Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation
10/10
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nc65.Nc3Nf6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation3.2M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
25%810k46%
15%488k43%
9.7%316k55%
7.9%256k49%
5.5%178k43%
5.3%170k45%
4.5%145k50%
3.1%102k44%
1.4%45k49%
Famous games in this line12k master games
Caruana, F.. (2842) – Grischuk, A.. (2777)Carlsen, M.. (2847) – Mamedyarov, S.. (2770)Caruana, F.. (2842) – Giri, A.. (2763)Caruana, Fabiano (2835) – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2764)Firouzja, Alireza (2804) – Rapport, R. (2776)Topalov, Veselin (2791) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2786)Caruana, F. (2818) – Yu Yangyi (2752)Caruana, F. (2806) – Rapport, R. (2763)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M.. · Giri, A.. · Topalov, Veselin · Yu Yangyi
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B45
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation, Exchange Variation6.Nxc6Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation, Cobra Variation6.Ndb5 Bc5Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation, Sveshnikov Transfer6.Ndb5 d6Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation, American Attack6.Ndb5 Bb4 7.Nd6
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