Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Closed, Botvinnik Defense, with Nge2
12/12
1.e4c52.Nc3Nc63.g3g64.Bg2Bg75.d3d66.Nge2e5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Closed, Botvinnik Defense, with Nge236k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
60%22k50%
21%7.6k52%
7.3%2.6k50%
4.7%1.7k50%
4%1.4k52%
0.8%28054%
0.7%23940%
0.2%8956%
0.2%8043%
0.2%6545%
Famous games in this line183 master games
Adams, Michael (2734) – Topalov, Veselin (2772)Nihal, Sarin (2692) – Giri, A. (2748)Eljanov, Pavel (2716) – Najer, Evgeniy (2663)Movsesian, Sergei (2649) – Sarana, Alexey (2654)Ivanisevic, Ivan (2649) – Georgiev, Kiril (2636)Short, Nigel D (2675) – Stohl, Igor (2600)Jobava, Baadur (2712) – Zhigalko, Andrey (2555)Kortschnoj, Viktor (2610) – Huebner, Robert (2600)Heroes of this opening Najer, Evgeniy · Short, Nigel D · Zhigalko, Andrey · Huebner, Robert
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B25
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. Nge2 e5
FianchettoSharp
★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →Keep exploring
Nearby lines in the family
From the archives
No reply to 1.e4 is played more. Fischer made the Najdorf his main weapon, and Kasparov's Sicilians are pillars of chess history — the Scheveningen against Karpov, the Dragon he unveiled against Anand in 1995. When you play 1...c5 you refuse symmetry, the same refusal that carried two world champions.
Study this opening