B23 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Closed, Carlsen Variation
9/9
1.e4c52.Nc3d63.d4cxd44.Qxd4Nc65.Qd2
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Closed, Carlsen Variation83k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
60%50k44%
19%16k44%
7%5.8k41%
5.4%4.5k42%
4.1%3.5k45%
3.9%3.2k42%
0.2%15839%
0.2%15448%
0.1%7847%
0.1%6134%
Famous games in this line662 master games
Carlsen, M. (2864) – Vachier Lagrave, M. (2760)Caruana, F. (2819) – Vachier Lagrave, M. (2779)Caruana, F. (2819) – Vachier Lagrave, M. (2773)Carlsen, M. (2843) – Wojtaszek, R. (2744)Nakamura, Hi (2769) – Vachier Lagrave, M. (2789)Grischuk, A.. (2777) – Vachier Lagrave, M.. (2767)Nakamura, Hi (2761) – Vachier Lagrave, M. (2780)Nakamura, Hi (2769) – Grischuk, A. (2766)Heroes of this opening Nakamura, Hi · Caruana, F. · Carlsen, M. · Grischuk, A..
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B23
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Qd2
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From the archives
No defense has won more games at every level than the Sicilian. Bobby Fischer played almost nothing else against 1.e4, and Kasparov's Najdorf battles with Karpov and Anand are pillars of chess history. When you play 1...c5, you're refusing symmetry — the same refusal that carried two world champions.
Study this opening