Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Mongoose Variation

4/4
1.e4c52.Nf3Qa5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Mongoose Variation28k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
52%15k59%
20%5.7k57%
15%4.2k57%
6.5%1.8k60%
1.1%30257%
1.1%29553%
1%28453%
0.7%19464%
0.5%14045%
0.4%10755%
Famous games in this line48 master games
Kasimdzhanov, Rustam (2545)Wohl, Aleksandar H (2435)19971–0Martinez Fernandez, Adrian (2354)Grigoryan, K2. (2621)20190–1Aleksic, Nenad (2440)Bellon Lopez, Juan Manuel (2465)19971–0Short, Nigel D (2664)Nogueira, Ivan Kuhlmann (2237)20011–0Lugo, Blas (2440)Stefanova, Antoaneta (2450)19971–0Vazquez Igarza, Renier (2405)Bellon Lopez, Juan Manuel (2455)1998½–½Perez Garcia, Rodney Oscar (2385)Bellon Lopez, Juan Manuel (2465)1997½–½Neelotpal, Das (2370)Stefanova, Antoaneta (2480)1998½–½
Heroes of this opening Kasimdzhanov, Rustam · Grigoryan, K2. · Aleksic, Nenad · Short, Nigel D
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B27
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Qa5
Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines
Keep exploring
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