← All openings
B66 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Neo-Modern Variation, Early Deviations

14/14
1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3Nc66.Bg5e67.Qd2a6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Neo-Modern Variation, Early Deviations45k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
O-O-O80%36k51%
f36.3%2.8k55%
f46%2.7k47%
Nxc62.5%1.1k51%
Be22.3%1.0k48%
Bc41%45244%
Nb30.5%24348%
a40.3%14244%
h40.3%13351%
a30.2%7642%
Famous games in this line14k master games
Carlsen, M. (2830)Nakamura, Hi (2795)2024½–½Anand, V. (2776)Carlsen, M. (2843)2018½–½Anand, V. (2764)Caruana, F. (2819)20191–0Carlsen, M. (2859)Maghsoodloo, Parham (2719)20221–0Aronian, L.. (2781)Vachier Lagrave, M.. (2784)20211–0Kasparov, Garry (2825)Ivanchuk, Vassily (2740)19981–0Kasparov, Garry (2812)Kramnik, Vladimir (2751)1999½–½Kasparov, Garry (2810)Kramnik, Vladimir (2750)19991–0
Heroes of this opening Kasparov, Garry · Anand, V. · Carlsen, M. · Aronian, L..
Keep exploring
Nearby lines in the family
From the archives

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
B66
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6
Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines
Study this opening elsewhere