Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Exchange Variation

8/8
1.e4c52.Nf3Nf63.e5Nd54.Nc3Nxc3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Exchange Variation16k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
70%11k64%
30%4.8k52%
0.1%119%
0%20%
0%20%
0%1100%
Famous games in this line608 master games
Carlsen, M. (2856) – Duda, J. (2760)20211–0Karjakin, Sergey (2773) – Duda, J. (2737)20181–0Karjakin, Sergey (2773) – Duda, J. (2737)20181–0Carlsen, M. (2851) – Grandelius, N. (2649)20161–0Nepomniachtchi, I. (2751) – Svidler, P. (2747)20170–1Rapport, R. (2752) – Duda, J. (2732)2023½–½Nakamura, Hi (2754) – Duda, J. (2729)2019½–½Nakamura, Hi (2754) – Duda, J. (2729)2019½–½
Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M. · Karjakin, Sergey · Svidler, P.
Family
Sicilian Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B29
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nc3 Nxc3
★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →
Keep exploring
Nearby lines in the family
Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation2…e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6Sicilian Defense: Flohr Variation2…Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qc7Sicilian Defense: Gloria Variation2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.g3 h5
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
Open in the opening tree →Videos on YouTube ↗Wikipedia: Sicilian Defense ↗