Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Endgame Variation
18/18
1.e4c52.c3d53.exd5Qxd54.d4cxd45.cxd4Nc66.Nf3Bg47.Nc3Bxf38.gxf3Qxd49.Qxd4Nxd4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Endgame Variation29k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
67%19k64%
11%3.2k37%
10%2.9k55%
3.8%1.1k12%
2.9%83326%
2.2%63225%
0.8%24116%
0.8%23623%
0.7%18728%
0.2%5215%
Famous games in this line29 master games
Stevic, Hrvoje (2607) – Topalov, Veselin (2803)Vajda, Le (2558) – Panjwani, R. (2459)Topalovic, Zlatko (2514) – Koziak, Vitali (2460)Rohde, Michael A (2550) – Seltzer, Robert (2320)Blahynka, M. (2424) – Szotkowski, J. (2408)Rytshagov, Mikhail (2485) – Holmsten, Aleksei (2305)Khamrakulov, Ibragim S (2451) – Elgabry, Mohsen (2328)Chekhov, Sergey (2437) – Kostin, Alexey (2338)Heroes of this opening Panjwani, R. · Topalovic, Zlatko · Rohde, Michael A · Rytshagov, Mikhail
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B22
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Nc3 Bxf3 8. gxf3 Qxd4 9. Qxd4 Nxd4
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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.
Study this opening