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
67%70k46%
18%19k49%
8.2%8.5k43%
4.7%4.9k53%
1.7%1.8k52%
0.1%14533%
0%4221%
0%4120%
0%2124%
0%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
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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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.

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