Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Main Line
6/6
1.e4c52.Nf3d63.Bb5+Bd7
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Main Line2.3M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
78%1.8M52%
6.5%152k52%
5.9%138k50%
4.3%100k49%
2.4%57k46%
1.8%41k54%
0.8%19k47%
0.2%5.4k50%
0.1%2.2k20%
0%94429%
Famous games in this line13k master games
Carlsen, M. (2870) – Giri, A. (2776)Carlsen, M. (2853) – Nakamura, Hi (2787)So, W.. (2770) – Carlsen, M.. (2862)Carlsen, M. (2855) – Giri, A. (2777)Carlsen, Magnus (2843) – Anand, Viswanathan (2780)Caruana, F. (2807) – Kasparov, G. (2812)Carlsen, M. (2832) – Nakamura, Hi (2786)Carlsen, M. (2832) – Nakamura, Hi (2786)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, Magnus · So, W.. · Caruana, F.
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B52
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Sokolsky Variation4.Bxd7 Qxd7 5.c4Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Haag Gambit4.Bxd7 Qxd7 5.O-O Nc6 6.c3 Nf6 …
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