B89 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Velimirovic Attack
15/15
1.e4c52.Nf3Nc63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3d66.Bc4e67.Be3Be78.Qe2
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Velimirovic Attack12k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
O-O56%6.6k40%
a630%3.5k40%
Bd76.5%75939%
Qc71.6%18548%
Nxd41.5%17737%
Ne51.3%14938%
d51.1%12748%
e50.7%8234%
Qa50.5%5646%
Nxe40.4%4440%
Famous games in this line1.3k master games
Topalov, Veselin (2740) – Kasparov, Garry (2825)Aronian, L. (2764) – Grischuk, A. (2766)Aronian, Levon (2752) – Gelfand, Boris (2723)Svidler, Peter (2723) – Dreev, Alexey (2688)Topalov, Veselin (2750) – Leko, Peter (2630)Sevian, Samuel (2666) – Firouzja, Alireza (2682)Nunn, John DM (2630) – Shirov, Alexei (2710)Edouard, Romain (2652) – Istratescu, Andrei (2647)Heroes of this opening Kasparov, Garry · Aronian, L. · Gelfand, Boris · Svidler, Peter
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From the archives
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.
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B89
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qe2
SharpAggressive
★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →Study this opening elsewhere