Sicilian Defence, Katalymov Variation GM Christian Bauer, with which he managed to draw a game in 2005 against currently top-ranked GM Magnus Carlsen. It has also been used by top players such as Gata Kamsky and Soviet GM Lev Psakhis. The opening is named after Soviet IM Boris Katalymov (1932–2013). Bibliography Sicilian Defence, Katalymov Variation In chess, the Katalymov Variation (also spelled Katalimov) is a less popular line of the Sicilian Defence that begins with the moves: The Katalymov is considered inferior since it commits Black to a plan with ...b6 rather than more aggressive Sicilian defences incorporating b7–b5. Black must protect the b5-square,
Ruy Lopez play 8.c3, Black can and often does play 8...d6, which is just the main line in another order. But he can also play 8...d5 for the Marshall Attack. One of Black's more aggressive alternatives is the Marshall Attack: after 3...a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 Black plays the gambit 8...d5, sacrificing a pawn. The main line begins with 9.exd5 Nxd5 (9...e4?!, the Herman Steiner variation, is considered weaker) 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6 (Marshall's original moves, 11...Nf6, and 11...Bb7 are considered inferior, but have also yielded good results at top levels of play for Black. GM Joel