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B40 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Pin Variation, Koch Variation

11/11
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3Bb46.e5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Pin Variation, Koch Variation105k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
Nd567%70k46%
Ne418%19k49%
Bxc3+8.2%8.5k43%
Qa54.7%4.9k53%
Qc71.7%1.8k52%
Ng80.1%14533%
d50%4221%
Nc60%4120%
a60%2124%
O-O0%1323%
Famous games in this line429 master games
Leko, P. (2730)Aronian, L. (2803)20130–1Bologan, V. (2600)Erigaisi, Arjun (2801)20240–1Short, N. (2594)Erigaisi, Arjun (2778)20240–1Svane, Frederik (2617)Erigaisi, Arjun (2748)2024½–½Hovhannisyan, R. (2611)Erigaisi, Arjun (2727)20230–1Almasi, Zoltan (2668)Fedorov, Alexei (2646)20001–0Ragger, M. (2687)Jobava, Ba (2627)20180–1Swiercz, Dariusz (2649)Jobava, Baadur (2603)20201–0
Heroes of this opening Erigaisi, Arjun · Aronian, L. · Almasi, Zoltan · Jobava, Ba
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No defense has won more games at every level than the Sicilian. Bobby Fischer played almost nothing else against 1.e4, and Kasparov's Najdorf battles with Karpov and Anand are pillars of chess history. When you play 1...c5, you're refusing symmetry — the same refusal that carried two world champions.

Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B40
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. e5
Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines
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