B20-B99

Sicilian Defense

391 named lines in this family, ECO B20-B99. Every one of them opens 1. e4 c5, so the notes on those moves are written once, just below, instead of once per line. Under each line you get its moves and the sentences it adds that this page has not already printed; sixty lines to a page. A line's own page carries up to its first 4 per-move notes in full.

The moves every line here plays

1. e4 c5

• 1. e4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d5, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 1... c5 Fights for d4 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the Sicilian Defense.

Main line, through 1... c5B20

1. e4 c5

In the centre, White holds e4.

Amazon AttackB20

1. e4 c5 2. Qg4

• 2. Qg4 Develops the queen to g4, eyeing e4. It also props up the e4 pawn. Theory calls this the Amazon Attack.

Bowdler AttackB20

1. e4 c5 2. Bc4

• 2. Bc4 Develops the bishop to c4, eyeing d5. It eyes f7, the one square only the king defends. Theory calls this the Bowdler Attack.

Brick VariationB20

1. e4 c5 2. Nh3

• 2. Nh3 Develops the knight to h3. It backs up the pawn on f2. Theory calls this the Brick Variation.

Czerniak AttackB20

1. e4 c5 2. b3

• 2. b3 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via b2. Theory calls this the Czerniak Attack.

Grob VariationB20

1. e4 c5 2. g4

• 2. g4 Opens the f1-h3 diagonal for the bishop. Theory calls this the Grob Variation.

Keres VariationB20

1. e4 c5 2. Ne2

• 2. Ne2 Develops the knight to e2, eyeing d4. Theory calls this the Keres Variation.

King David's OpeningB20

1. e4 c5 2. Ke2

• 2. Ke2 Walks the king to e2. Only the knight on b1, bishop on c1, bishop on f1 and knight on g1 still stand at home. Theory calls this the King David's Opening.

Kronberger VariationB20

1. e4 c5 2. Na3

• 2. Na3 Develops the knight to a3. It backs up the pawn on c2. Theory calls this the Kronberger Variation.

Lasker-Dunne AttackB20

1. e4 c5 2. g3

• 2. g3 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via g2. Theory calls this the Lasker-Dunne Attack.

Mengarini VariationB20

1. e4 c5 2. a3

• 2. a3 A useful waiting move that keeps the structure flexible on the a-file. Theory calls this the Mengarini Variation.

Myers Attack, with a4B20

1. e4 c5 2. a4

• 2. a4 A useful waiting move that grabs space on the a-file.

Myers Attack, with h4B20

1. e4 c5 2. h4

• 2. h4 A useful waiting move that grabs space on the h-file.

Staunton-Cochrane VariationB20

1. e4 c5 2. c4

• 2. c4 Fights for d5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the Staunton-Cochrane Variation.

Wing GambitB20

1. e4 c5 2. b4

• 2. b4 Challenges the pawn on c5 - the central tension has to resolve. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Wing Gambit: development and initiative over material.

Czerniak Attack, Queen Fianchetto VariationB20

1. e4 c5 2. b3 b6

• 2... b6 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via b7. Theory calls this the Queen Fianchetto Variation.

Euwe Attack, Prins GambitB20

1. e4 c5 2. b3 d5 3. Bb2

The pawns on d5 and e4 stand in direct tension - the first player to resolve it chooses the structure. White's queenside bishop takes the long diagonal.

• 2... d5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e4, and frees the bishop and queen.

Wing Gambit, Abrahams VariationB20

1. e4 c5 2. b4 cxb4 3. Bb2

An early pawn trade leaves the b-file as White's avenue and the c-file as Black's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. Black keeps the extra pawn; White plays for time, open lines, and initiative - the classic gambit trade.

• 2... cxb4 Takes the pawn on b4.

Wing Gambit, Marshall VariationB20

1. e4 c5 2. b4 cxb4 3. a3

Wing Gambit, Santasiere VariationB20

1. e4 c5 2. b4 cxb4 3. c4

Wing Gambit, Carlsbad VariationB20

1. e4 c5 2. b4 cxb4 3. a3 bxa3

Black has doubled pawns on the a-file.

