B32 Sicilian Defence

After 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4, code B32 covers the Open Sicilian lines where Black declines the more common knight and fianchetto developments. Its main branch is the Kalashnikov Variation, 4...e5 5.Nb5 d6. Black gains time by hitting the centralised knight and claims space with ...e5. The price is a permanent hole on d5 and a backward d-pawn, the same trade-off as in the Sveshnikov, but with the king's knight not yet committed. White can clamp d5 with 6.c4, or play 6.N1c3 a6 7.Na3 and steer the knights towards c4 and d5.