Opening Overview

Sicilian Defense

381 lines
black repertoire

About This Opening

Black answers 1.e4 asymmetrically and aims for dynamic counterplay on the queenside and center.

The opening's main value is its characteristic move order, which helps steer the game toward familiar structures and plans.

When studying it, focus on the first forcing decisions, the main branching points, and the kind of middlegames the opening is designed to reach.

Key ideas
  • Typical theme: recognize the key move order early.
  • Learn the first critical branching decisions.
  • Best for players who want a repeatable repertoire line.
  • Understand the resulting pawn structure and piece placement.

Choose a variation

Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Polugaevsky Variation
B42 10 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5
Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Swiss Cheese Variation
B42 10 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 g6
Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Knight Variation
B43 9 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3
Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Wing Attack
B43 10 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 b5
Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Wing Attack, Christiansen's Dream
B43 15 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 b5 6. Bd3 Qb6 7. Be3 Bc5 8. Qg4
Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Wing Attack, Spraggett Attack
B43 13 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 b5 6. Bd3 Qb6 7. Nf3
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation
B44 8 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Gary Gambit
B44 16 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 Nf6 7. N1c3 a6 8. Na3 d5
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Modern Line
B44 20 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 Nf6 7. N1c3 a6 8. Na3 Be7 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O b6
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Szén Variation
B44 9 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nb5
Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation
B45 10 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6
Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation, American Attack
B45 13 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Ndb5 Bb4 7. Nd6+
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