When Simplicity Meets Precision: The Rossolimo as a Strategic Weapon
The Rossolimo Variation (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5) has long been praised for avoiding the theoretical jungles of the Open Sicilian. But there's a paradox at its heart: while it promises simplicity, achieving an advantage requires deep strategic understanding. International Master Maksim Schekachikhin's debut course for Modern Chess addresses this challenge directly, offering a cohesive repertoire built around a single strategic theme—the c3–d4 plan—that transforms the Rossolimo into a principled weapon for control and space.
A Unified Strategic Framework
What distinguishes Schekachikhin's approach is systematic consistency. Rather than presenting scattered variations, he constructs the entire repertoire around rapid development and the central break c3–d4. This thematic continuity means that after 3.Bb5, White typically castles quickly (often without the immediate Bxc6 exchange) and prepares to dominate the center. Against Black's main tries—3...g6 (the modern favorite), 3...e6 (the solid setup), 3...d6 (flexible but committal), 3...Nf6 (forcing the structure with Bxc6 dxc6 5.d3), and 3...e5 (the Spanish-like approach)—White follows related plans that make learning intuitive and practical application straightforward.
The course deliberately targets lines that, while theoretically sound, appear less frequently in top-level databases. This gives White practical chances to outplay opponents in unfamiliar territory without sacrificing objective quality. Schekachikhin's experience as a working IM shines through in his emphasis on positions where understanding matters more than memorization—a refreshing departure from engines-first opening preparation.
Course Structure and Technical Details
The material is organized for efficient study and long-term retention:
- 10 Chapters
- 20 test positions
- Memory Booster
- Video instruction
- To Go Version of every chapter
The test positions and Memory Booster reinforce tactical patterns and strategic themes, while the To Go versions make review practical during travel or before games.
For players already exploring Anti-Sicilian systems, this course complements GM Ioannis Papaioannou's earlier Strategic Repertoire against the Sicilian Defense - Play the Rossolimo. Where Papaioannou provides broad strategic foundations, Schekachikhin offers sharp focus on the c3–d4 plan with concrete, less-explored lines that promise practical chances even at high levels.
Variations Map
The course systematically covers:
Chapter 1: Rare and dubious continuations
Chapter 2: 3...e5 4.O-O (Spanish-type structures)
Chapters 3–4: 3...d6 4.O-O (flexible Black setups)
Chapter 5: 3...Nf6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d3 (doubled pawn structures)
Chapters 6–7: 3...e6 4.O-O (solid development to e7)
Chapters 8–10: 3...g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.c3 Nf6 6.Re1 O-O 7.h3 (main modern line)