Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Kramnik Variation

5/5
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.c4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Kramnik Variation1.2M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
53%645k50%
10%125k46%
5.8%71k49%
4.7%57k48%
2.8%34k49%
2.3%28k51%
1.9%23k47%
1.6%19k49%
0.7%8.6k47%
Famous games in this line2.5k master games
Carlsen, M. (2835)Caruana, F. (2832)20181–0Carlsen, M. (2855)Caruana, F. (2804)2016½–½Vidit, S. (2739)Erigaisi, Arjun (2799)20240–1Kramnik, Vladimir (2710)Kasparov, Garry (2805)19941–0Tomashevsky, E. (2728)Wang Yue (2718)20161–0Inarkiev, Ernesto (2669)Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2763)20100–1Leko, Peter (2743)Khalifman, Alexander (2667)2000½–½Tomashevsky, E. (2701)Moiseenko, A1. (2707)2014½–½
Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M. · Erigaisi, Arjun · Kramnik, Vladimir · Tomashevsky, E.
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B40
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4
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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