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B29 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line

♜♝♚♛♝♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♞♟♟♟♟♞♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♝♚♛♝♜
12/12
1.e4c52.Nf3Nf63.e5Nd54.Nc3e65.Nxd5exd56.d4Nc6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line14k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
dxc536%5.1k56%
c333%4.6k53%
Bb512%1.8k40%
Bg55.5%78352%
Be35.3%74149%
Be22.6%37058%
c42%28256%
Bf41.6%23052%
Bd30.9%12757%
Ng50.2%3547%
Famous games in this line467 master games
So, W. (2792) – Mamedyarov, S. (2804)2018½–½Karjakin, Sergey (2782) – Mamedyarov, S. (2808)2018½–½Anand, V. (2759) – Mamedyarov, S. (2808)2018½–½Karjakin, Sergey (2757) – Mamedyarov, S.. (2770)20210–1Yu Yangyi (2752) – Mamedyarov, S. (2764)2019½–½Giri, A. (2782) – Kovalev, Vl (2655)20180–1Matlakov, M.. (2688) – Dreev, A.. (2647)2021½–½Shirov, A. (2709) – Markos, J. (2602)20141–0
Heroes of this opening Mamedyarov, S.. · Kovalev, Vl · Shirov, A.
Keep exploring
Nearby lines in the family
Sicilian Defense: Boleslavsky VariationB58 2…d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 …Sicilian Defense: Pin Variation, Jaffe VariationB40 2…e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 …Sicilian Defense: Sozin Attack, Leonhardt VariationB88 2…Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 …
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
B29
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nc3 e6 5. Nxd5 exd5 6. d4 Nc6
★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →
Study this opening elsewhere
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