Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Exchange Variation

11/11
1.e4c52.Nf3Nc63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3e56.Nxc6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Exchange Variation448k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
96%428k53%
3.7%17k58%
0.7%3.0k10%
0.1%25910%
0%1537%
0%728%
0%3116%
0%1911%
0%110%
0%510%
Famous games in this line59 master games
Sahl, Bjarke (2391)Johannessen, Leif Erlend (2543)2005½–½Kosasih, Cecep (2408)So, Wesley (2526)2008½–½Sahl, Bjarke (2389)Hausrath, Daniel (2529)2006½–½Kofidis, Andreas (2405)Nikolaidis, Ioannis (2495)19950–1Kofidis, Andreas (2405)Tzermiadianos, Andreas (2440)19951–0Kandic, Milan (2248)McShane, Luke J (2592)20030–1Mrva, Martin (2468)Abou el Zein, Eid Mahmoud (2352)20001–0Mrva, Martin (2410)Manik, Mikulas (2395)19961–0
Heroes of this opening Mrva, Martin · Nikolaidis, Ioannis · Kofidis, Andreas · McShane, Luke J
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B33
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Nxc6
Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines
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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.

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