Chessy
How to Play the Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Fianchetto Variation: d4
The Sicilian Defense is one of the sharpest answers to 1.e4, and the Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack (3.Bb5) gives White a safer but still dangerous approach. When Black fianchettoes with 3...g6, White's most testing continuation is 4.d4, prying open the centre immediately. In this position you, as Black, have already played the principled capture 4...cxd4, and now you need to know how to handle what comes next. The engine rates this dead level at -0.03, meaning nothing is decided yet — you have every chance to outplay your opponent from here. The drill below will let you practise the critical responses against the best White moves.
Play the Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Fianchetto Variation: d4 against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Now it's time to put this into practice. Play through the position as Black against our adapting engine — it will respond with the most accurate moves and help您
Create a free account →The Big Picture: Equal but Sharp
Statistically, this is one of the fairest positions in the Sicilian. The engine gives -0.03, which is essentially a perfect balance — neither side has an edge out of the opening. And the numbers from over 96,000 games back that up: Black scores 52.1% overall, while White wins 44.2% and draws happen only 3.7% of the time. That high Black win rate tells you this is a practical opening where you can play for a win without taking unusual risks. The key is understanding that the game is just beginning — you have a solid pawn structure, the g7-bishop will eye the long diagonal, and you'll be looking to complete development quickly.
The Engine's First Choice: 5.Nxd4
The top engine move here is 5.Nxd4, and it makes sense — White recaptures the pawn and occupies the centre with a knight. From that point the engine's suggested continuation is 5...Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6. Notice how natural these moves are: you develop your kingside bishop to its ideal post on g7, then bring your knight to f6, attacking e4 and preparing to castle. White's 6.Be3 is a solid developing move, eyeing the queenside and sometimes supporting ideas like Qd2 and Bh6. Your job is straightforward — get castled, keep the centre flexible, and look for chances to strike with ...d5 or ...b5 later on. If you can play this much without a mistake, you'll reach a middlegame where your structure and piece activity are fully sound.
The Most Common Replies (and What They Mean)
By far the most popular move at this position is 5.Nxd4, appearing in over 64,000 games, where White scores 43.6%. The second most common is 5.Bxc6, played over 27,000 times with White scoring 46.2%. That's interesting — when White grabs the bishop pair by taking on c6, Black actually scores slightly better. After 5.Bxc6 dxc6, you get the two bishops and a solid pawn centre. The other options are much rarer: 5.O-O (2,019 games, White 43.6%), 5.c3 (876 games, White 45.5%), and then the two moves flagged as mistakes. The important takeaway: against White's most reasonable tries, you already stand at least equal, and your winning chances are above 50% across the board.
Two Traps to Punish: Bf4 and Bg5
This is where your alertness can pay off immediately. The move 5.Bf4 is classified as a mistake, losing roughly 2.9 pawns compared to the best move. Even worse, 5.Bg5 is a blunder, losing approximately 3.0 pawns. Both of these moves expose White's bishop on a flank where it can be hit by tempo-gaining threats. If your opponent plays 5.Bf4 or 5.Bg5, you have a concrete advantage right out of the opening. The exact continuation isn't forced here, but you can be confident that White has made a serious error. In the drill, if you see either of these, look for an active response — attacking the bishop or creating immediate counterplay in the centre — and trust the engine's verdict that White is already much worse.
Results across 96,082 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nxd4 | 64,449 | 43.6% |
| Bxc6 | 27,341 | 46.2% |
| O-O | 2,019 | 43.6% |
| c3 | 876 | 45.5% |
| Bf4 | 366 | 35.2% |
| Bg5 | 238 | 39.5% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack with 3.Bb5 g6 dangerous for Black?
No, it's quite safe. The engine rates the position after 4.d4 cxd4 as dead level (-0.03), and in practice Black wins 52.1% of games from here. White is choosing a solid but not crushing approach. If you know the basic setup — fianchetto your king's bishop, develop your knight to f6, and castle early — you'll be perfectly fine.
What should I do if White plays 5.Bf4 or 5.Bg5 in this position?
These are known mistakes. The engine says 5.Bf4 loses about 2.9 pawns compared to the best move, and 5.Bg5 is even worse, losing about 3.0 pawns. Both moves leave the bishop exposed. You should look for an active response — for example, attacking the bishop with ...e5 or ...d5, or exploiting the tempo to gain control of the centre. You are clearly better after either of these moves.
Which White move is most common in this line, and how should I respond?
5.Nxd4 is by far the most common, played in over 64,000 games. The engine's best continuation is 5...Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6. Just develop naturally: put your bishop on g7, your knight on f6, and prepare to castle. You'll reach a rich middlegame where both sides have chances.
Is the Fianchetto Variation a good choice for a club player learning the Sicilian?
Yes. Black scores 52.1% across over 96,000 games, which is a strong practical result. The positions tend to be strategic rather than extremely tactical, and you avoid some of the heavy theory of the Open Sicilian. You get a solid structure with the fianchettoed bishop and plenty of room to outplay opponents who are less familiar with the setup.
How many games feature the Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Fianchetto Variation: d4?
Over 96K Lichess games have reached the Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Fianchetto Variation: d4 position. White wins 44.2%, Black wins 52.1%, with 3.7% draws — based on real rated games.