The Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Novosibirsk Variation is a variation of the Sicilian Defense, catalogued as ECO B33. The line runs 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7, reaching the position shown below after 20 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on e4, Black on e5). Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move after ten moves. Black has doubled pawns on the f-file; Black’s h-file pawn is isolated; Black has the bishop pair.
On the Sicilian Defense generally: The most popular and aggressive response to 1.e4. Black fights for the center asymmetrically, leading to rich tactical play.
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The Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Novosibirsk Variation goes 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7. It is a variation of the Sicilian Defense and is catalogued as ECO B33.
The Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Novosibirsk Variation is ECO B33. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Sicilian Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7 at +0.36 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for White, within normal opening margins. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on e4, Black on e5). Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move. Black has doubled pawns on the f-file; Black’s h-file pawn is isolated; Black has the bishop pair.