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
Keep exploring
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