Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Portsmouth Gambit

5/5
1.e4c52.Nf3Nc63.b4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Portsmouth Gambit595k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
50%298k44%
30%178k46%
6.3%38k47%
5.5%32k45%
2.7%16k50%
2.6%16k47%
0.8%4.5k43%
0.5%3.3k50%
0.5%3.0k47%
0.4%2.5k40%
Famous games in this line110 master games
Christiansen, Johan-Sebastian (2495)Kuzubov, Y. (2699)20171–0Gareev, T. (2591)Sivuk, V. (2559)20191–0Moussard, J. (2444)Matlakov, M. (2694)20150–1Yoo, Christopher Woojin (2535)Moiseenko, A1. (2582)2022½–½Yoo, Christopher Woojin (2485)Praggnanandhaa, R. (2618)20210–1Christiansen, Johan-Sebastian (2661)Mamedov, Edgar (2441)20241–0Bellahcene, B.. (2497)Gabuzyan, H.. (2587)20210–1Christiansen, Johan-Sebastian (2492)Agdestein, S. (2586)2018½–½
Heroes of this opening Christiansen, Johan-Sebastian · Gareev, T. · Matlakov, M. · Praggnanandhaa, R.
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B30
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. b4
Gambit
Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines
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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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