Answers.Body: <blockquote>
  <p>So what was the point of playing a5?</p>
  </blockquote>
  <p>It is a prophylactic move. It takes the square away from White who was planning to play a5 and take control of the key b6 square in Black's position. Sure, Black could try playing b6 but after the exchange of pawns on b6 black would be left with a weak isolated a pawn.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2022-10-22T21:46:44.973Z
Answers.Text: Additionally, a knight can be placed on c5 without getting kicked around with b4.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Hauke Reddmann
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2022-10-22T16:07:56.443Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2022-10-22T16:07:56.443Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Brian Towers
Body: <p>I am currently learning Sicilian Svenshnikov. Today, I came across a new line with Nd5 variation. First, we move a4 to kick the white knight and then play a5. I couldn't quite understand the point of this move as it gives back white the b5 square for its knight again. So what was the point of playing a5?</p>
  <p>Here's the position for it:</p>
  <pre><code>[FEN &quot;&quot;]
  [Startply &quot;27&quot;]
  
  1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8. exd5 Nb8 9. a4 Be7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O Nd7 12. Bd2 a6 13. Na3 a5
  </code></pre>
  
Tags: <opening><learning><sicilian-defense>
Title: What is the point of a5 in Sveshnikov Nd5 variation?
ThreadText: # What is the point of a5 in Sveshnikov Nd5 variation?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2022-10-22)
  
  I am currently learning Sicilian Svenshnikov. Today, I came across a new line with Nd5 variation. First, we move a4 to kick the white knight and then play a5. I couldn't quite understand the point of this move as it gives back white the b5 square for its knight again. So what was the point of playing a5?
  Here's the position for it:
  [FEN ""]
  [Startply "27"]
  
  1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8. exd5 Nb8 9. a4 Be7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O Nd7 12. Bd2 a6 13. Na3 a5
  
  **Tags:** opening, learning, sicilian-defense
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2022-10-22. Score: 5 | Accepted answer
  
  > So what was the point of playing a5?
  
  It is a prophylactic move. It takes the square away from White who was planning to play a5 and take control of the key b6 square in Black's position. Sure, Black could try playing b6 but after the exchange of pawns on b6 black would be left with a weak isolated a pawn.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_2**: Additionally, a knight can be placed on c5 without getting kicked around with b4.  
  
  ---
  
  