B41 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Maróczy Bind, Réti Variation

9/9
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4a65.c4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Maróczy Bind, Réti Variation1.0M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
40%418k50%
23%243k51%
13%138k46%
7.8%81k49%
5%51k48%
3%31k45%
1.7%17k46%
0.9%9.6k41%
0.9%9.5k44%
Famous games in this line4.4k master games
Carlsen, M. (2863)Anand, V. (2792)20141–0Kasparov, Garry (2838)Kramnik, Vladimir (2802)2001½–½Firouzja, Alireza (2767)Carlsen, M. (2831)20240–1Karjakin, Sergey (2782)Caruana, F. (2816)2018½–½Giri, A. (2768)Caruana, F. (2829)20140–1Nepomniachtchi, I. (2755)Carlsen, M. (2832)2024½–½Carlsen, Magnus (2863)Xiong, Jeffery (2709)20200–1Firouzja, Alireza (2767)Nakamura, Hi (2802)20241–0
Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M. · Caruana, F. · Xiong, Jeffery · Firouzja, Alireza
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B41
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4
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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