Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Boleslavsky Variation

12/12
1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3Nc66.Be2e5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Boleslavsky Variation118k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
Sicilian Defense: Boleslavsky Variation55%64k49%
15%18k49%
15%18k49%
Sicilian Defense: Boleslavsky Variation, Louma Variation12%14k47%
3.1%3.6k48%
0.2%21825%
0.2%19322%
0%1619%
0%157%
0%138%
Famous games in this line2.5k master games
Carlsen, M. (2853) – Duda, J. (2732)20231–0Radjabov, T. (2758) – Ding Liren (2811)20191–0Vitiugov, N. (2747) – Duda, J. (2758)2020½–½Gelfand, Boris (2680) – Karpov, Anatoly (2780)1994½–½Short, Nigel D (2665) – Kramnik, Vladimir (2775)1996½–½Aronian, L. (2745) – Wojtaszek, R. (2670)20231–0Short, Nigel D (2696) – Nakamura, Hikaru (2708)20100–1Akopian, Vladimir (2655) – Shirov, Alexei (2710)1995½–½
Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M. · Radjabov, T. · Aronian, L. · Nakamura, Hikaru
Family
Sicilian Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B58
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be2 e5
★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →
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Nearby lines in the family
Sicilian Defense: Pin Variation, Jaffe Variation2…e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 …Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line2…Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nc3 e6 5.Nxd5 …Sicilian Defense: Sozin Attack, Leonhardt Variation2…Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 …
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.

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