Answers.Body: <p>The difference is that in the Kan white exchanges the knight on c6. In other sicilians this would be a concession, but here black has already played a6, which will not be particular useful after Nxc6 bxc6. In the other sicilians, if white doesn't exchange the Nc6, it will often go to e5 and threaten to exchange a Bd3, that's why the bishop often isn't well placed there. The plan connected to Bd3 is of course to play e5 sooner or later. </p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-09-19T19:55:56.713Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-09-19T19:55:56.713Z
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Body: <p>Why is 5. Bd3 considered a strong move against the Kan variation of the Sicilian Defense:</p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN ""]
  1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>You very rarely see the Bd3 move played against any other variation of the Sicilian... </p>
  
Tags: <opening><sicilian-defense><defense>
Title: Why is 5. Bd3 considered a strong move against the Kan variation?
ThreadText: # Why is 5. Bd3 considered a strong move against the Kan variation?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2015-09-19)
  
  Why is 5. Bd3 considered a strong move against the Kan variation of the Sicilian Defense:
  
  ```
  [FEN ""]
  1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3
  
  ```
  
  You very rarely see the Bd3 move played against any username_0 variation of the Sicilian...
  
  **Tags:** opening, sicilian-defense, defense
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2015-09-19. Score: 2
  
  The difference is that in the Kan white exchanges the knight on c6. In username_0 sicilians this would be a concession, but here black has already played a6, which will not be particular useful after Nxc6 bxc6. In the username_0 sicilians, if white doesn't exchange the Nc6, it will often go to e5 and threaten to exchange a Bd3, that's why the bishop often isn't well placed there. The plan connected to Bd3 is of course to play e5 sooner or later.
  
  
  ---
  
  