Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System
5/5
1.e4c52.Nf3a63.d4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System2.1M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
91%2.0M52%
0.5%11k40%
0.5%9.9k45%
0.4%9.0k41%
0.4%8.4k41%
0.2%3.5k39%
0.1%3.2k35%
0.1%2.2k43%
0.1%2.0k43%
Famous games in this line418 master games
Shabalov, Alexander (2606) – Baklan, Vladimir (2655)Pridorozhni, A. (2556) – Artemiev, V. (2671)Azarov, S. (2577) – Hou Yifan (2649)Morrison, William (2390) – Kasparov, Garry (2795)Firouzja, Alireza (2456) – Vitiugov, N. (2726)Onischuk, Vladimir (2563) – Romanov, Evgeny (2616)Polgar, Judit (2595) – Polgar, Zsuzsa (2560)Agopov, M. (2452) – Rapport, R. (2693)Heroes of this opening Shabalov, Alexander · Artemiev, V. · Hou Yifan · Kasparov, Garry
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B28
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. d4
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Zagorovsky Line3…cxd4 4.Qxd4Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Cortlever Gambit3…cxd4 4.Bc4Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Smith-Morra Line3…cxd4 4.c3Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Taimanov Line3…cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5
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