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
36%5.1k56%
33%4.6k53%
12%1.8k40%
5.5%78352%
5.3%74149%
2.6%37058%
2%28256%
1.6%23052%
0.9%12757%
0.2%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.
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 →
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Nearby lines in the family
Sicilian Defense: Boleslavsky Variation2…d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 …Sicilian Defense: Pin Variation, Jaffe Variation2…e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 …Sicilian Defense: Sozin Attack, Leonhardt Variation2…Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 …
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
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