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: Open
B32 6 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4
Sicilian Defense: Open
B32 7 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4
Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation
B33 10 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5
Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Bird Variation
B33 16 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 Be6
Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Exchange Variation
B33 11 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Nxc6
Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Retreat Variation
B33 11 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Nf3
Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Schlechter Variation
B33 11 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Nb3
Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation
B33 16 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5
Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation
B33 20 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5
Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Chelyabinsk Variation
B33 17 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5
Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Novosibirsk Variation
B33 20 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7
Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Peresypkin's Sacrifice
B33 21 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bxb5
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