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
80%36k51%
6.3%2.8k55%
6%2.7k47%
2.5%1.1k51%
2.3%1.0k48%
1%45244%
0.5%24348%
0.3%14244%
0.3%13351%
0.2%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..
Family
Sicilian Defense
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 →
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Nearby lines in the family
Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit, Romanian Defense2.b4 cxb4 3.a3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 …Sicilian Defense: Sozin Attack, Flank Variation5…a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 b5Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Gipslis Variation2…e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 …
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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