Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Cortlever Gambit
7/7
1.e4c52.Nf3a63.d4cxd44.Bc4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Cortlever Gambit32k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
50%16k52%
16%5.0k48%
9.9%3.2k45%
7.1%2.3k51%
6.9%2.2k51%
4.9%1.6k45%
2.9%93552%
1.2%37144%
0.7%23645%
0.3%8549%
Famous games in this line4 master games
Seres, Lajos (2396) – Rajlich, Iweta (2453)Roeschlau, Bernd (2289) – Telljohann, Sven (2406)Cunha, Eduardo Arruda (2310) – Fernandes, Jose Costa Jr (2325)Kopasz, Robert (2255) – Istvanovszky, Kalman (2280)Heroes of this opening Rajlich, Iweta · Cunha, Eduardo Arruda · Kopasz, Robert
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B28
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Bc4
Gambit
★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →Keep exploring
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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