Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation
4/4
1.e4c52.Nf3Nf6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation1.2M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
15%189k44%
6.8%85k48%
5.7%71k43%
2.1%27k45%
0.5%5.8k48%
0.2%3.1k43%
0.2%3.0k41%
0.2%1.9k48%
Famous games in this line3.6k master games
Caruana, F. (2816) – Mamedyarov, S. (2808)Carlsen, M. (2856) – Duda, J. (2760)So, W. (2792) – Mamedyarov, S. (2804)Karjakin, Sergey (2782) – Mamedyarov, S. (2808)Nakamura, Hi (2769) – Mamedyarov, S. (2808)Anand, V. (2759) – Mamedyarov, S. (2808)Anand, V. (2759) – Mamedyarov, S. (2808)Anand, V. (2759) – Mamedyarov, S. (2808)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M. · Mamedyarov, S.
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B29
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Closed Variation3.Nc3Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Advance Variation3.e5 · 2 deeper linesSicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Exchange Variation3.e5 Nd5 4.Nc3 Nxc3Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line3.e5 Nd5 4.Nc3 e6 5.Nxd5 exd5 …
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