Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Pin Variation
10/10
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3Bb4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Pin Variation837k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
40%338k51%
14%117k45%
12%97k37%
8%67k43%
3.4%29k52%
3.3%28k49%
1.6%13k39%
1.3%11k45%
1.1%9.4k49%
Famous games in this line521 master games
Leko, P. (2730) – Aronian, L. (2803)Gukesh, D. (2720) – Erigaisi, Arjun (2727)Bologan, V. (2600) – Erigaisi, Arjun (2801)Short, N. (2594) – Erigaisi, Arjun (2778)Svane, Frederik (2617) – Erigaisi, Arjun (2748)Hovhannisyan, R. (2611) – Erigaisi, Arjun (2727)Almasi, Zoltan (2668) – Fedorov, Alexei (2646)Ragger, M. (2687) – Jobava, Ba (2627)Heroes of this opening Erigaisi, Arjun · Aronian, L. · Almasi, Zoltan · Jobava, Ba
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B40
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Sicilian Defense: Pin Variation, Koch Variation6.e5Sicilian Defense: Pin Variation, Jaffe Variation6.Bd3 e5
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