Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Open
6/6
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Open17.4M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
91%15.8M48%
3.5%612k45%
0.6%110k49%
0.1%17k49%
0.1%10k63%
0.1%8.9k43%
0%5.7k41%
0%4.5k42%
0%4.5k46%
Famous games in this line83k master games
Carlsen, M. (2863) – Anand, V. (2792)Carlsen, M. (2872) – Caruana, F. (2782)Kasparov, Garry (2838) – Kramnik, Vladimir (2802)Nepomniachtchi, I. (2773) – Carlsen, M. (2865)Giri, A. (2782) – Carlsen, M. (2855)Nepomniachtchi, I.. (2789) – Carlsen, M.. (2847)Erigaisi, Arjun (2799) – Carlsen, M. (2831)Nakamura, Hi (2795) – Carlsen, M. (2830)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M.. · Caruana, F. · Giri, A.
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B40
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Deferred4.c3Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation4.Nxd4 a6 · 11 deeper linesSicilian Defense: Kveinis Variation4.Nxd4 Qb6Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation4.Nxd4 Nc6 · 13 deeper lines
Nearby lines in the family
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