B40 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Westerinen Attack

5/5
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.b3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Westerinen Attack405k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
35%141k49%
24%96k50%
18%74k49%
8.7%35k50%
4.9%20k50%
3.2%13k52%
1.9%7.9k50%
1.1%4.3k46%
0.9%3.8k48%
0.7%3.0k47%
Famous games in this line4.3k master games
Carlsen, Magnus (2835)Caruana, Fabiano (2770)20121–0Kasparov, G. (2812)So, W. (2773)20160–1Carlsen, M. (2847)Duda, J. (2738)20211–0Niemann, Hans Moke (2733)Carlsen, M. (2832)20241–0Carlsen, Magnus (2801)Svidler, Peter (2754)20091–0Carlsen, M. (2855)Artemiev, V. (2699)20210–1Vachier Lagrave, M. (2795)Grischuk, A. (2750)20170–1Giri, A. (2773)Mamedyarov, S. (2771)2022½–½
Heroes of this opening Carlsen, Magnus · So, W. · Niemann, Hans Moke · Artemiev, V.
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B40
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. b3
FianchettoAggressive
Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines
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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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