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How can Black be 'out of the book' after just four moves? It sounds impossible but a glance at the majority of publications on the c3 Sicilian will find that after 1 e4 c5 2 c3 d5 3 exd5 Qxd5 4 d4, the obscure 4…g6 is not mentioned but in reality it is the latest fashion. The usual position can also arise after 4…Nf6 5 Nf3 g6.

The twist in the opening has been greeted enthusiastically by those in the know at open tournaments, where the emphasis is on Black to win at all costs. Normally, such ideas are shared amongst the masters and eventually trickle down to club players after a few years via an expensive book. In this case, you can be bang up to date and surprise your next opponent.

Basically, Black's idea is to play along normal lines with pressure against the isolated d-pawn. The king's bishop is sometimes a little passive on e7, so the fianchetto is designed to put extra pressure on d4 by exerting control along the a1-h8 diagonal. In the game GL61, Black pushes his young opponent into a corner from which he only narrowly escapes. Vladimir Borisovich Tukmakov can certainly be relied on to choose a fighting line, having played in the Soviet Championships on numerous occasions and in 1983 came second behind Karpov.

There will be those who wonder if there is any difference between playing 4…g6 or after the continuation 4…Nf6 5 Nf3 when play often transposes upon 5…g6. A key difference is revealed in the game GL62 where Black not only baffles his French opponent with 4…g6 but also follows it up with 6…Nh6. A fine Black win in only 22 moves is the result for the former World Championship candidate Andrei Sokolov.

A change in circumstances sometimes means it is difficult to adjust. In GL63, White seemingly shuffles his pieces around the board and falls for a neat tactic. After just 16 moves Black accepts his opponent's resignation.

It is possible for White to put up stiff resistance and introduce a few obstacles for Black. A good example is GL64 where Black declines to enter an ending and ends up in a passive position. It is a model example.

It is my belief that 4…g6 or even 5…g6 will shock the majority of White players who will waste a lot of time wondering what to do...