[Event "Analysis "] [White "3.c4 Line"] [Black "Sicilian,O'Kelly Variation"] [Site ""] [Round ""] [Annotator "Szabo,Krisztian/Havanur,Nagesh"] [Result "*"] [Date "2025.10.22"] [PlyCount "34"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 {The O'Kelly Variation.} 3. c4 {This leads to a kind of Maroczy Bind position.} (3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 $1 {The knight cannot go to b5 and is obliged to return to one of the three squares. b3, e2 or Nf3. Bad would be} 6. Nf5 $6 d5 $1 )(3. c3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 e6 $11 { is the other Main Line.} )Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Nc3 e5 7. Nf5 d5 $1 {A freeing move.} 8. cxd5 Bxf5 9. exf5 Nd4 10. Bd3 ({An unbalanced position arises after} 10. g4 $5 {It is analysed separately in a companion piece in this OE 2025 review.} )Be7 ({Not} 10... Nxd5 $6 11. O-O Be7 12. Be4 $16 )11. O-O O-O 12. Re1 Nxd5 13. Nxd5 ({If} 13. Rxe5 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Bf6 15. Re3 Nxf5 $11 )Qxd5 14. Qg4 Bf6 15. h4 Rfd8 $5 {In my view Black needs to make use of this rook on the d-file. The other rook could be used to occupy the c-file-NSH} ({Krisztian Szabo considers only} 15... Rac8 16. Be4 Qd7 17. Be3 Nc2 18. Rad1 Qe7 19. Bxc2 Rxc2 20. Rc1 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 $14 {The White rook occupies the c-file and his other pieces (queen and bishop) enjoy the freer movement. Black's position remains passive and he has to fight for equality.} )16. Bg5 ({Or} 16. Be4 Qb5 {targeting the b-pawn.} )Qd6 17. Be4 Rac8 { For the moment the Black b-pawn is safe. 18.Bxb7? invites 17...Rb8 regaining the pawn. In the long run Black can prepare ...Rc7 followed by...Rdc8.} *