Sicilian kan is the easiest and most flexible and solid variation in Sicilian defense. And if you are just starting to play the Sicilian defense for the first time then the Sicilian kan is the best choice for you.

In this post, you will find the best guidelines in Sicilian kan with exemplary chess games and some suggestions from my personal experience as well.

Sicilian kan theory

The Sicilian kan variation is a very easy defense for black. If you are thinking to defend against e4 then you should consider the Sicilian kan variation. Because it’s an easy-to-learn and solid Sicilian variation, and you don’t need to remember a ton of theoretical lines, you just have to understand a few lines and ideas behind them. Here are some points that you should know when you are playing the kan variation.

• It has no weakness in the opening phase and that’s why it is very solid.
• The pawn structure of the opening is very good and flexible, you can convert this pawn structure into other openings like Najdrof, Scheveningen, and other variations.
• One of the problems in the kan variation is less space, in most of the cases you will feel that you are tied down to the last three ranks but when the situation clears you will get the compensation.
• One of the other problems in the kan variation is that white can play Maroczy Bind setup, which is very hard to break until black plays accurately.

is the Sicilian kan good?

The Sicilian kan variation is a very good defense against e4 because the kan variation will give you a solid position in the opening and you will have a clear middle game plan. The pawn structure of the Sicilian kan variation is also very solid. It’s a very good variation for you if you are under 2200 elo.

Sicilian kan vs Taimanov

The difference between Sicilian kan and Taimanov is move order. On move 4 when white captures the d pawn with the knight, If black plays Nc6 then it’s a Taimanov variation, and if black plays a6 then it’s a kan variation.

Taimanove move order can transpose into kan variation so if you want to trick your opponent then you can play Taimanove move order and convert into Sicilian kan variation. But chess is a precise game and if your opponent understands the difference then you will have a hard time converting into the Sicilian kan variation.

Pro-tip is that if you are a kan player it’s better to play with 4th move a6 move.

Here is the difference in these pictures below.

Sicilian kan or Taimanov

As I said above both have similar positions and you should know the difference between Sicilian kan or Taimanove. One of the differences is move order. On move four black has a choice to play Taimanove by playing Nc6 or play a6 going for the kan variation.

If a white is a maroczy [pawn structure] player then it’s good to play Taimanov and if a white is not playing Maroczy pawn structure then Kan variation is the better choice.

If you are an attacking player then Taimanove will suit you more than the Kan because in the kan you have to play a6 move with pawn rather than developing a piece with Nc6.

Sicilian kan vs najdorf

There is no comparison between Sicilian kan vs Najdrof because both have different natures. Sicilian kan is solid but passive defense and the Najdorf is sharp and attacking.

One more benefit of playing kan is that sometimes black’s position can transpose into Najdorf pawn’s structure and the piece placement will be the same as well.

Here is the picture below that illustrates the position of Nadjrof transposed from Sicilian Kan.

Another picture of the position started with kan move order into Najdrof.

This looks like Najdrof’s game but the starting move order was the Sicilian kan variation.

[Please flip the board to the black side for a better view.]

Sicilian kan wing attack

The Sicilian kan wing attack begins with 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 b5. Here is the picture below.

There are many games in this position. And you can play this move order but you must know that you’re breaking the opening principles and with engines nowadays you will be exploited in the opening. I tried the Sicilian kan wing attack in some games and learned that any engine can get the advantage in the opening phase and your game becomes passive because you are avoiding the center. You must hold the center in all the openings.

Anyhow that’s my personal experience which I described. Here are some games which show how to play Sicilian kan wing attack.

Sicilian kan wing attack Game 1

Please flip the board to the black side for a better view.

Sicilian kan wing attack Game 2

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Sicilian kan wing attack Game 3

Please flip the board to the black side for a better view.

Sicilian kan hedgehog

If you are playing the Sicilian then you know what is hedgehog. But let me describe for those who don’t know the hedgehog system in the Sicilian.

The hedgehog means black will be restricted into the last three ranks and black’s pawn will be at e6, d6, b6, and a6. Here is the picture below which explains the pawn structure hedgehog.

As you can see black’s pawn position in Sicilian kan variation. The hedgehog system occurs when white plays Maroczy pawn structure [pawn on e4 and c4] with 5.c4 move. White takes advantage of delaying the Nf6 move. This is the difficult variation against kan and it gives hard time for black players to equalize.

If you are playing the Sicilian kan variation then you should know how to handle the Maroczy system. Look for the b5 or d5 break, if you can break you should otherwise you will lose, here is the game below with the hedgehog system, and black managed to break with b5.

Sicilian kan hedgehog game

Please flip the board to the black side for a better view.

