Rossolimo Attack (Pin Variation) | Sicilian Defense Theory

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The Rossolimo Attack (Also known as Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack or the Pin Variation) is a very useful weapon for white to have against the Sicilian Defense.
It could confuse Sicilian players, get them out of their comfort zone, and make them play positions they aren’t used to.
If you are unfamiliar with the basics of the Sicilian Defense, here is an introductory video I made that covers the main opening principles and common variations: • Sicilian Defense (intr...
For more Sicilian Defense theory try out these variations:
The Accelerated Dragon: • The Accelerated Dragon...
Prins Variation: • Prins Variation (5.f3)...
The Alapin Sicilian: • The Alapin (c3) ⎸Sicil...
The Grand Prix Attack: • Grand Prix Attack ⎸Sic...
The Najdorf (part 1): • The Najdorf (part 1) ⎸...
The Najdorf (part 2): • The Najdorf (part 2) ⎸...
Sicilian Kan: • Sicilian Kan ⎸Chess Op...
Kramnik Variation: • Kramnik Variation of t...
The Smith Morra Gambit: • Smith-Morra Gambit ⎸Si...
Taimanov Variation: • Taimanov Variation ⎸Si...
The Rossolimo Attack starts after the moves:
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
Black has four different ways to respond to the “pin” on the c6 knight.
3… g6
3… e6
3… d6
3… Nf6
I have gone through all four moves in detail in the video. G6 is by far the most popular response, and you are going to face it more often than any other move, but all four have a lot of venom, and players with white need to be prepared to face them all as they lead to completely different positions.

[@GhostofTez]

6:10 g6 12:56 c3 d4 17:10 5.c3 27:05 e6 33:21d6

[@jopekpl3986]

A hero that we needed

[@muntheralfardan1726]

The Pin variation of Sicilian is when black plays Bb4,, and Bb5 is only known as Rossolimo. in the beginning after black Nd4 and exchanging the knights I always play d3 and plan to play Bc4 to control f7 and later on take the center later by c3 and not directly c3 as advised here. I do play only Rossolimo against Nc6 in the Sicilian )

[@michaelvanzyl9418]

I have been playing sicilian exclusively against 1.e4 recently and enjoying it, thanks for adding to my ammunition

[@HangingPawns]

It's actually ammunition for white against you:D but it's good to be prepared for when it strikes.

[@michaelvanzyl9418]

Exactly! -“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of 100 battles” - Sun Tzu😁

[@HangingPawns]

@@michaelvanzyl9418 That is true:) Sun Tzu is very useful when applied to chess.

[@Messiah051]

The 'I think you have to reconsider' cracked me up. Thanks for all the vids, as a beginning player (3-4 weeks) they are helping me immensely.

[@ryaghnaramansanthosh3140]

Wow..you kept your words!👏👏. Pls upload videos regularly.

[@HangingPawns]

Yeah, sorry for not recording it earlier, but I have too much work to be able to focus. I have made a recording schedule now, and I will be recording 5-7 videos a week.:)

[@mikedee1771]

One of the best online channels for opening analysis!

[@stefanholbek2449]

Have watched this over and over ... and I'm not done yet! ;O)

[@toyosiadefolalu6889]

Hi Hpy. I am studying the Sicilian using your videos. Great work

[@toyosiadefolalu6889]

But I was wondering if the Maroczy Bind can be implemented into this line?

[@martinholten7955]

3:30 d3 loses to qa5

[@vuksa5685]

dude just nb3

[@firecracker7314]

@@vuksa5685 how do you go nb3?

[@DS-bz4mz]

@@vuksa5685 assuming you meant Nc3 - it's impossible, since there's a pawn covering it

[@vuksa5685]

@@DS-bz4mz nvm then xd

[@jackbauer5239]

The pin variation of the Sicilian Defence is 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4!

[@alijaafar5673]

at 5:12 i died

[@lucase.crusader1196]

Lol this position resembles a Ruy Lopez 19:26

[@robertkeir7567]

41:15 Take your time, You just hung Nc7 and that doesn't look good.

