B40 · 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 DeferredB40 4.c3Sicilian Defense: Kan VariationB41 4.Nxd4 a6 · 11 deeper linesSicilian Defense: Kveinis VariationB40 4.Nxd4 Qb6Sicilian Defense: Taimanov VariationB44 4.Nxd4 Nc6 · 13 deeper lines
Nearby lines in the family
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.
Study this opening