Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation, Sveshnikov Transfer

12/12
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nc65.Nc3Nf66.Ndb5d6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation, Sveshnikov Transfer124k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
58%71k63%
25%31k46%
3.8%4.7k42%
3.6%4.4k42%
2.4%3.0k42%
2%2.5k46%
1.4%1.7k43%
1.1%1.3k44%
0.8%98744%
0.7%89440%
Famous games in this line3.5k master games
Giri, A. (2768) – Nepomniachtchi, I. (2795)2023½–½Kasparov, Garry (2805) – Shirov, Alexei (2740)19941–0Giri, A. (2773) – Mamedyarov, S. (2771)2022½–½So, W. (2767) – Vachier Lagrave, M. (2774)20191–0So, W. (2778) – Mamedyarov, S. (2762)2021½–½Dominguez Perez, L. (2753) – Caruana, F. (2786)2022½–½Nepomniachtchi, I. (2776) – Yu Yangyi (2763)2019½–½Anand, Viswanathan (2790) – Leko, Peter (2745)2001½–½
Heroes of this opening Kasparov, Garry · So, W.
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 d6
Sharp
★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →
Keep exploring
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.

Study this opening
Open in the opening tree →Videos on YouTube ↗Wikipedia: Sicilian Defense ↗