be3 against Black's doubled pawns.
Against 3...e6, castle short (4. O-O Nge7 5. Re1 a6 6. Bf1!), preserving the light-squared bishop just like a Breyer Ruy Lopez before pushing c3 and d4!
When Black plays 2...d6 instead of 2...Nc6, check with 3. Bb5+! (Moscow Variation) to trade light-squared bishops via 3...Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4! Maroczy Bind.

Black's Counterplay & Breaks

Fianchetto Counterplay (3...g6): welcome 4. Bxc6 dxc6!, opening the d-file for ...Qd8 and unleashing the bishop pair via ...Bg7, ...Nf6, and ...Bg4 or ...Ba6.
Flexible ...e6 + ...Nge7 System: play 3...e6 followed by 4...Nge7 so any Bxc6 trade is recaptured cleanly with ...Nxc6 without doubling pawns!
Direct ...Nf6 Counterattack (or 2...a6 O'Kelly): challenge e4 immediately with 3...Nf6 (4. e5 Nd5 or 4. Nc3 Nd4), or play 2...a6 earlier to outlaw Bb5 altogether.

Common Club Traps & Mistakes

Playing 3. d4?! automatically against Black's 2...a6 O'Kelly Variation lets Black spring 3...cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5! 6. Ndb5? axb5!, winning a piece or forcing passive retreats (play 3. c3 or 3. c4 instead!).
After 3...g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6, rushing 5. d4?! cxd4 6. Qxd4 Qxd4 7. Nxd4 hands Black's unopposed bishop pair an open dream endgame.

Canonical ECO Sub-Variations

B50 Sicilian Defense: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 (rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/3p4/2p5/3PP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R b KQkq d3)
B50 Sicilian Defense: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 (rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/3p4/8/3pP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R w KQkq -)
B30 Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 (r1bqkbnr/pp1ppppp/2n5/2p5/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKB1R w KQkq -)
B40 Sicilian Defense: French Variation: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 (rnbqkbnr/pp1p1ppp/4p3/2p5/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKB1R w KQkq -)
B28 Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 (rnbqkbnr/1p1ppppp/p7/2p5/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKB1R w KQkq -)
B30 Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 (r1bqkbnr/pp1ppppp/2n5/1Bp5/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R b KQkq -)

FAQ

Why did Carlsen and Caruana choose 3. Bb5 so heavily instead of the Open Sicilian?

Because 3. Bb5 avoids 30-move Sveshnikov forcing draws while posing rich, asymmetrical questions—trading White's bishop pair for long-term structural targets on c6 and c5.

If White captures Bxc6 and doubles Black's pawns, shouldn't White open the position immediately?

Quite the opposite! Opening lines early helps Black's two bishops roar to life; White prefers semi-closed structures (d3, Re1, h3, Nbd2–c4) where Black's doubled c-pawns stay immobile.

How should White respond when Black plays the 2...a6 O'Kelly Sicilian to prevent Bb5?

Avoid 3. d4! Instead play 3. c3! (Alapin, where ...a6 is unhelpful against d4) or 3. c4! (Maroczy Bind, exploiting the time Black spent on ...a6).

Grandmasters Who Weaponized This Technique

Magnus Carlsen (NOR · 2882 FIDE) — 16th World Champion · The Endgame Grinding Machine
Bobby Fischer (USA · 2785 FIDE) — 11th World Champion · Crystal-Clear Classical Precision
Mikhail Tal (LAT · 2705 FIDE) — 8th World Champion · The Magician from Riga

B22 · Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation (2. c3 · B22) · B23 · Closed Sicilian & Grand Prix Attack (B23) · B21 · Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra & Wing Gambits (B21) · Key Squares & King Outflanking