Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Maróczy Bind

5/5
1.e4c52.Nf3a63.c4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Maróczy Bind175k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
45%79k46%
5.1%9.0k44%
4.4%7.6k45%
1.1%1.9k43%
1%1.8k48%
1%1.7k40%
0.7%1.2k43%
0.5%80142%
Famous games in this line1.4k master games
Yu Yangyi (2714)Carlsen, M. (2830)2023½–½Anand, Viswanathan (2781)Morozevich, Alexander (2758)20041–0Caruana, F. (2783)Radjabov, T. (2753)20221–0So, W. (2767)Artemiev, V. (2746)20190–1So, W. (2767)Artemiev, V. (2746)20191–0So, W. (2767)Artemiev, V. (2746)2019½–½Le Quang Liem (2713)Artemiev, V. (2731)20191–0Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2758)Li, Chao B (2683)20201–0
Heroes of this opening Anand, Viswanathan · Caruana, F. · Artemiev, V. · So, W.
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B28
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. c4
Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines
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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.

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