Big Clamp FormationB20

1. e4 c5 2. d3 Nc6 3. c3 d6 4. f4

• 2. d3 Supports the centre, adding control of e4.
• 2... Nc6 Develops the knight to c6, eyeing d4 and e5.

Kronberger Variation, Nemeth GambitB20

1. e4 c5 2. Na3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Bc4

An early pawn trade leaves the c-file as Black's avenue and the d-file as White's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. Black trades the c-pawn for White's d-pawn and plays for an unbalanced fight: queenside counterplay against White's central and kingside ambitions.

Gloria VariationB20

1. e4 c5 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 h5

• 2... d6 Supports the centre, adding control of e5.

Wing Gambit, Marienbad VariationB20

1. e4 c5 2. b4 cxb4 3. a3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Bb2

Wing Gambit, Nanu GambitB20

1. e4 c5 2. b4 cxb4 3. a3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Nf3 e5 6. c4 Qe6 7. Bd3

Black has doubled pawns on the b-file.

Wing Gambit, Romanian DefenseB20

1. e4 c5 2. b4 cxb4 3. a3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Nf3 e5 6. Bb2 Nc6 7. c4 Qe6

McDonnell AttackB21

1. e4 c5 2. f4

• 2. f4 Fights for e5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the McDonnell Attack.

Smith-Morra Gambit, through 2. d4B21

1. e4 c5 2. d4

In the centre, White holds d4 and e4.

• 2. d4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e5, and frees the bishop and queen. Theory calls this the Smith-Morra Gambit.

Halasz GambitB21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. f4

• 2... cxd4 Takes the pawn on d4, toward the centre.

McDonnell Attack, Toilet VariationB21

1. e4 c5 2. f4 d5 3. Nc3

Morphy GambitB21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. Nf3

Smith-Morra Gambit, after 2... cxd4B21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3

McDonnell Attack, Tal GambitB21

1. e4 c5 2. f4 d5 3. exd5 Nf6

An early pawn trade leaves the d-file as Black's avenue and the e-file as White's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. White is up material out of the opening - Black is banking on activity to show for it.

Smith-Morra Gambit AcceptedB21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3

Black's pawn has already reached c3.

Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, Alapin FormationB21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 Nf6

Black has doubled pawns on the d-file.

Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, Center FormationB21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 e5

Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, Push VariationB21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 d3

Black's pawn has already reached d3.

Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, Scandinavian FormationB21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 d5

Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, Wing FormationB21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 Qa5

White's pawn on c3 is pinned against the king.

Morphy Gambit, Andreaschek GambitB21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. Nf3 e5 4. c3

Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Danish VariationB21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nf3

Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, Dubois VariationB21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 d3 4. c4

Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Fianchetto Defense, after 4... g6, through 4... g6B21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 g6

The structure hands White the half-open d-file - rook pressure down it is a standing plan.

Coles Sicilian GambitB21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qd1 Nf6 5. Bc4

Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Fianchetto Defense, after 4... Nc6, through 5... g6B21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 g6

Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Fianchetto Defense, after 4... d6, through 5... g6B21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 d6 5. Nf3 g6

Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Kan FormationB21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 e6 5. Nf3 a6

Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Fianchetto Defense, after 4... Nc6, through 6... g6B21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bc4 g6

Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Morphy DefenseB21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Bc4 Bc5

Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Paulsen FormationB21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Bc4 a6

Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Pin DefenseB21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Bc4 Bb4

White's knight on c3 is pinned against the king.

Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Scheveningen FormationB21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bc4 e6

Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Siberian VariationB21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Bc4 Qc7

Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Taimanov FormationB21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 e6 5. Bc4 a6 6. Nf3 Ne7

Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Chicago Defense, after 4... d6B21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 d6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Bc4 Nf6 7. O-O a6

Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Classical FormationB21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bc4 a6 7. O-O Nf6

Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Finegold DefenseB21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 e6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bc4 a6 7. O-O Be7 8. Qe2 Nf6

Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Larsen DefenseB21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Bc4 Qc7 7. Qe2 a6 8. O-O Bd6

Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Morphy Defense DeferredB21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Bc4 a6 7. O-O b5 8. Bb3 Bc5

White's pawn on f2 is pinned against the king.

Lines 1–60 of 391 — page 1 of 7.

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