Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation, American Attack

13/13
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nc65.Nc3Nf66.Ndb5Bb47.Nd6+
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation, American Attack64k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
71%46k59%
25%16k39%
3.3%2.1k53%
Famous games in this line29 master games
Forster, Richard (2460) – Franzoni, Giancarlo (2430)20010–1Durarbeyli, Vasif (2539) – Lavendelis, Egons (2347)20111–0Sanal, V. (2557) – Villegas, Franco (2328)20170–1Mnatsakanian, Eduard A (2410) – Litvinov, Viktor (2470)19721–0Babujian, Levon (2413) – Chibukhchian, Artur (2419)2007½–½Khamrakulov, D. (2414) – Askarov, Ba (2409)2016½–½Novak, Pavel (2345) – Priehoda, Vitezslav (2404)20051–0Gutierrez Castillo, Jose Antonio (2370) – Hernandez, Jose de Jesus (2365)1979½–½
Heroes of this opening Franzoni, Giancarlo · Durarbeyli, Vasif · Villegas, Franco · Mnatsakanian, Eduard A
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 6. Ndb5 Bb4 7. Nd6+
Aggressive
★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →
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Nearby lines in the family
Sicilian Defense: Sozin Attack, Main Line2…Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 …Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit, Nanu Gambit2.b4 cxb4 3.a3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 …Sicilian Defense: Closed, Smyslov Variation2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 …
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.

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