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Inchess, thefianchetto (English:/ˌfiːənˈkɛtoʊ/ or spelling pronunciation/ˌfiːənˈtʃɛtoʊ/;[1]Italian:[fjaŋˈketto] "little flank") is a pattern ofdevelopment wherein abishop is developed to the secondrank of the adjacent b- or g-file, theknight pawn having been moved one or two squares forward.
The fianchetto is a staple of many "hypermodern"openings, whose philosophy is to delay direct occupation of thecentre with the plan of undermining and destroying the opponent's occupied centre. It also regularly occurs inIndian defences. The fianchetto is less common inOpen Games (1.e4 e5), but theking bishop is sometimes fianchettoed by Black in theRuy Lopez or by White in an uncommon variation of theVienna Game.
One of the major benefits of the fianchetto is that it often allows the fianchettoed bishop to become more active. A fianchettoed position, however, also presents some opportunities for the opponent: if the fianchettoed bishop can beexchanged, the squares the bishop was formerly protecting will become weak (seehole) and can form the basis of an attack (particularly if the fianchetto was performed on thekingside). Exchanging the fianchettoed bishop should not be done lightly, therefore, especially if the enemy bishop on same-coloured squares is still on the board.
The diagram shows three different sorts of fianchetti (not from an actual game, but as examples collapsed into a single diagram). White's king bishop is in a regular fianchetto, with the knight pawn advanced one square and the bishop occupying thelong diagonal. This is by far the most common type of fianchetto, seen in theSicilian Dragon,Pirc Defence,Modern Defence,Modern Benoni,Grünfeld Defence,Nimzo-Indian, andKing's Indian Defence, among other openings. The regular fianchetto of both bishops by a player is called adouble fianchetto.[2]
Black'squeen bishop is also fianchettoed, but the knight pawn has moved forward two squares, making this along fianchetto. The b-pawn also controls the c4-square, which is often advantageous. If White plays theKing's Indian Attack 1.Nf3 2.g3, Black may play a longqueenside fianchetto to oppose White's bishop and make it more difficult for White to play a c4pawn break. A long fianchetto on the kingside is more rarely played, because it weakens the pawn shield in front of the castled position and controls a less important square. Nevertheless,Grob's Attack 1.g4 and theBorg Defence ("Grob" backwards) 1.e4 g5?! are sometimes played by players such asIMMichael Basman.
White's queen bishop has moved to a3 in what is sometimes called anextended fianchetto. Rather than control the long diagonal, it takes aim at Black's f8-square. If Black moves his e-pawn, White can play Bxf8, after which Black will have to wastetime onartificial castling after recapturing with his king. This tactic is often seen in theEvans Gambit and gives theBenko Gambit much of its bite. Black often plays ...Ba6 in theFrench Defence, and in theQueen's Indian Defence if White plays g3 in order to fianchetto his own bishop (Aron Nimzowitsch's move against theclassical main line).
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The gameRubinstein–Nimzowitsch, Marienbad 1925,[3] had four fianchettoed bishops, two developed knights, and two on their home squares. In this position, Nimzowitsch humorously pointed out inMy System: "Each side castles now with a clear conscience, for not even the most hypermodern pair of masters can produce more than four fianchettoed Bishops!"[4]
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