[@radrook2153]

Proves we are all human and have lapses. Loses the queen for sure.

[@thevaultboy9940]

I like the part where something falls down in 5:12

[@ARTC69]

it's his mic lol

[@طرباڨالزرايب]

Thank you very much ...samir from Algeria

[@toyosiadefolalu6889]

I was wondering if the Maroczy Bind can be implemented into this line?

[@ilanaizelman3993]

Qc7 I think is a really good line. You have to check it :)

[@NamgyelRangdolPala]

41:16 Knight to d5 Queen is under attack

[@zwebzz9685]

I play sveshnikov as my main opening so must be well prepared for this. I play 3… g6 with the Nh6-Nf7 stuff

[@chesstraining1]

To be honest, I have the feeling that the rossolimo is very complex due to its (sometimes) very strategic nature.

[@jerrnando654]

Need to correct you. When he plays 3.... Nd4 4 Nxd4 cxd4 you cannot play d3 because you lose your bishop after Qa5 so castle is fine but the best move according to stockfish 15.1 is actually to play c3 and if he takes the pawn you just retake with the knight and if he pushes you can either take it with the bishop (second best engine move) or castle (top 1 engine move).

[@sazrick1]

41:15 leaves the queen completely hanging with a fork to the king and rook after night takes queen instead of playing f4 after nd5 (a night on d5 is yet again very powerful)

[@rubenmicciche5382]

He would take first i think

[@eanwilliams4883]

Please make a video on the English attack vs the najdorf

[@joshr3130]

Hey man, on the first variation you showed with the Nxd4 exchange playing d3 immediately after black's pawn takes d4 looses the white bishop after Qe5+.

[@atanuroy7667]

i like your vedio,plz discuss the behind the opening theory

[@tanerdincer6584]

Can you make a video on the closed variation of sicilian? I searched in your videos but couldn't find.

[@sudipsimkhada1891]

13:35 e6 seems like a good move

[@jeswinprasanth9947]

Wow... Thanks a lot, but can you please suggest an universal opening line against the sicilian which leads to a positional middle game

[@nikolalalev732]

Closed Sicilian

[@victoriah4278]

Don't play e4

[@spiralfireball8663]

Come on man. Don't be boring if you play e4. Play the English attack against Najdorf.

[@nikhileshprabhakar287]

Can you show is some games by Boris Gelfand or Wei Yi from the g6 bxc6 Nh7 variation of Rossolimo

[@HangingPawns]

I wasn't planning to while doing the opening series, but I might do it later on, when going more in depth in some of the lines.

[@HighcarbHawesy]

Hi Hpy, what do you think about 3...Qb6 for black and continuations?. Love your channel so much.

[@cadagerardo.8794]

Do u think learning openings is critical or training/polishing tactics is better?

[@HangingPawns]

I think both are, it's just that openings can be learned. If you study an opening for a month, you will be prepared in it. Tactics cannot be learned, they have to be practiced, and you can never be good enough. I think you should create an opening repertoire, master it, and study tactics every day regardless of that:)

[@cadagerardo.8794]

@@HangingPawns Do you mean openings against e4 and d4 vice versa? I already have each one but only mainlines maybe some few variations is it ok? Here is some of my favorites(KID,Nizmo,Nadorf,French,Ruy Lopez, London System etc.)

[@HangingPawns]

@@cadagerardo.8794 Well, I would advise you to choose either e4 or d4. E4 is more fun in my opinion, and it will sharpen your tactics sooner, and d4 is probably objectively better and safer. You said you like the London system and the Ruy lopez, so I guess you've been playing both. I think only very strong players can play both without a lack of knowledge. Secondly, I would advise you to choose one opening as black against e4, one against d4 and to prepare for the English and the Reti. Don't play both the Nimzo and the KID, they're really different openings. One is sharp, the other is more positional and the middlegames are worlds apart. My advice is to choose one. Against e4 too, you said the Najdorf and the French. Those are vast openings with tons of theory. Once again, it might be best to choose one of them and become a master in it. Hope this helps:)

