B51 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Moscow Gambit
17/17
1.e4c52.Nf3d63.Bb5+Nc64.O-OBd75.c3Nf66.Re1a67.Bxc6Bxc68.d4Bxe49.Bg5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Moscow Gambit499 games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
Bc630%15045%
Bxf322%11128%
Bg614%7047%
Bd512%6157%
Bxb18.8%4431%
d57.4%3755%
cxd43.4%1718%
e61%520%
Bf50.4%250%
h60.2%10%
Famous games in this line377 master games
Dubov, Daniil (2702) – Vachier Lagrave, M.. (2784)Ivanchuk, Vassily (2699) – Topalov, Veselin (2743)Svidler, Peter (2688) – Topalov, Veselin (2745)Fedorchuk, Sergey A (2652) – Moiseenko, Alexander (2702)Narayanan, SL. (2662) – Xiong, Jeffery (2685)Li, Chao B (2656) – Bu, Xiangzhi (2662)Lagarde, Max (2615) – Warmerdam, Max (2676)Ghaem Maghami, Ehsan (2579) – Motylev, Alexander (2710)Heroes of this opening Topalov, Veselin · Vachier Lagrave, M.. · Li, Chao B
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From the archives
No defense has won more games at every level than the Sicilian. Bobby Fischer played almost nothing else against 1.e4, and Kasparov's Najdorf battles with Karpov and Anand are pillars of chess history. When you play 1...c5, you're refusing symmetry — the same refusal that carried two world champions.
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B51
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nc6 4. O-O Bd7 5. c3 Nf6 6. Re1 a6 7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. d4 Bxe4 9. Bg5
Gambit
★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →Study this opening elsewhere