Chess opening · ECO B30
Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack
In the Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, White answers 2...Nc6 with 3.Bb5 instead of opening the center with d4. The bishop eyes the knight on c6, which guards d4 and e5, and White can castle on the next move. Many games turn on one decision: whether White takes on c6 to double Black's pawns, or keeps the bishop and builds with c3 and d4.
- Rank by weighted share
- #101 of 159
Key moves
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
- 3. Bb5The bishop develops with an eye on c6 and clears f1 so White can castle right away. It threatens nothing yet, since Bxc6 only trades a bishop for a knight, but that trade would leave Black with doubled c-pawns.
Choosing the recapture on c6
When White plays Bxc6, Black decides how to take back. With ...dxc6 the d-file half-opens for Black, the c8 bishop gets a clear path, and Black has the bishop pair in return for the doubled pawns. With ...bxc6 the pawns stay pointed at the center and the b-file opens for a rook.
After the trade White often plays d3, h3 and Nc3, keeping the center closed. The h3 pawn stops ...Bg4, which would otherwise pin the f3 knight against the queen.
Keeping the bishop: Re1, c3 and d4
White can also castle, put a rook on e1 and prepare c3 and d4. The rook backs up an e4-e5 push, which would hit a knight on f6. The bishop stays on b5 until a trade on c6 gains something concrete, such as removing a defender of d4 just as White pushes there.
Three ways Black sets up
The fianchetto with ...g6 and ...Bg7 adds a piece to the fight for d4 and e5. With ...e6, Black can bring the king's knight to e7, so a trade on c6 is met by a knight recapture and the pawns stay intact. ...a6 asks the bishop to decide right away.
Doubling the c-pawns
3... g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. h3 Nf6 7. Nc3
Black has doubled c-pawns but two bishops and a half-open d-file. White's h3 keeps the c8 bishop off g4, and the knights on f3 and c3 prepare a slow game around the e4 pawn, often with Be3 and Qd2 next.
Top replies by rating
At 1200 to 1399, a6 leads, putting the question to the bishop at once. At 2000 and up, g6 has by far the largest share.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200–1399 | a6 24% | d6 17% | e6 15% |
| 1400–1599 | d6 20% | a6 19% | e6 17% |
| 1600–1799 | d6 19% | a6 19% | e6 19% |
| 1800–1999 | e6 24% | d6 19% | g6 15% |
| 2000 and up | g6 37% | e6 22% | d6 12% |
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.