Another game of hedghog in siciilan kan variation with d5 break.

[Please flip the board to the black side for a better view.]

Sicilian kan maroczy bind

What is the Maroczy bind? maroczy bind is a pawn structure with a pawn on e4 and c4. Maroczy bind structure often occurs in Sicilian when black does not play nf6 on move 4. In the Sicilian kan, maroczy bind occurs when black plays 4.a6 and white replies with the move 5.c4.

The Maroczy bind pawn structure is very solid and hard to break with black unless you know what to do and how to do it. If you want to win against maroczy bind then you should break with b5 or either d5 move. Here is the picture of Sicilian kan maroczy bind.

Sicilian kan maroczy bind game

Please flip the board to the black side for a better view.

How to play Sicilian kan

The Sicilian kan variation starts with 4.a6 move. The a6 move gives black many options and a solid position but black must know accurate move order in order to bypass the opening phase. If black does not play accurate move order then black will lose the game in the opening. Here is the picture of starting position.

2.e6 is the correct and accurate move order although you can play d6 first and later e6 in that case you may not get kan variation. The correct move order is 2.e6 move as shown in the above picture.

The reason behind a6 move in Sicilian

Let’s talk about the a6 move. It has two functions. One is called waiting move and the 2nd is to play b5 in order to expand in queenside.

After moving the pawn to a6, black will wait for white’s reply and you should play according to white’s move.

When you have played a6 move, then white has 3 main moves. One is Nc3, 2nd is Bd3 and the third is C4.

Here are pictures of these three moves.

1.Nc3

2.Bd3

3.C4

Now please note that these 3 moves must be prepared carefully if you want to get any advantage otherwise you will have a passive position.

Sicilian Kan Variation Nc3

After Nc3 black has many moves but what I prefer is Qc7, yes it’s one more waiting move, Qc7 gives black a clear plan on what white does next.

So black wait by playing Qc7 and if you think logically then you play Qc7 for two purposes, one is to stop the e5 move and the second is to develop the Nf6 move.

And the more bonus of playing Qc7 is that your queen will not be harassed by white’s knight because you have played a6 move.

White just played Bd3 and you know what to play with black, yes you will play Nf6, you can not neglect development in the opening for too long.

In this position white has a choice, white can play simple and logical move castling, or if white is more ambitious and plays for attack then white will play f4 move. Let’s talk about the f4 move because you will face the f4 move often.

Don’t be afraid, white can not kick away our knight on f6. Let’s watch some of the games in this position in order to understand better.

[Please flip the board to the black side for a better view.]

Another game when white plays Qf3.

[Please flip the board to the black side for a better view.]

One Last game in this position.

[Please flip the board to the black side for a better view.]

5.Bd3 variation in Sicilian kan

Now let’s talk about this move, as you can see white is not playing a more natural move Nc3 instead he played Bd3. Let’s find out the purpose of Bd3 move in Sicilian kan.

Bd3 has two options, one is to castle quickly and then decide what to do, and the other is to play c4 and build maroczy pawn structure.

Black will play Bc5 move attacking the knight which is an undefended piece and at the same time developing a piece for black. Now white has three moves to consider, one is to go back at Nb3 second is to protect with c3 and the third is to protect with Be3. Let’s watch three games to understand how to play.

With Nb3 game

[Please flip the board to the black side for a better view.]

With c3 game

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With Be3 game

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C4 [Maroczy Bind] move in Sicilian kan variation

 

In other Sicilian variations black plays the first nf6 move in order to avoid maroczy bind pawn structure, but in kan black allows white to play the maroczy pawn structure. After c4 move black plays Nf6 move to hit on e4, please note that he can not drive away black’s knight on f6 with e5 move.

As highlighted in arrows, you can see that white can not play e5 move, because after Qa5 white will lose the pawn. After the natural move Nc3 black will play queen c7. As you can see in the picture below.

In order to create the maroczy bind pawn structure white plays a3. A3 has two reasons one is to unpin the knight on c3 and other is to play b4 in the future. Look at the picture below.

And after a3 move black plays b6 move, going for the hedgehog system in order to destroy maroczy bind structure. Let’s watch two games in the hedgehog system. Please watch out for d5 pawn break b5 break with black pieces.

Game 1 with hedgehog system

[Please flip the board to the black side for a better view.]

Game 2 with hedgehog system

[Please flip the board to the black side for a better view.]

 

Conclusion:

In the Sicilian kan variation, you will get a solid pawn structure and an easy game with plans. If you are just starting to explore Sicilian variation it’s my suggestion that you should start with the Sicilian kan variation. I have played Sicilian kan variation for over a year so if you have any questions regarding Sicilian kan variation, feel free to ask.