Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Sozin Attack, Flank Variation

14/14
1.e4c52.Nf3d63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3a66.Bc4e67.Bb3b5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Sozin Attack, Flank Variation124k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
27%34k51%
20%24k49%
17%21k54%
14%17k49%
7.5%9.2k53%
5.4%6.7k54%
2.9%3.6k50%
2.8%3.5k50%
1.3%1.6k54%
1.1%1.3k42%
Famous games in this line2.7k master games
Kramnik, Vladimir (2753) – Carlsen, Magnus (2863)20200–1Morozevich, Alexander (2749) – Kasparov, Garry (2827)20010–1Ivanchuk, Vassily (2751) – Topalov, Veselin (2780)2008½–½Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2772) – Gelfand, Boris (2733)20110–1Vachier Lagrave, M. (2758) – Wojtaszek, R. (2744)20141–0Ivanchuk, Vassily (2781) – Gelfand, Boris (2720)20081–0Kasparov, Garry (2805) – Gelfand, Boris (2690)19931–0Ivanchuk, Vassily (2775) – Le Quang, Liem (2714)20110–1
Heroes of this opening Kasparov, Garry · Carlsen, Magnus · Gelfand, Boris · Vachier Lagrave, M.
Family
Sicilian Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B87
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 b5
Aggressive
★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →
Keep exploring
Nearby lines in the family
Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit, Romanian Defense2.b4 cxb4 3.a3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 …Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Gipslis Variation2…e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 …Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack5…g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 O-O
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.

Study this opening
Videos on YouTube ↗Wikipedia: Sicilian Defense ↗