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B62 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Vitolins Variation

13/13
1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3Nc66.Bg5e67.Bb5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Vitolins Variation50k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
Bd788%44k55%
Be76.7%3.3k32%
Qc72.6%1.3k51%
Qb61.5%76359%
a61%51839%
h60.2%8330%
Qd70.1%3137%
g60%230%
Qa50%1520%
e50%1315%
Famous games in this line555 master games
Giri, A.. (2764)Vachier Lagrave, M.. (2784)2020½–½Kamsky, Gata (2695)Kramnik, Vladimir (2710)19940–1Matlakov, M. (2700)Maghsoodloo, Parham (2688)20181–0Fedoseev, Vl3 (2701)Oparin, G. (2674)2022½–½Fedoseev, Vl3 (2701)Martinez Alcantara, Jose Eduardo (2598)20221–0Yudasin, Leonid (2605)Shirov, Alexei (2685)19931–0Piorun, K. (2608)Bacrot, E. (2678)20210–1Asadli, Vugar (2567)Shankland, S. (2710)2022½–½
Heroes of this opening Kramnik, Vladimir · Matlakov, M. · Fedoseev, Vl3 · Yudasin, Leonid
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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
B62
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Bb5
Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines
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