by Victor Bologan, Video running time: 5 hours 

 

The Rossolimo Variation 3.Bb5 is considered to be one of the strongest replies to 2…Nc6 in the Sicilian Defence. The fact that the move has been played by practically all the top players proves its popularity and strength. But the most interesting aspect of playing 3.Bb5 is that we force sharp, attacking players who love to have the initiative to forget about the Open Sicilian and to adjust themselves to a new world, one full of positional ideas, manoeuvres and nuances. Bologan was introduced to 3.Bb5 by Vecheslav Chebanenco. The merits of the famous coach in this opening are that he worked out a complete scheme for how to play against the doubled pawns after taking on c6. Time has proved the correctness of his theory and nowadays the best answer to 3…g6 is considered to be 4.Bxc6; also after 3…e6 one of the best replies is again 4.Bxc6. We should not be afraid of conceding the bishop pair to our opponent. In exchange we get very good coordination of our pieces, usually by placing the pawns on squares of the opposite colour to that of our bishop.

 

Contents

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
01: Sidelines

02: Lines after 3..Nf6
03: Exchange variation with 3…d6
04: Exchange variation with 3…d6 and 6…f5
05: Exchange variation with 3…d6 and 5…Bg4
06: Lines after 3…d6 with 4.0-0
07: Lines after 3…d6 with 6.c3 a6
08: Lines after 6…a6 with 7…b5
09: Lines after 7…b5 with 8…e5
10: Lines after 3…e6
11: Lines after 3…e6 with 6…b5
12: Exchange with 3…e6
13: Exchange with 3…e6 and 5…Qc7
14: Exchange variation with 3…e6 and 6.Bd2
15: Exchange variation with 3…g6 One
16: Exchange variation with 3…g6 Two
17. Exchange variation with 3…g6 and 4…dxc6
18: Exchange variation with 3….dxc6 and Nc3
19: Exchange variation with 3….dxc6 and 7.0-0
20: Exchange variation with 3…dxc6 and 7…Nd7

 

Victor Bologan is a pupil of the top Moldavan trainer Vecheslav Chebanenko. For many years Bologan has been the number 1 in Moldava and has represented his country in eight chess Olympiads. His greatest successes were in 2003, when he first of all won the Aeroflot Open and then the famous Dortmund Tournament, ahead of Kramnik and Anand. The Moldovan has extensive experience as a trainer and has also published his first books.

 

System requirements: Pentium-Processor at 300 Mhz or higher, 64 MB RAM, Windows 7, Windows XP, Windows Vista, DVD drive, mouse, soundcard