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
56%6.6k40%
30%3.5k40%
6.5%75939%
1.6%18548%
1.5%17737%
1.3%14938%
1.1%12748%
0.7%8234%
0.5%5646%
0.4%4440%
Famous games in this line1.3k master games
Topalov, Veselin (2740) – Kasparov, Garry (2825)19980–1Aronian, L. (2764) – Grischuk, A. (2766)20181–0Aronian, Levon (2752) – Gelfand, Boris (2723)20060–1Svidler, Peter (2723) – Dreev, Alexey (2688)20091–0Topalov, Veselin (2750) – Leko, Peter (2630)19961–0Sevian, Samuel (2666) – Firouzja, Alireza (2682)20190–1Nunn, John DM (2630) – Shirov, Alexei (2710)19950–1Edouard, Romain (2652) – Istratescu, Andrei (2647)2012½–½
Heroes of this opening Kasparov, Garry · Aronian, L. · Gelfand, Boris · Svidler, Peter
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 →
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Nearby lines in the family
Sicilian Defense: Magnus Smith Trap6…g6 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.e5Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Tal Variation2…e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 …Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Wing Attack, Christiansen's Dream2…e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 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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