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B85 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Main Line

20/20
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nc65.Nc3Qc76.Be2a67.O-ONf68.Be3Be79.f4d610.Qe1O-O
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Main Line11k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
Qg357%6.1k59%
Rd122%2.3k56%
Kh13.9%41260%
Qf23%31350%
Nxc62.6%27751%
g42.3%24347%
Bf31.8%19247%
f51.6%17446%
a31.5%15558%
Nb31.4%14347%
Famous games in this line1.1k master games
Vachier Lagrave, M. (2795)Grischuk, A. (2750)20170–1Anand, Viswanathan (2803)Ivanchuk, Vassily (2740)2008½–½Anand, Viswanathan (2803)Ivanchuk, Vassily (2740)20080–1Svidler, Peter (2722)Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2763)20101–0Karjakin, Sergey (2756)Korobov, A. (2713)2013½–½Leko, P. (2723)Wang Yue (2720)2014½–½Kamsky, Gata (2741)Movsesian, Sergei (2699)2013½–½Shirov, Alexei (2751)Movsesian, Sergei (2668)20000–1
Heroes of this opening Grischuk, A. · Ivanchuk, Vassily · Svidler, Peter · Movsesian, Sergei
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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
B85
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Be3 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. Qe1 O-O
Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines
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