Sicilian Defense: Rossolimo Variation
Initial Moves: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
Strategic Summary & Main Idea
The Rossolimo Variation avoids the open Sicilian with 3.Bb5: the bishop pins the c6 knight before d4, and White chooses when to trade it and double Black's pawns. The position measures +0.30, the same number as the Sicilian entry and the highest evaluation among the anti-Sicilians measured there. What the entry shows is the cost of each Black reply. 3...e6 measures +0.25 and 3...g6 +0.32; 3...d6 and 3...Nf6 measure +0.59, and 3...Nd4, which looks natural, +0.73. The Bxc6 exchange is not a weapon: with either recapture, the position stays at +0.33.
The pawn structure this opening produces
The Rossolimo produces structures that depend on the exchange of the b5 bishop for the c6 knight. When White trades and Black recaptures with the d-pawn, the structure has doubled Black pawns on c6 and c5, Black's centre open on the d-file and Black's bishop pair against White's knights: White plays d3, h3, Nc3 and Be3 and keeps the centre closed, where knights are worth more than bishops. When Black recaptures with the b-pawn, the c6 pawn supports ...d5 and the b-file is half-open, and Black looks for ...f5 and ...e5 to gain central space. When White does not trade, with O-O and Re1, the bishop stays on b5 pinning the knight, and White's break is e5 or b4 — the b4 gambit opens the queenside, but measures in Black's favour. Black's c5 pawn and the d4 square are the axis: Black wants ...e5 and ...Nd4, and White wants c3 and d4 when Black's knight cannot occupy the square.
Typical Plans for White
- Trade on c6 with Bxc6 and play the knights against the bishop pair in a closed structure
- Against 3...g6, castle and play Re1 and c3, preparing d4 with the bishop still on b5
- Against 3...e6, retreat the bishop to f1 after ...a6 and keep the d4 option
- Do not give up b4 after ...e5: the 6.b4 gambit ends at −0.36
- Against 3...Nd4, trade on d4 and play c3 against the advanced pawn: the line measures +0.73
Typical Plans for Black
- Answer 3...e6, the lowest-measuring reply (+0.25), and regain the initiative with ...d5
- With 3...g6, fianchetto and play ...e5 and ...Nge7 against White's centre
- After Bxc6, recapture with the d-pawn when the centre can be opened, and with the b-pawn to support ...d5
- Do not jump to d4 with the knight early: 3...Nd4 measures +0.73, and against ...Qc7 +1.03
- Avoid 3...d6 and 3...Nf6, which measure +0.59 and let White choose the structure
Main Variations of the Sicilian Defense: Rossolimo Variation
| Variation | Move Sequence | Evaluation | Style / Characteristic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3...e6 4.O-O Nge7 | 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.O-O Nge7 5.Re1 a6 6.Bf1 d5 |
+0.25 | Black prepares ...d5 with the knight on e7; the lowest evaluation among the main lines |
| 3...g6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 | 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d3 Bg7 6.h3 Nf6 7.Nc3 O-O 8.Be3 b6 |
+0.33 | Doubled pawns and the bishop pair against knights in a closed structure |
| 3...g6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 | 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.O-O Bg7 6.Re1 Nh6 7.c3 O-O 8.h3 f5 |
+0.33 | The other recapture, with the b-file open and ...f5 against e4; the same number |
| Gambit with 6.b4 | 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.Re1 e5 6.b4 Nxb4 7.c3 Nc6 8.d4 exd4 9.cxd4 a6 10.Bf1 |
−0.36 | White gives up b4 for the centre and ends up worse; the lowest evaluation in the entry |
| 3...e6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.b3 | 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.b3 e5 6.Nxe5 Qe7 7.Bb2 d6 8.Nc4 |
+0.13 | White takes e5 and Black regains it with the queen on the e-file |
| 3...Qb6 | 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Qb6 4.Nc3 e6 5.O-O Nge7 |
+0.49 | The queen comes out early to b6 and White develops with tempo |
| 3...d6 | 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.O-O Bd7 5.Re1 Nf6 6.c3 a6 7.Bf1 |
+0.59 | The Moscow structure with the knight on c6; it costs Black a third of a pawn more |
| 3...Nf6 | 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nd4 5.e5 Nxb5 6.Nxb5 Nd5 7.O-O a6 8.c4 |
+0.59 | The knight hits e4 and the c6 knight trades the bishop, but e5 gains space with tempo |
Evaluations measured by us with Stockfish 19, depth 22, on 15/09/2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Rossolimo the best anti-Sicilian?
By the Sicilian entry's measurement, it is the highest-measuring anti-Sicilian: +0.30, against +0.11 for the Alapin (2.c3) and +0.22 for 2.Nc3. It does not avoid theory, since Black has three main replies, but it leads to positions in which White chooses the structure.
What is Black's best answer to 3.Bb5?
By the measurement, 3...e6, which measures +0.25 after 4.O-O Nge7 5.Re1 a6 6.Bf1 d5. The 3...g6 fianchetto measures +0.32 and is just as solid. The costliest replies are 3...d6 and 3...Nf6, at +0.59, and 3...Nd4, at +0.73.
Does trading on c6 give White an advantage?
Not by itself. After 3...g6 4.Bxc6, the position measures +0.33 with both recaptures, ...dxc6 and ...bxc6, practically the same as the starting position. The exchange changes the type of game — knights against bishops in a closed structure — without changing the evaluation.
Guides on this opening
Common Mistakes & Where Most Amateurs Go Wrong
- 01 Jumping 4...Nd4? against 4.O-O after 3...Qc7. The knight trades for the f3 knight, and after 5.Nxd4 cxd4 6.c3 Black's d4 pawn becomes a target and the queen on c7 is misplaced: +1.03. The line:
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Qc7 4.O-O Nd4 5.Nxd4 cxd4 6.c3+1.03 - 02 Playing 3...Nd4? to trade the b5 bishop. After 4.Nxd4 cxd4 5.O-O g6 6.c3, the knight that was supposed to chase the bishop is gone and the d4 pawn falls or cramps Black: +0.73, against +0.30 for the starting position. The line:
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 4.Nxd4 cxd4 5.O-O g6 6.c3+0.73
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