B45 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation, Cobra Variation

12/12
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nc65.Nc3Nf66.Ndb5Bc5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation, Cobra Variation23k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
71%16k49%
16%3.8k52%
5%1.2k45%
2.4%55350%
2.1%49642%
1.1%25441%
0.6%12852%
0.4%9938%
0.3%6843%
0.3%6443%
Famous games in this line868 master games
So, W. (2745)Caruana, F. (2784)2025½–½Harikrishna, Pentala (2719)Duda, Jan Krzysztof (2753)2020½–½Vitiugov, N.. (2720)Artemiev, V.. (2711)2020½–½Leko, P. (2660)Erigaisi, Arjun (2769)2025½–½Nepomniachtchi, I. (2792)Yoo, Christopher Woojin (2567)2022½–½Bologan, Viktor (2672)Safarli, Eltaj (2660)2013½–½Le Quang Liem (2713)Grachev, B. (2614)2019½–½Jakovenko, D. (2730)Pridorozhni, A. (2571)2017½–½
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 Bc5
Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines
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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.

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