Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian
4/4
1.e4c52.Nf3Nc6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian79.4M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
15%12.0M49%
11%8.5M52%
6.3%5.0M50%
1.7%1.3M50%
0.9%710k51%
0.9%702k51%
0.8%615k49%
Famous games in this line135k master games
Caruana, F. (2818) – Carlsen, M. (2882)Caruana, Fabiano (2835) – Carlsen, Magnus (2863)Caruana, Fabiano (2835) – Carlsen, Magnus (2863)Caruana, Fabiano (2835) – Carlsen, Magnus (2863)Caruana, Fabiano (2835) – Carlsen, Magnus (2863)Caruana, Fabiano (2835) – Carlsen, Magnus (2863)Caruana, F. (2819) – Carlsen, M. (2875)Caruana, F. (2819) – Carlsen, M. (2875)Heroes of this opening Caruana, Fabiano · Carlsen, Magnus
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B30
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Sicilian Defense: Open3.d4 · 42 deeper linesSicilian Defense: Portsmouth Gambit3.b4Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack3.Bb5 · 7 deeper linesSicilian Defense: Franco-Sicilian Variation3.d4 e6
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