Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Closed

4/4
1.e4c52.Nc3e6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Closed6.4M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
28%1.8M49%
28%1.8M51%
12%759k50%
5.8%367k49%
4.2%267k49%
3%194k54%
1.3%81k49%
0.9%56k49%
0.8%50k42%
Famous games in this line6.8k master games
Carlsen, M.. (2847)Nepomniachtchi, I.. (2792)2021½–½Aronian, L. (2767)Caruana, F. (2822)20181–0Aronian, L. (2767)Caruana, F. (2822)20181–0Aronian, L. (2764)Caruana, F. (2816)20181–0Morozevich, Alexander (2749)Anand, Viswanathan (2794)2001½–½Gashimov, Vugar (2761)Radjabov, Teimour (2773)20120–1Ivanchuk, Vassily (2781)Radjabov, Teimour (2744)20081–0Gashimov, Vugar (2761)Nakamura, Hikaru (2759)2012½–½
Heroes of this opening Aronian, L. · Radjabov, Teimour · Ivanchuk, Vassily
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B23
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6
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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