Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Smith-Morra Line

7/7
1.e4c52.Nf3a63.d4cxd44.c3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Smith-Morra Line101k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
56%57k47%
12%12k49%
8.4%8.5k44%
6.3%6.4k48%
4.9%5.0k49%
4.3%4.3k46%
3.2%3.2k43%
1.5%1.6k47%
1.5%1.5k40%
1.3%1.4k47%
Famous games in this line19 master games
Shabalov, Alexander (2606) – Baklan, Vladimir (2655)20091–0Arenas Vanegas, David (2443) – Bruzon Batista, Lazaro (2668)20100–1Tiemann, Christoph (2611) – Strunski, Andreas (2302)20110–1Stoma, Pawel (2326) – Donchev, Dimitar I (2452)20111–0Maslak, Konstantin (2306) – Zhelnin, Vladimir V (2462)20000–1Valmana Canto, Jaime (2341) – Dolezal, Cristian (2411)20090–1Kalashian, David (2441) – Inants, Aghasi (2281)20101–0Erzhanov, Arman (2417) – Varnavski, Sergei (2303)20090–1
Heroes of this opening Shabalov, Alexander · Bruzon Batista, Lazaro · Strunski, Andreas · Stoma, Pawel
Family
Sicilian Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B28
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. d4 cxd4 4. c3
★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →
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Nearby lines in the family
Sicilian Defense: Big Clamp Formation2.d3 Nc6 3.c3 d6 4.f4Sicilian Defense: Chekhover Variation2…d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4Sicilian Defense: Closed, Portland Attack2.Nc3 Nc6 3.d3 g6 4.g4
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
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