Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation

11/11
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3d66.Be2
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation176k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
57%101k49%
1%1.8k49%
0.5%88344%
0.3%51736%
0.3%47045%
0.2%31443%
0.1%22450%
0.1%18842%
Famous games in this line4.0k master games
McShane, Luke J (2706)Nakamura, Hikaru (2775)2012½–½Kamsky, Gata (2725)Movsesian, Sergei (2751)2009½–½Jakovenko, Dmitrij (2736)Ponomariov, Ruslan (2739)20090–1Alekseev, Evgeny (2716)Movsesian, Sergei (2747)2009½–½Svidler, Peter (2727)Movsesian, Sergei (2732)20080–1Alekseev, Evgeny (2700)Svidler, Peter (2735)2010½–½Petrosian, Tigran L (2698)Van Wely, Loek (2730)2009½–½Beliavsky, Alexander G (2640)Kasparov, Garry (2775)19890–1
Heroes of this opening Ponomariov, Ruslan · Movsesian, Sergei · Kasparov, Garry
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B83
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2
Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines
Keep exploring
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