B24 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Closed, Fianchetto Variation

5/5
1.e4c52.Nc3Nc63.g3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Closed, Fianchetto Variation1.9M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
21%398k45%
18%338k44%
10%194k44%
7.8%149k44%
2.5%48k43%
0.8%15k42%
0.5%9.6k51%
0.2%4.4k45%
0.2%3.1k40%
Famous games in this line7.8k master games
Rapport, R. (2762)Carlsen, M. (2864)20220–1Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2784)Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2778)2020½–½Mamedyarov, S. (2765)Wang Yue (2720)20141–0Short, N. (2683)Nakamura, Hi (2786)20130–1Adams, Michael (2708)Kramnik, Vladimir (2760)1999½–½Adams, Michael (2670)Anand, Viswanathan (2770)19981–0Nihal, Sarin (2692)Giri, A. (2748)2025½–½Adams, Michael (2716)Ivanchuk, Vassily (2714)1999½–½
Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M. · Mamedyarov, S. · Nakamura, Hi · Adams, Michael
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B24
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3
Fianchetto
Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines
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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.

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