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.

Modern Variations, Anti-Qxd4 Move Order AcceptedB50

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. dxc5 Nxe4

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. White has doubled pawns on the c-file.

• 2. Nf3 Develops the knight to f3, eyeing d4 and e5.
• 2... d6 Supports the centre, adding control of e5.

Delayed Alapin Variation, Basman-Palatnik GambitB50

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Be2 Nc6 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 Nxe4

The structure hands White the half-open e-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. The c-file is fully open.

Delayed Alapin Variation, Basman-Palatnik Double GambitB50

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Be2 Nc6 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 Nxe4 7. d5 Qa5+ 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3

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

Moscow VariationB51

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+

In the centre, White holds e4.

Moscow Variation, Dorfman GambitB51

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nc6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Qe2 g6 6. e5

In the centre, White holds e5.

Moscow Variation, Moscow GambitB51

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nc6 4. O-O Bd7 5. c3 Nf6 6. Re1 a6 7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. d4 Bxe4 9. Bg5

Black comes out of the line with the bishop pair.

Moscow Variation, Main LineB52

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7

Black's bishop on d7 is pinned against the king.

Moscow Variation, Sokolsky VariationB52

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4

Moscow Variation, Haag GambitB52

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. O-O Nc6 6. c3 Nf6 7. d4

In the centre, White holds d4 and e4.

Chekhover VariationB53

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4

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.

Chekhover Variation, Zaitsev DefenseB53

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Bb5 Qd7

Dragon Variation, Accelerated DragonB54

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6

Modern Variations, Main LineB54

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6

Modern Variations, Ginsberg GambitB54

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Bc4

Prins VariationB54

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. f3

Prins Variation, Venice AttackB55

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. f3 e5 6. Bb5+

Classical Variation, through 5... Nc6B56

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6

Both knights out before anything fancy: Black develops soundly and lets White pick the battleground.

Kupreichik VariationB56

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bd7

Classical Variation, Fianchetto VariationB56

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. g3

Spielmann VariationB56

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Nde2

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

Venice AttackB56

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Bb5+

Classical Variation, Sozin AttackB57

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bc4

Classical Variation, Anti-Sozin VariationB57

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Qb6

Magnus Smith TrapB57

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 g6 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. e5

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

Classical Variation, after 6. Be2B58

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be2

Boleslavsky Variation, after 2... d6B58

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be2 e5

Boleslavsky Variation, Louma VariationB58

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nxc6

Classical Variation, Dragon TransferB58

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be2 Nxd4 7. Qxd4 g6

Boleslavsky Variation, after 2... Nc6B59

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3

Richter-Rauzer Variation, through 6. Bg5B60

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5

Richter-Rauzer Variation, Dragon VariationB60

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 g6

Richter-Rauzer Variation, Modern Variation, after 2... d6B60

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 Bd7

Richter-Rauzer Variation, Modern Variation, after 2... Nc6B61

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 Bd7 7. Qd2

Richter-Rauzer Variation, after 6... e6, through 6... e6B62

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6

Richter-Rauzer Variation, after 6... e6, through 7. Qd3B62

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd3

Richter-Rauzer Variation, Exchange VariationB62

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Nxc6

Richter-Rauzer Variation, Podebrady VariationB62

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Nb3

Richter-Rauzer Variation, Vitolins VariationB62

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Bb5

Black's knight on c6 is pinned against the king.

Richter-Rauzer Variation, Traditional VariationB63

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2

Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation, after 2... d6, through 7... Be7B63

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7

Richter-Rauzer Variation, Ivanov VariationB63

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Qb6

Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation, Kantscher LineB63

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O Nxd4 9. Qxd4 a6 10. f4 b5

Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation, after 2... d6, through 9. f4B64

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O O-O 9. f4

Kings castle on opposite wings - expect pawn storms racing at both kings.

Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation, after 2... Nc6, through 9... e5B64

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O O-O 9. f4 e5

Richter-Rauzer Variation, Rauzer AttackB65

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O O-O 9. f4 Nxd4

Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation, after 2... d6, through 10. Qxd4B65

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O O-O 9. f4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4

Richter-Rauzer Variation, Neo-Modern Variation, Early DeviationsB66

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6

Richter-Rauzer Variation, Neo-Modern Variation, through 8... Bd7B67

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O Bd7

Richter-Rauzer Variation, Neo-Modern Variation, after 9. f4B68

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O Bd7 9. f4 Be7

Richter-Rauzer Variation, Neo-Modern Variation, Nyezhmetdinov AttackB69

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O Bd7 9. f4 Be7 10. Nf3 b5 11. Bxf6

Dragon Variation, through 5... g6B70

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6

Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, after 6. Be2, through 6. Be2B70

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2

Dragon Variation, Fianchetto VariationB70

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. g3

Dragon Variation, Levenfish VariationB71

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. f4

Dragon Variation, Levenfish Variation, Main LineB71

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. f4 Nbd7

Dragon Variation, after 6. Be3B72

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3

Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, after 6. Be3, through 7. Be2B72

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. Be2

Black's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal. The g7 bishop is the whole point - it rakes the long diagonal while both sides race: White storms the h-file, Black sacrifices down the c-file.

Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, after 6. Be3, through 7... Nc6B72

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. Be2 Nc6

Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, after 6. Be3, through 8. Nb3B72

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. Be2 Nc6 8. Nb3

Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Amsterdam VariationB72

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 g6 7. Be3 Bg7 8. Qd2

Lines 241–300 of 391 — page 5 of 7.

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