Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations
4/4
1.e4c52.Nf3d6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations60.3M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
15%9.0M48%
6%3.6M49%
1.5%898k49%
1.1%675k50%
1%631k51%
0.9%540k50%
0.8%505k49%
Famous games in this line231k master games
Carlsen, Magnus (2863) – Caruana, Fabiano (2835)Carlsen, M. (2853) – Topalov, V. (2816)Carlsen, M. (2876) – Grischuk, A. (2781)Carlsen, Magnus (2863) – Ding, Liren (2791)Ding, Liren (2791) – Carlsen, Magnus (2863)Carlsen, M. (2875) – Vachier Lagrave, M. (2779)Carlsen, Magnus (2863) – Ding, Liren (2791)Ding, Liren (2791) – Carlsen, Magnus (2863)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, Magnus · Topalov, V. · Vachier Lagrave, M. · Ding, Liren
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B50
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Sicilian Defense: Kopec System3.Bd3Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation3.Bb5 · 5 deeper linesSicilian Defense: Wing Gambit, Deferred Variation3.b4Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, with d63.c3 · 2 deeper lines
Nearby lines in the family
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