Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Modern Variation

12/12
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nc65.Nc3d66.Be2Nf6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Modern Variation112k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
45%51k51%
36%41k54%
7.2%8.1k49%
3.1%3.5k59%
2.1%2.4k46%
1.2%1.3k50%
1.1%1.2k52%
1%1.1k47%
0.7%76053%
0.5%52248%
Famous games in this line1.8k master games
Anand, V. (2751) – Nakamura, Hi (2795)2024½–½Amin, B. (2683) – Carlsen, M. (2830)2024½–½Alekseev, Evgeny (2716) – Movsesian, Sergei (2747)2009½–½Jobava, Baadur (2730) – Wojtaszek, Radoslaw (2717)2012½–½Kamsky, Gata (2671) – Svidler, Peter (2743)20061–0Dubov, Daniil (2702) – Artemiev, V.. (2711)2020½–½Harikrishna, Penteala (2682) – Morozevich, Alexander (2731)2006½–½Van Foreest, Jorden (2681) – Gukesh, D. (2725)2023½–½
Family
Sicilian Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B83
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 Nf6
★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →
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Nearby lines in the family
Sicilian Defense: Boleslavsky Variation2…d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 …Sicilian Defense: Pin Variation, Jaffe Variation4…Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Bd3 e5Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line2…Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nc3 e6 5.Nxd5 …
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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