simplifychess.com's
guide to

The Sicilian
Defense

How To Play The Sicilian Defense,
The Theory Behind It,
And How To Counter It

1
Najdorf variation 2 White’s Plans
3 Place bishop to control King and Queenside
4 Attack Kingside Flank with Pawns
5 Pin Knight to Queen
Black’s Plans
6 Use this pawn to control center
7 Coordinate attack here
8 Don’t let enemy pieces get to this square
Dragon Variation 9 White’s Plans
10 Exchange bishops
11 Attack kingside flank
12 Don’t let Black move this pawn forward
Black’s Plans
13 Don’t Exchange Bishops - Control long diagonal
14 Attack Queenside Flank
15 Try to push this pawn forward
16 Coordinate counter attack here
Classical Variation 17 White’s Plans
18 Place Bishop Here
19 Exchange Bishop for Knight - To Double Black's pawns
20 Castle Queenside
21 Coordinate attack here
Black’s Plans
22 Break pin by moving this pawn forward
23 Take back exchange with this pawn
24 Castle Kingside
25 Position Queen here
Scheveningen variation 26 White’s Plans
27 Develop Queen Early
28 Attack kingside flank
29 Don’t let black get pawn to this square
Black’s Plans
30 Advance this pawn forward
31 Coordinate attack here
32 Don’t let enemy pieces get to this square