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
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 Bc5
★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →
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Nearby lines in the family
Sicilian Defense: Boleslavsky Variation2…d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 …Sicilian Defense: Pin Variation, Jaffe Variation4…Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Bd3 e5Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line2…Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nc3 e6 5.Nxd5 …
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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