Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Traditional Variation

13/13
1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3Nc66.Bg5e67.Qd2
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Traditional Variation115k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
3.9%4.5k44%
2.9%3.3k44%
0.8%96841%
0.2%22119%
0.1%14742%
0.1%7949%
0%5346%
Famous games in this line19k master games
Carlsen, M. (2830)Nakamura, Hi (2795)2024½–½Anand, V. (2776)Carlsen, M. (2843)2018½–½Carlsen, M.. (2847)Radjabov, T.. (2765)2021½–½Anand, V. (2764)Caruana, F. (2819)20191–0Carlsen, M. (2859)Maghsoodloo, Parham (2719)20221–0Kasparov, Garry (2825)Ivanchuk, Vassily (2740)19981–0Aronian, L.. (2781)Vachier Lagrave, M.. (2784)20211–0Kasparov, Garry (2812)Kramnik, Vladimir (2751)1999½–½
Heroes of this opening Anand, V. · Carlsen, M. · Kasparov, Garry · Aronian, L..
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B63
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2
Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines
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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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