Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Exchange Variation

13/13

1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3Nc66.Bg5e67.Nxc6

Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid

Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Exchange Variation16k games · Black to move

MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore

16k55%

343%

180%

425%

20%

10%

Famous games in this line10 master games

Potapov, P. (2479) – Ponkratov, P. (2613)20170–1 Stromboli, Carlo (2285) – Mamedov, Nidjat (2604)20100–1 Halwick Jr, Floyd J (2316) – Szrama, Arthur A (2370)20000–1 Sobolevsky, Leonid (2360) – Armbrust, Florian (2280)20061–0 Ascic, P. (2308) – Biliskov, V. (2311)2016½–½ Alvarez Ruiz, Henry (2136) – Olsen, Filip Boe (2471)20250–1 Ivanova, Svetlana (2207) – Beltran Rueda, Santiago (2381)2007½–½ Miettinen, Kristo S (2274) – Simon, Julius (2248)2005½–½

Heroes of this opening Ponkratov, P. · Mamedov, Nidjat · Szrama, Arthur A · Sobolevsky, Leonid

Family: Sicilian Defense
Category: Semi-Open
First move: 1.e4
ECO: B62
Line: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Nxc6

★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation Explore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →

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Nearby lines in the family

Sicilian Defense: Sozin Attack, Main Line2…Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 …Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit, Nanu Gambit2.b4 cxb4 3.a3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 …Sicilian Defense: Closed, Smyslov Variation2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 …

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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