B22 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense
6/6
1.e4c52.c3d53.exd5Qxd5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense2.2M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
66%1.5M54%
28%619k50%
1.8%40k46%
1.3%28k43%
1.2%27k51%
0.6%14k46%
0.5%10k46%
0.4%8.2k43%
0.2%3.8k39%
0.1%2.8k50%
Famous games in this line12k master games
Carlsen, M.. (2862) – Giri, A.. (2764)Carlsen, M. (2861) – Erigaisi, Arjun (2725)Carlsen, M. (2835) – Gukesh, D. (2744)Carlsen, M. (2831) – Vachier Lagrave, M. (2731)Mamedyarov, S.. (2770) – Nepomniachtchi, I.. (2789)Radjabov, Teimour (2761) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2779)Andreikin, D. (2727) – Ding Liren (2812)Nepomniachtchi, I. (2795) – Vachier Lagrave, M. (2741)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M. · Nepomniachtchi, I.. · Vachier Lagrave, M.
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B22
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Modern LineB22 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Central ExchangeB22 4.d4 cxd4 5.cxd4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4 · 1 deeper lineSicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Milner-Barry AttackB22 4.d4 Nc6 5.Nf3 cxd4 6.cxd4 e5 …Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Endgame VariationB22 4.d4 cxd4 5.cxd4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4 …
Nearby lines in the family
From the archives
No defense has won more games at every level than the Sicilian. Bobby Fischer played almost nothing else against 1.e4, and Kasparov's Najdorf battles with Karpov and Anand are pillars of chess history. When you play 1...c5, you're refusing symmetry — the same refusal that carried two world champions.
Study this opening