Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Maróczy Bind, Paulsen Line

6/6
1.e4c52.Nf3a63.c4e6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Maróczy Bind, Paulsen Line233k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
54%126k52%
22%51k53%
8%19k47%
6.6%16k46%
3.3%7.8k49%
1.8%4.2k47%
1.3%3.1k48%
0.9%2.0k49%
0.7%1.6k43%
0.6%1.5k45%
Famous games in this line844 master games
Anand, Viswanathan (2781)Morozevich, Alexander (2758)20041–0So, W. (2767)Artemiev, V. (2746)20191–0Radjabov, T. (2742)Artemiev, V. (2692)2017½–½Polgar, Judit (2700)Ivanchuk, Vassily (2699)2003½–½Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2719)Polgar, Judit (2680)20091–0Smirin, Ilia (2673)Kamsky, Gata (2690)20050–1Negi, P. (2664)Hou Yifan (2683)20150–1Yu Yangyi (2738)Karthikeyan, M2. (2578)2017½–½
Heroes of this opening Anand, Viswanathan · So, W. · Dominguez Perez, Leinier · Kamsky, Gata
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B28
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. c4 e6
Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines
Keep exploring
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