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: Sozin Attack, Main Line
B89 13 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Be3
Sicilian Defense: Sozin Attack, Main Line, Sherbakov Variation
B89 20 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Bb3 O-O 9. O-O Na5 10. f4 b6
Sicilian Defense: Velimirovic Attack
B89 15 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qe2
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation
B90 10 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Adams Attack
B90 11 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Dekker Gambit
B90 11 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g4
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English Attack
B90 11 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English Attack, Anti-English
B90 12 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Lipnitsky Attack
B90 11 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Petronić Attack
B90 11 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Rg1
Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Delayed Keres Attack
B90 13 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4
Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Delayed Keres Attack, Perenyi Gambit
B90 17 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4 e5 8. Nf5 g6 9. g5
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