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
B33 8 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6
Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Exchange Variation
B34 9 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nxc6
Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Modern Variation
B34 9 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3
Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Modern Bc4 Variation
B35 13 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4
Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Modern Bc4 Variation
B35 14 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 d6
Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Maróczy Bind
B36 9 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4
Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Maróczy Bind, Gurgenidze Variation
B36 14 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Nxd4 7. Qxd4 d6
Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Maróczy Bind
B37 10 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4 Bg7
Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Simagin Variation
B37 14 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4 Bg7 6. Nc2 d6 7. Be2 Nh6
Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Maróczy Bind
B38 11 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4 Bg7 6. Be3
Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Maróczy Bind, Breyer Variation
B39 14 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Ng4
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Sherzer Variation
B40 10 plies
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. d4 Nc6
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