[@cadagerardo.8794]

@@HangingPawns Wow thank you maybe that's why my progress is very slow, much appreciated!!!😁🇵🇭👍

[@shicgh]

At 19:53 looks exactly like a closed Ruy Lopez

[@Joseph_009]

What is the best and strongest variation for White against sicilian defense !!? & Easy to learn

[@FearSamuel]

hello. will you cover e5 Bd6? it's been played quite recently at the top levels

[@michaelhart6375]

3......,g6 4.0-0,Bg7 5.Re1,Nf6 6.e5, If black plays here Ng4, ok I think Bxc6 is the answer but he takes the Bishop and.. I mean Ng4 isn't un other option?

[@kanchansarkar7527]

How to play bb5 after e4 c5, nf3-e6

[@bhargavan9422]

At 41:12, white could have played Ng5 instead of trading the knights i guess........that would destroy the king side castling for the black...

[@I_am_Itay]

What about Nxc7+ lol

[@HeshmiY]

At 41:17 the queen is hanging

[@wojciechsawicki4733]

5:51 what about Bg4 immediately?

[@DilkillGaming]

41:14 Be6 loses queen on c7..

[@jairoserrano4878]

What happen if ( 9:46 ) black plays Bg4 before h3? (e4 c5 Nc3 Nc6 Bb5 g6 Bxc6 dxc6 d3 Bg4)

[@rodolfopolonio5012]

Show!!

[@juanbautistasoria757]

27:22 3...e6

[@eduardoyanezlopez2629]

g6 is a logical move but d6 you have more central control

[@coconutnut_]

5:52 what if Bg4 first to pin f3 Knight

[@jeffgreen3376]

I'm currently playing the 3. Bb5 d6 variation, as black. However, I need to learn how to play against the 4. BxN variation. I'm a Sicilian player who does not like having doubled pawns, as it changes my entire strategy, gets me out of my comfort zone and I'm having lots of trouble finding a good middle game plan. In the 4. BxNc6 bxBc6 continuation, I'm guessing that e5 is a necessity for black, at some point, to stop white from playing e5 and/or c3 and d4, but I don't know what do after e5, as it's not in my comfort zone. I like your 3. Bb5 d6 4. 0-0 Bd7 variation and made it part of my repertoire, but I still need something good to play against 4. BxN. Any suggestions?

[@Froge4291]

There is an option to play the hyper accelerated dragon to avoid any abomination with the rossolimo

[@jeffgreen3376]

@@Froge4291 I decided to play 2.d6 instead of 2. Nc6, to avoid the early BxN. I will have to change the move order on the rest of my repertoire now though.

[@georgetriandafyllides6683]

Is it possible for White to "force" Rossolimo if Black does not play 2.Nc6?

[@zwebzz9685]

No

[@penguininparis2411]

No but I recommend the Canal/Moscow attack against d6 and the Kramnik variation against e6

[@blablabla4090]

3:56

[@asherz3621]

Thats not the pin variation btw

[@HangingPawns]

There is another line called the pin variation (1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4), the counter attack, but I believe the Rossolimo is also reffered to as the pin variation. Sorry for the misunderstanding. At least where I come from people seem to have a lot of different names for different openings:)

[@asherz3621]

@@HangingPawns Ah ok no worries, I have never heard the Ros being called the pin. Anyways thanks for the video :)

[@mladenpopovic4941]

Kad ce zmajeva sicilianka

[@HangingPawns]

Prvi dio ide veceras:) Bit ce u dva ili tri dijela. Veeliko otvaranje. I pardon na kasnjenu s videom.

[@ritikrai4607]

Sicilian Classical !

[@RayT70]

❤🙏👍

[@radrook4481]

Speak louder

[@excalibirb9204]

You talk too much.

[@Froge4291]

He is explaining an opening, ofcourse he will talk much.

[@davincitoredivinott1508]

What should he do? Stay silent while making the moves?