Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional
4/4
1.e4c52.Nc3Nc6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional12.6M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
25%3.1M49%
13%1.6M53%
11%1.4M50%
5.6%709k50%
1.4%173k49%
0.8%98k49%
0.3%35k39%
Famous games in this line26k master games
Carlsen, M. (2877) – Vachier Lagrave, M. (2768)Rapport, R. (2762) – Carlsen, M. (2864)Carlsen, M. (2847) – Giri, A. (2776)Nakamura, Hi (2786) – Carlsen, M. (2832)Caruana, F. (2808) – Vachier Lagrave, M. (2796)Aronian, L. (2767) – Caruana, F. (2822)So, W. (2752) – Carlsen, M. (2830)Caruana, F. (2799) – Grischuk, A. (2782)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M. · Caruana, F. · Aronian, L. · So, W.
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B23
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Sicilian Defense: Grand Prix Attack3.f4 · 1 deeper lineSicilian Defense: Closed, Grob Attack3.g4Sicilian Defense: Closed, Chameleon Variation3.Nge2Sicilian Defense: Closed, Fianchetto Variation3.g3 · 4 deeper lines
Nearby lines in the family
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