Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Prins Variation

9/9
1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.f3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Prins Variation651k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
45%291k45%
22%143k47%
16%105k49%
9.5%62k47%
5.6%37k45%
0.5%3.6k51%
0.4%2.4k45%
0.4%2.4k42%
0.3%1.9k44%
0.2%1.4k48%
Famous games in this line3.3k master games
Caruana, F. (2807) – Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2819)2016½–½Carlsen, M. (2853) – Karjakin, Sergey (2772)20161–0Caruana, F. (2823) – Topalov, V. (2760)20161–0Carlsen, M. (2840) – Grischuk, A. (2737)2016½–½Nakamura, Hi (2810) – Firouzja, Alireza (2762)2025½–½Karjakin, Sergey (2752) – Ding Liren (2791)2020½–½Topalov, V. (2760) – Nakamura, Hi (2779)20160–1Grischuk, A. (2780) – Vachier Lagrave, M. (2754)2015½–½
Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M. · Caruana, F. · Nakamura, Hi
Family
Sicilian Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B54
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. f3
★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Sicilian Defense: Prins Variation, Venice Attack5…e5 6.Bb5
Nearby lines in the family
Sicilian Defense: Heidenfeld Variation2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nf3 Nc6 …Sicilian Defense: Coles Sicilian Gambit2.d4 cxd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qd1 Nf6 …Sicilian Defense: Closed, Carlsen Variation2.Nc3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 …
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
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