B45 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation
10/10
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nc65.Nc3Nf6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation3.2M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
25%810k46%
15%488k43%
9.7%316k55%
7.9%256k49%
5.5%178k43%
5.3%170k45%
4.5%145k50%
3.1%102k44%
1.4%45k49%
Famous games in this line12k master games
Caruana, F.. (2842) – Grischuk, A.. (2777)Carlsen, M.. (2847) – Mamedyarov, S.. (2770)Caruana, F.. (2842) – Giri, A.. (2763)Caruana, Fabiano (2835) – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2764)Firouzja, Alireza (2804) – Rapport, R. (2776)Topalov, Veselin (2791) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2786)Caruana, F. (2818) – Yu Yangyi (2752)Caruana, F. (2806) – Rapport, R. (2763)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M.. · Giri, A.. · Topalov, Veselin · Yu Yangyi
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B45
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation, Exchange VariationB45 6.Nxc6Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation, Cobra VariationB45 6.Ndb5 Bc5Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation, Sveshnikov TransferB45 6.Ndb5 d6Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation, American AttackB45 6.Ndb5 Bb4 7.Nd6
Nearby lines in the family
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