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
57%6.1k59%
22%2.3k56%
3.9%41260%
3%31350%
2.6%27751%
2.3%24347%
1.8%19247%
1.6%17446%
1.5%15558%
1.4%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
Family
Sicilian Defense
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
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Nearby lines in the family
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Modern Line5.Nb5 d6 6.c4 Nf6 7.N1c3 a6 …Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Old Line2…d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 …Sicilian Defense: Sozin Attack, Main Line, Sherbakov Variation2…d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 …
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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