B45 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation, Exchange Variation

11/11
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nc65.Nc3Nf66.Nxc6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation, Exchange Variation530k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
98%520k52%
1.7%8.9k49%
0.1%4387%
0.1%43710%
0%12616%
0%6713%
0%375%
0%346%
0%268%
0%1825%
Famous games in this line3.0k master games
Firouzja, Alireza (2804)Rapport, R. (2776)2022½–½Caruana, F. (2786)Rapport, R. (2776)2022½–½Aronian, L.. (2781)Mamedyarov, S.. (2770)20210–1Vachier Lagrave, M.. (2784)Dominguez Perez, L.. (2758)20211–0So, W. (2778)Mamedyarov, S. (2762)2021½–½Gashimov, Vugar (2761)Radjabov, Teimour (2773)20120–1Vachier Lagrave, M. (2738)Caruana, F. (2789)2025½–½Kasparov, Garry (2849)Grischuk, Alexander (2663)20011–0
Heroes of this opening Mamedyarov, S.. · Vachier Lagrave, M.. · Radjabov, Teimour · Kasparov, Garry
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. Nxc6
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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