Key ideas
- White's standard set-up is Nf3, Bc4, O-O, Qe2 and Rd1, often followed by Bf4 and Rac1. The rooks on the c- and d-files face Black's queen and d-pawn, and knight jumps to d5 or b5 become tactical threats.
- Black's main defensive set-ups are the Scheveningen formation (...Nc6, ...d6, ...e6, ...a6, ...Nf6 and ...Be7) and the Siberian (...Nc6, ...e6, ...Qc7 and ...Nf6), which looks for ...Ng4 and ...Nd4 tricks. Fianchetto set-ups with ...g6 are also played.
- Black does not have to accept. 3...Nf6 and 3...d5 lead to Alapin-type positions because c3 is already on the board, and 3...d3 returns the pawn at once while keeping White's knight off c3.
Plans for White
Do not hurry to win the pawn back. Develop every piece, put the rooks on the c- and d-files, and look for e4-e5 to open lines while Black's king is still in the centre. The return on the gambit is time, so slow moves waste it.
Plans for Black
Accept only with a set-up in mind. Aim to castle, then play ...b5 and ...Bb7 or ...d5, returning the pawn if necessary to free your game. Keep the queen off the files White's rooks are about to open.
Watch out
The Siberian Trap: after 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Bc4 Qc7 7.Qe2 Nf6 8.O-O Ng4, the natural 9.h3?? loses to 9...Nd4, attacking the queen. 10.Nxd4 allows 10...Qh2#, so White must give up the queen.
For the wider picture, see the Sicilian Defense guide.