for Black · advanced
Sicilian Defense: Sveshnikov Variation
10/10
1.e4c52.Nf3Nc63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3e5
Black boldly plays ...e5 and accepts a backward d-pawn and a hole on d5 in return for active piece play and the bishop pair. Once considered dubious, it is now a fully respected mainline choice at the highest level.
Key ideas
- Grab central space and activity with ...e5 despite the d5 hole
- Expand with ...f5 to challenge White's control of d5
- Use the bishop pair and dynamic piece play for counterattack
- Accept structural weaknesses in exchange for long-term activity
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation2.9M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
53%1.5M53%
6.9%198k45%
0.8%24k49%
0.2%4.8k25%
0.1%2.0k22%
0%1.1k18%
0%1.1k20%
Famous games in this line28k master games
Caruana, F. (2832) – Carlsen, M. (2835)Caruana, F. (2832) – Carlsen, M. (2835)Caruana, F. (2832) – Carlsen, M. (2835)Caruana, F. (2832) – Carlsen, M. (2835)Caruana, F. (2819) – Carlsen, M. (2845)Vachier Lagrave, M. (2779) – Carlsen, M. (2875)Vachier Lagrave, M. (2780) – Carlsen, M. (2872)Giri, A. (2793) – Carlsen, M. (2853)Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Retreat Variation6.Nf3Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Exchange Variation6.Nxc6Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Schlechter Variation6.Nb3Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Bird Variation6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 Be6
Nearby lines in the family
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