Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Halasz Gambit

5/5
1.e4c52.d4cxd43.f4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Halasz Gambit148k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
61%91k50%
9.2%14k56%
8.6%13k48%
8.3%12k49%
3.8%5.6k50%
3.8%5.6k51%
2%3.0k51%
1.1%1.7k46%
0.4%55753%
0.4%53750%
Famous games in this line4 master games
Belanoff, Stuart (2213)Pecha, Martin (2374)19990–1Belanoff, Stuart (2270)Broniek, Mariusz Maciej (2282)2007½–½Markus, John Raymond (2227)Halay, Taufik (2320)20050–1Bartsch, Andreas (2252)Kissinger, Scott (2205)19980–1
Heroes of this opening Pecha, Martin · Halay, Taufik · Kissinger, Scott
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B21
Line
1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. f4
Gambit
Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines
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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.

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