1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 and now, instead of the Sveshnikov continuation 6...d6, we play the characteristic move: 6...h6!?
It's the Sveshnikov, but not as we know it. In itself, 6...h6 is a logical enough move - Black stops Bg5. Now he threatens 7...d6, with an obviously comfortable Sveshnikov set-up, so the critical move must be 7.Nd6+ (7.Nd5 is the only serious option, but then 7...Nxd5 8.exd5 a6! appears reasonable for Black). Play continues 7...Bxd6 8.Qxd6 Qe7. Yes, Ulfie is after getting the queens off!
Looking this up on the database, I was surprised to find that, as well as Ulfie, who has played it quite a few times in recent years, there are a fair number of other strong GMs, who have used it, including Gheorghiu, Vasyukov, Bilek, Lombardy, Reindermann, Agdestein, etc. Scottish GM John Shaw is another, who has given it a few goes. White probably should have an edge after the queen exchange, but it is not a lot, and a dedicated Ulfer is always happy to accept a slight disadvantage, if he can remove the girlies from the board! Andersson is like a pig in dung, in such positions. In Utrecht, the strong and talented young Dutch GM, Robin van Kampen, opted to keep the ladies on with 9.Qd1, but he got no real advantage and Ulfie held the draw fairly comfortably.
I don't say it's the best Sicilian in the world, but if you are middle-aged and like endings, whilst your opponent is under 30, and booked up to the eyeballs in Sveshnikov theory, it might be a nice way to take him out of his comfort zone. Here's the man himself, doing the business with it - and against a future GM, at that.
