The Scheveningen Sicilian: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3... 6.g4 arises after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.g4 and falls under ECO code B81. White's 6. g4 begins the Keres Attack, a sharp and important line in the Scheveningen Variation. Black's previous move, 5...e6, boxes in his light squared bishop and relinquishes control over the g4 square. Now, White advances his g pawn with the idea of following with 7. g5, pushing black's f knight back and winning more space on the kingside. Note that against the Sicilian, White often opens up a kingside pawn storm, such as in the English Attack, and 6. g4 furthers that goal well. Black's most common response, therefore, is 6...h6, preventing the g pawn from advancing. Other responses, such as 6...Nc6, do not discourage the g pawn push, and are therefore usually followed by 7. g5 Nd7. Now black's kingside knight has been pushed back into a much more passive position and white's pawns are dangerously close to black's kingside, if black chooses to castle there. After 6...h6 Black should certainly not proceed to castle kingside quickly against this line. Attempting to counterattack with 6...e5 is easily met by 7.Bb5+ Bd7 8.Bxd7+ Qxd7 9.Nb3. White has traded off light squared bishops, and is preparing to set up the standard English Attack. Note that this is one reason that many Scheveningen players use a Najdorf move order first and transpose to the Scheveningen. In this case, the presence of the a6 pawn discourages Bb5+, and lines here in which white plays g4 are referred to as the Perenyi Attack rather than the Keres Attack. With 4,764 games in the master database, it is a specialized opening choice.
History and Notable Players
It arises from the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation. Among the most prolific practitioners on the White side are Ljubomir Ljubojevic (25 games), John D M Nunn (20 games), Nigel D Short (20 games). On the Black side, notable exponents include Gyula Sax (51 games), Mihai Suba (44 games), Andrei Sokolov (43 games).
Statistics
Based on 4,764 master-level games:
- White wins: 45%
- Black wins: 24.8%
- Draws: 30.1%
White has a significant statistical advantage in this line, reflecting the initiative that comes with the first move.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Neglecting development: In the Scheveningen Sicilian: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3... 6.g4, it can be tempting to make extra pawn moves early on. However, falling behind in development can be punished quickly, especially in open positions where opponent pieces can find active squares.
- Ignoring the opponent's kingside attack: In many Sicilian lines, White will castle queenside and push pawns toward your king. If you don't create counterplay on the queenside or in the center, White's attack will arrive first.
- Playing without a plan: Each position in the Scheveningen Sicilian: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3... 6.g4 demands a specific approach. Understand whether you should be attacking, defending, or maneuvering before making your move. Random moves lead to random results.
- Forgetting about piece coordination: Chess pieces are strongest when they work together. A single piece attacking alone is easy to defend against, but coordinated pieces can create unstoppable threats.
Practice on Chessiverse
The best way to learn the Scheveningen Sicilian: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3... 6.g4 is through practice. On Chessiverse, you can play chess against computer opponents from any opening or custom position. Our AI bots range from beginner to grandmaster level, each with unique playing styles — from aggressive attackers to solid defenders. Choose a bot that matches your rating and work your way up as you master the opening's key ideas.
