Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Modern Line
10/10
1.e4c52.c3d53.exd5Qxd54.d4Nf65.Nf3Bg4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Modern Line217k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
82%178k52%
6.1%13k56%
3.9%8.4k58%
2.4%5.2k49%
1.6%3.5k44%
1.3%2.8k38%
1.2%2.7k67%
1%2.2k49%
0.4%86142%
0.1%16637%
Famous games in this line2.4k master games
Kramnik, Vladimir (2725) – Kasparov, Garry (2810)Zhigalko, S. (2656) – Topalov, V. (2816)Ljubojevic, Ljubomir (2580) – Kasparov, Garry (2805)Lautier, Joel (2645) – Topalov, Veselin (2740)Shimanov, A. (2581) – Nepomniachtchi, I. (2793)Zarnicki, Pablo (2550) – Kasparov, Garry (2820)Zhigalko, Sergei (2679) – Sasikiran, Krishnan (2676)Shirov, Alexei (2690) – Polgar, Judit (2645)Heroes of this opening Topalov, Veselin · Nepomniachtchi, I.
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B22
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg4
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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