B22 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Endgame Variation
18/18
1.e4c52.c3d53.exd5Qxd54.d4cxd45.cxd4Nc66.Nf3Bg47.Nc3Bxf38.gxf3Qxd49.Qxd4Nxd4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Endgame Variation29k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
67%19k64%
11%3.2k37%
10%2.9k55%
3.8%1.1k12%
2.9%83326%
2.2%63225%
0.8%24116%
0.8%23623%
0.7%18728%
0.2%5215%
Famous games in this line29 master games
Stevic, Hrvoje (2607) – Topalov, Veselin (2803)Vajda, Le (2558) – Panjwani, R. (2459)Topalovic, Zlatko (2514) – Koziak, Vitali (2460)Rohde, Michael A (2550) – Seltzer, Robert (2320)Blahynka, M. (2424) – Szotkowski, J. (2408)Rytshagov, Mikhail (2485) – Holmsten, Aleksei (2305)Khamrakulov, Ibragim S (2451) – Elgabry, Mohsen (2328)Chekhov, Sergey (2437) – Kostin, Alexey (2338)Heroes of this opening Panjwani, R. · Topalovic, Zlatko · Rohde, Michael A · Rytshagov, Mikhail
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B22
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Nc3 Bxf3 8. gxf3 Qxd4 9. Qxd4 Nxd4
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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