Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Maróczy Bind, Bronstein Variation

14/14
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4a65.c4Nf66.Nc3Bb47.Bd3Nc6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Maróczy Bind, Bronstein Variation26k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
47%12k46%
18%4.5k52%
17%4.4k48%
9.5%2.4k53%
3.5%89648%
3%77146%
Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Maróczy Bind, Bronstein Variation1.1%27249%
0.4%11247%
0.4%9752%
0.1%1638%
Famous games in this line322 master games
Kramnik, Vladimir (2777) – Svidler, Peter (2747)20041–0Kramnik, Vladimir (2754) – Svidler, Peter (2735)20051–0Radjabov, Teimour (2729) – Svidler, Peter (2728)2007½–½Radjabov, Teimour (2682) – Svidler, Peter (2738)2005½–½Vallejo Pons, Francisco (2679) – Svidler, Peter (2728)20070–1Ehlvest, Jaan (2660) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2735)19960–1Corrales Jimenez, F. (2559) – Caruana, F. (2828)2019½–½Radjabov, Teimour (2748) – David, Alberto (2589)20101–0
Heroes of this opening Kramnik, Vladimir · Svidler, Peter · Ivanchuk, Vassily · Radjabov, Teimour
Family
Sicilian Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B41
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Bd3 Nc6
★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →
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Nearby lines in the family
Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit, Romanian Defense2.b4 cxb4 3.a3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 …Sicilian Defense: Sozin Attack, Flank Variation2…d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 …Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Gipslis Variation5.Bd3 Nf6 6.O-O d6 7.c4 g6
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.

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