The 3.Nc3 c5 4.dc Sniper-TWIC 915

TWIC 915
Sidelines are less well studied and harder to evaluate and play against especially if they are sharp and unbalanced. The following line(known by some as the 'Sniper') is one such sideline.

The Sniper by Storey(Everyman 2011)

See NIC The Sniper

The Sniper family
I will divide the Sniper plan into

• The 3.Nc3 Sniper(examined here)
• The 3.Nf3 Sniper

The position arises after,

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.dxc5 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 Qa5(Diagram)

5..Qa5

4.dc is the critical line. The position is hard to figure out without prior knowledge and this is what black is counting on. However, an effective plan has been found, but it is not widely known. Here is a recent example of this plan.

Danin,A (2519) - Troyke,C (2357) 
Sniper 3.Nc3 c5 4.dxc5 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 Qa5 [B06]

6th Wunsiedel Open Wunsiedel GER (3), 18.05.2012

Postion 1
Black's pieces have a jumbled look to them and two of them are unprotected. What do you recommend for white?

White to Play

23..Rxc6

Recap
The key plan is 6.Qd4 and then Qb4. In the resulting ending,

• f3/Be3/Ne2 is a strong formation
• Double rooks on the b-file
• Challenge c4 with Rb4