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.

Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Siberian Variation, Siberian TrapB21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Bc4 Qc7 7. Qe2 Nf6 8. O-O Ng4

The structure hands White the half-open d-file - rook pressure down it is a standing plan. Black keeps the extra pawn; White plays for time, open lines, and initiative - the classic gambit trade. 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.

• 2. d4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e5, and frees the bishop and queen. Theory calls this the Smith-Morra Gambit.
• 2... cxd4 Takes the pawn on d4, toward the centre.

Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Sozin FormationB21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Bc4 e6 6. Nf3 d6 7. O-O a6 8. Qe2 b5

Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Chicago Defense, after 4... Nc6B21

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Bc4 e6 6. Nf3 d6 7. O-O a6 8. Qe2 b5 9. Bb3 Ra7

Alapin VariationB22

1. e4 c5 2. c3

2.c3 says no to main-line theory: White simply builds d4 next move and plays a tidy centre against Black's queenside counters.

• 2. c3 Theory calls this the Alapin Variation.

Alapin Variation, Anti-Alapin GambitB22

1. e4 c5 2. c3 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.

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

Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, through 3... Qxd5, line 1B22

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5

Alapin Variation, Smith-Morra DeclinedB22

1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4

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.

• 2... Nf6 Develops the knight to f6, eyeing d5 and e4.

Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, after 4. d4, through 5. Nf3, line 2B22

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 g6 5. Nf3

Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, after 4. d4, through 5. Nf3, line 3B22

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nc6 5. Nf3

Heidenfeld VariationB22

1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Na3

In the centre, White holds e5.

Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Modern LineB22

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg4

Delayed Alapin Variation, after 4... Qxd5B22

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 Nf6

• 2. Nf3 Develops the knight to f3, eyeing d4 and e5.
• 2... e6 Supports the centre, adding control of d5. Theory calls this the French Variation.

Alapin Variation, Stoltz AttackB22

1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3

Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Central ExchangeB22

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4

The c-file is fully open.

Delayed Alapin Variation, after 4... exd5B22

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bb5+ Nc6 6. O-O Bd6 7. d4

The e-file is fully open.

Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Milner-Barry AttackB22

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nc6 5. Nf3 cxd4 6. cxd4 e5 7. Nc3 Bb4 8. Be2

Alapin Variation, Stoltz Attack, Ivanchuk LineB22

1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 c4 7. Bc2 Qc7 8. Qe2 g5

Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Endgame VariationB22

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Nc3 Bxf3 8. gxf3 Qxd4 9. Qxd4 Nxd4

Black comes out ahead on material - White needs concrete play to justify it.

Closed, through 2. Nc3B23

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3

In the centre, White holds e4.

• 2. Nc3 Develops the knight to c3, eyeing d5 and e4. It also props up the e4 pawn.

Closed, after 2... e6, through 2... e6B23

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6

Closed, TraditionalB23

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6

• 2... Nc6 Develops the knight to c6, eyeing d4 and e5. Theory calls this the Traditional.

Closed, after 2... e6, through 3. g3B23

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. g3

White skips d4 entirely, fianchettoes on g2, and plays for a slow kingside build-up while Black expands on the queenside.

Closed, Chameleon VariationB23

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nge2

Closed, Grob AttackB23

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g4

Grand Prix AttackB23

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4

Closed, Korchnoi DefenseB23

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. g3 d5

The pawns on d5 and e4 stand in direct tension - the first player to resolve it chooses the structure.

Closed, Portland AttackB23

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. d3 g6 4. g4

Closed, Carlsen VariationB23

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Qd2

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

Grand Prix Attack, Schofman VariationB23

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bc4 e6 6. f5

Black's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal.

Closed, Fianchetto VariationB24

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3

Closed, after 2... Nc6, through 3... g6B24

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6

Closed, after 2... Nc6, through 4... Bg7B24

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7

White's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal and Black's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal.

Closed, Smyslov VariationB24

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 e6 6. Be3 Nd4 7. Nce2

Closed, after 2... Nc6, through 5... d6B25

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6

Closed, after 2... Nc6, through 6. f4B25

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. f4

Closed, Botvinnik Defense, with Nge2B25

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. Nge2 e5

Closed, Botvinnik Defense, with f4B25

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. f4 e5

Closed, Botvinnik Defense, Edge VariationB25

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. f4 e5 7. Nh3 Nge7

Closed, after 2... Nc6, through 6. Be3B26

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. Be3

Main line, after 2. Nf3, through 2. Nf3B27

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3

Brussels GambitB27

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 f5

• 2... f5 Challenges the pawn on e4 - the central tension has to resolve. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Brussels Gambit: development and initiative over material.

Bücker VariationB27

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 h6

• 2... h6 Takes g5 away from White's knight. Theory calls this the Bücker Variation.

Hyperaccelerated Dragon, through 2... g6B27

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6

• 2... g6 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via g7. Theory calls this the Hyperaccelerated Dragon.

Jalalabad VariationB27

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e5

In the centre, White holds e4 while Black holds e5.

• 2... e5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d4, and frees the bishop and queen. Theory calls this the Jalalabad Variation.

Katalimov VariationB27

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 b6

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

Mongoose VariationB27

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Qa5

White's pawn on d2 is pinned against the king.

• 2... Qa5 Develops with a pin: the pawn on d2 is stuck shielding the king. Theory calls this the Mongoose Variation.

Polish GambitB27

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 b5

• 2... b5 Opens the c8-a6 diagonal for the bishop. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Polish Gambit: development and initiative over material.

Quinteros VariationB27

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Qc7

• 2... Qc7 Develops the queen to c7, eyeing e5. Theory calls this the Quinteros Variation.

Hyperaccelerated Dragon, after 3. d4B27

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4

In the centre, White holds d4 and e4.

Acton ExtensionB27

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bh6

Double-Dutch GambitB27

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 f5 3. exf5 Nh6

An early pawn trade leaves the e-file as White's avenue and the f-file as Black's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file.

Frederico VariationB27

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 f5

Hyperaccelerated PterodactylB27

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7

Hyperaccelerated Pterodactyl, Exchange VariationB27

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. dxc5 Qa5+ 5. Nc3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qxc3+

White has doubled pawns on the c-file.

O'Kelly VariationB28

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6

• 2... a6 Takes b5 away from White's bishop. Theory calls this the O'Kelly Variation.

O'Kelly Variation, Aronin SystemB28

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. Be2

O'Kelly Variation, Kieseritzky SystemB28

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. b3

O'Kelly Variation, Maróczy BindB28

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. c4

O'Kelly Variation, Normal SystemB28

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. d4

O'Kelly Variation, Quiet SystemB28

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. d3

Lines 61–120 of 391 — page 2 of 7.

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