B43 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Knight Variation
9/9
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4a65.Nc3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Knight Variation4.0M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
53%2.2M56%
4.3%176k52%
2.4%98k49%
2.3%91k50%
1.8%72k46%
1.6%66k50%
0.7%28k46%
0.7%27k47%
Famous games in this line15k master games
Caruana, F. (2794) – Carlsen, M. (2830)Anand, V. (2779) – Caruana, F. (2823)Anand, V. (2779) – Caruana, F. (2823)Firouzja, Alireza (2767) – Carlsen, M. (2832)Grischuk, A. (2766) – Caruana, F. (2816)Aronian, L. (2764) – Caruana, F. (2816)Kasparov, Garry (2825) – Topalov, Veselin (2740)Jakovenko, Dmitrij (2737) – Morozevich, Alexander (2787)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M. · Anand, V. · Grischuk, A. · Aronian, L.
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B43
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Wing AttackB43 5…b5 · 2 deeper linesSicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Wing Attack, Spraggett AttackB43 5…b5 6.Bd3 Qb6 7.Nf3Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Wing Attack, Christiansen's DreamB43 5…b5 6.Bd3 Qb6 7.Be3 Bc5 8.Qg4
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