Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Big Clamp Formation

7/7
1.e4c52.d3Nc63.c3d64.f4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Big Clamp Formation59k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
33%19k47%
30%18k49%
15%8.8k46%
12%6.9k46%
2.9%1.7k44%
2%1.2k47%
0.9%55851%
0.8%45349%
0.7%39836%
0.6%33144%
Famous games in this line2 master games
Stepovaia, Tatiana (2385) – Kovalevskaya, Ekaterina (2335)1996½–½Rasmussen, Allan Stig (2485) – Hamelink, Desiree (2202)20071–0
Family
Sicilian Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B20
Line
1. e4 c5 2. d3 Nc6 3. c3 d6 4. f4
★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →
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Nearby lines in the family
Sicilian Defense: Chekhover Variation2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4Sicilian Defense: Closed, Portland Attack2.Nc3 Nc6 3.d3 g6 4.g4Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Deferred2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.c3
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
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