Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Mengarini Variation
3/3
1.e4c52.a3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Mengarini Variation2.3M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
42%958k46%
20%460k51%
18%405k50%
8.1%187k53%
4.5%104k52%
2.3%54k51%
2.2%51k50%
2%46k53%
0.8%17k50%
0.7%15k51%
Famous games in this line606 master games
Mamedyarov, S. (2762) – Carlsen, M. (2855)Mamedyarov, S. (2764) – Caruana, F. (2818)Carlsen, M. (2837) – Inarkiev, E. (2689)Carlsen, M. (2832) – Guseinov, G. (2645)Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2784) – Gelfand, Boris (2676)Nepomniachtchi, I. (2751) – Dubov, Daniil (2701)Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2660) – Kotronias, Vasilios (2599)Chernyshov, Konstantin (2556) – Zvjaginsev, Vadim (2658)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M. · Mamedyarov, S. · Caruana, F. · Gelfand, Boris
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B20
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. a3
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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.
Study this opening