Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense

3/3
1.e4c52.Nf3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense186.1M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
Old Sicilian43%79.4M49%
Modern Variations32%59.9M50%
French Variation17%30.9M51%
O'Kelly Variation2.2%4.1M51%
Nimzowitsch Variation0.7%1.2M51%
0.4%667k46%
Katalimov Variation0.3%602k46%
Quinteros Variation0.1%149k49%
Jalalabad Variation0.1%142k42%
Famous games in this line501k master games
Caruana, F. (2818)Carlsen, M. (2882)20191–0Caruana, Fabiano (2835)Carlsen, Magnus (2863)20201–0Caruana, Fabiano (2835)Carlsen, Magnus (2863)20201–0Caruana, Fabiano (2835)Carlsen, Magnus (2863)20201–0Caruana, Fabiano (2835)Carlsen, Magnus (2863)20200–1Caruana, Fabiano (2835)Carlsen, Magnus (2863)20201–0Carlsen, Magnus (2863)Caruana, Fabiano (2835)2020½–½Caruana, F. (2819)Carlsen, M. (2875)2019½–½
Heroes of this opening Caruana, Fabiano · Carlsen, Magnus
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B27
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3
Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines
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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.

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