Sicilian Defense B20

B — Semi-open games · Family: Sicilian Defense

1. e4 c5

The Sicilian Defense (1.e4 c5) is the most popular and combative reply to 1.e4. By striking with the c-pawn Black trades a wing pawn for a center pawn and opens the c-file for counterplay, accepting an asymmetric position where both sides can fight for the win. This fighting character has made it the lifelong weapon of world champions from Fischer to Kasparov.

White's main tries are the Open Sicilians with 2.Nf3 and 3.d4, meeting Black's set-ups with named systems: the Najdorf, Sveshnikov, Dragon and Scheveningen. Anti-Sicilians such as the Alapin (2.c3) or the Closed (2.Nc3) sidestep the main theory. Typical plans revolve around White's kingside attack against Black's d6-structures and Black's queenside pawns racing down the c- and b-files.

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Position after 2 half-moves — White to move.
Material is balanced.
Family “Sicilian Defense” contains 391 recorded variation(s) here.

Variations tree of the Sicilian Defense family

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391 variations of “Sicilian Defense” · win% from 1.5M rated games · ♞ Test your knowledge vs engine

Variations of this family

Name	ECO	Main line length
Sicilian Defense: Amazon Attack	B20	3 plies
Sicilian Defense: Big Clamp Formation	B20	7 plies
Sicilian Defense: Bowdler Attack	B20	3 plies
Sicilian Defense: Brick Variation	B20	3 plies
Sicilian Defense: Czerniak Attack	B20	3 plies
Sicilian Defense: Czerniak Attack, Queen Fianchetto Variation	B20	4 plies
Sicilian Defense: Euwe Attack, Prins Gambit	B20	5 plies
Sicilian Defense: Gloria Variation	B20	8 plies
Sicilian Defense: Grob Variation	B20	3 plies
Sicilian Defense: Keres Variation	B20	3 plies
Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening	B20	3 plies
Sicilian Defense: Kronberger Variation	B20	3 plies