Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Spielmann Variation

11/11
1.e4c52.Nf3Nc63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3d66.Nde2
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Spielmann Variation4.1k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
45%1.8k52%
19%78950%
16%64752%
8.5%35048%
4.8%19748%
2.6%10650%
1.4%5653%
0.6%2625%
0.5%2133%
0.3%1155%
Famous games in this line40 master games
Wei Yi (2736)Van Foreest, Jorden (2601)2019½–½Wei Yi (2736)Van Foreest, Jorden (2601)20191–0Tomczak, Jacek (2605)Li, Chao B (2683)2020½–½Wei Yi (2736)Praggnanandhaa, R. (2536)20190–1Wei Yi (2736)Praggnanandhaa, R. (2536)20191–0Malakhov, Vladimir (2540)Svidler, Peter (2640)19971–0Llaneza Vega, Marcos (2438)Czarnota, Pawel (2575)20070–1Kagan, Shimon (2405)Geller, Efim P (2585)19730–1
Heroes of this opening Wei Yi · Praggnanandhaa, R. · Malakhov, Vladimir · Czarnota, Pawel
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B56
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Nde2
Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines
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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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