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: Delayed Alapin Variation, Basman-Palatnik Gambit
B50 12 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Be2 Nc6 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 Nxe4
Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, with d6
B50 5 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3
Sicilian Defense: Kopec System
B50 5 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bd3
Sicilian Defense: Kotov Gambit
B50 6 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. g3 b5
Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations
B50 4 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6
Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations, Anti-Qxd4 Move Order
B50 6 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6
Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations, Anti-Qxd4 Move Order Accepted
B50 8 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. dxc5 Nxe4
Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations, Tartakower
B50 7 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. c3
Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit, Deferred Variation
B50 5 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. b4
Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation
B51 5 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+
Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Dorfman Gambit
B51 11 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nc6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Qe2 g6 6. e5
Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Moscow Gambit
B51 17 plies
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
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