Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Heidenfeld Variation

9/9
1.e4c52.c3Nf63.e5Nd54.Nf3Nc65.Na3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Heidenfeld Variation1.6k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
47%75845%
19%30348%
17%27047%
14%22960%
2.2%3547%
0.4%667%
0.2%367%
0.1%20%
0.1%225%
0.1%250%
Famous games in this line85 master games
Baklan, Vladimir (2647) – Tregubov, Pavel V (2629)20081–0Smagin, S. (2551) – Rakhmanov, Ale (2634)20181–0Baklan, Vladimir (2552) – Hracek, Zbynek (2615)1999½–½Smagin, Sergey (2605) – Nataf, Igor Alexandre (2526)20010–1Vorotnikov, Vladislav V (2510) – Sakaev, Konstantin (2600)1996½–½Smagin, S. (2551) – Timofeev, Arty (2549)20170–1Baklan, Vladimir (2552) – Degraeve, Jean Marc (2536)1999½–½Janev, Evgeni (2484) – Solak, Dragan (2602)20121–0
Heroes of this opening Baklan, Vladimir · Smagin, S. · Nataf, Igor Alexandre · Timofeev, Arty
Family
Sicilian Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B22
Line
1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Na3
★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →
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Nearby lines in the family
Sicilian Defense: Prins Variation2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 …Sicilian Defense: Coles Sicilian Gambit2.d4 cxd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qd1 Nf6 …Sicilian Defense: Closed, Carlsen Variation2.Nc3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 …
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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