Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation
5/5
1.e4c52.Nf3d63.Bb5+
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation3.9M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
22%855k51%
18%704k47%
0.1%3.7k6%
Famous games in this line28k master games
Carlsen, Magnus (2863) – Caruana, Fabiano (2835)Carlsen, M. (2853) – Topalov, V. (2816)Carlsen, Magnus (2863) – Ding, Liren (2791)Vachier Lagrave, M. (2780) – Carlsen, M. (2872)Carlsen, Magnus (2868) – Anand, Viswanathan (2783)Carlsen, M. (2876) – Giri, A. (2773)Carlsen, M. (2872) – Nakamura, Hi (2776)Carlsen, M.. (2862) – Nepomniachtchi, I.. (2784)- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B51
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Main Line3…Bd7 · 2 deeper linesSicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Sokolsky Variation3…Bd7 4.Bxd7 Qxd7 5.c4Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Dorfman Gambit3…Nc6 4.O-O Bd7 5.Qe2 g6 6.e5Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Haag Gambit3…Bd7 4.Bxd7 Qxd7 5.O-O Nc6 6.c3 …
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