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Sicilian Defense 1.e4 c5
The Sicilian Defense starts with 1.e4 c5 and is catalogued under ECO B20. It belongs to the semi-open games section of the book. The catalog indexes 388 lines inside it, grouped into 327 named variations. The position after those moves has 20 playable continuations to walk from here.
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22 min · 11 steps · 9 questions
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Closed Sicilian
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Opening repertoire map Root edges show how often each move is played around your Elo. Use the arrow on a position to reveal the next replies.
Open Sicilian Defense position Study Sicilian Defense position Collapse Sicilian Defense continuations
Show replies after Nf3 — Sicilian Defense Study Nf3 — Sicilian Defense position Expand Nf3 — Sicilian Defense continuations
Show replies after d4 — Smith-Morra Gambit Study d4 — Smith-Morra Gambit position Expand d4 — Smith-Morra Gambit continuations
Show replies after Nc3 — Closed Study Nc3 — Closed position Expand Nc3 — Closed continuations
Show replies after c3 — Alapin Variation Study c3 — Alapin Variation position Expand c3 — Alapin Variation continuations
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1. e4
Claims the center with a pawn and opens lines for the queen and king’s bishop.
Idea: Build quick development and make early castling possible.
1… c5
Challenges d4 from the flank instead of mirroring White’s e-pawn.
Idea: Create an unbalanced center and active queenside counterplay.
Book continuations Waiting for Lichess game popularity.
20 moves Nf3 Sicilian Defense 252 named lines · Sicilian Defense: Open · Sicilian Defense: Kopec System Develops the knight to f3, bringing it into the game. Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.d4 Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit 28 named lines · Sicilian Defense: Halasz Gambit · Sicilian Defense: Morphy Gambit Advances to d4 to claim central space and control nearby key squares. Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.Nc3 Sicilian Defense: Closed 15 named lines · Sicilian Defense: Grand Prix Attack · Sicilian Defense: Closed, Grob Attack Develops the knight to c3, bringing it into the game. Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.c3 Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation 11 named lines · Sicilian Defense: Heidenfeld Variation · Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Stoltz Attack Advances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares. Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.b4 Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit 8 named lines · Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit, Nanu Gambit · Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit, Romanian Defense Advances the b-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares. Idea: Prepare a fianchetto or discourage the opponent’s expansion on that wing.f4 Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack 5 named lines · King's Gambit Declined: Mafia Defense · Bird Opening: Dutch Variation, Batavo Gambit Advances the f-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares. Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.b3 Sicilian Defense: Czerniak Attack 3 named lines · Sicilian Defense: Euwe Attack, Prins Gambit · Sicilian Defense: Czerniak Attack, Queen Fianchetto Variation Advances the b-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares. Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.c4 Sicilian Defense: Staunton-Cochrane Variation 2 named lines · Sicilian Defense: Gloria Variation Advances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares. Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Na3 Sicilian Defense: Kronberger Variation 2 named lines · Sicilian Defense: Kronberger Variation, Nemeth Gambit Develops the knight to a3, bringing it into the game. Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.a3 Sicilian Defense: Mengarini Variation 1 named line Advances the a-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares. Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.a4 Sicilian Defense: Myers Attack, with a4 1 named line Advances the a-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares. Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Bc4 Sicilian Defense: Bowdler Attack 1 named line Develops the bishop to c4, bringing it into the game. Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.d3 Sicilian Defense 1 named line · Sicilian Defense: Big Clamp Formation Advances to d3 to claim central space and control nearby key squares. Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.g3 Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Dunne Attack 1 named line Advances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares. Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.g4 Sicilian Defense: Grob Variation 1 named line Advances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares. Idea: Prepare a fianchetto or discourage the opponent’s expansion on that wing.h4 Sicilian Defense: Myers Attack, with h4 1 named line Advances the h-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares. Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Ke2 Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening 1 named line Repositions the king to e2, where it influences a new part of the board. Idea: Improve king safety or step toward a more useful endgame square.Ne2 Sicilian Defense: Keres Variation 1 named line Develops the knight to e2, bringing it into the game. Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Nh3 Sicilian Defense: Brick Variation 1 named line Develops the knight to h3, bringing it into the game. Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Qg4 Sicilian Defense: Amazon Attack 1 named line Repositions the queen to g4, where it influences a new part of the board. Idea: Coordinate threats carefully while avoiding unnecessary tempi against the queen.Named variations Each line below is an indexed entry under Sicilian Defense. Open one to load it on the board and keep exploring from that position.
Sicilian Defense B20 e4 c5 Alapin Variation B22 e4 c5 c3 Amazon Attack B20 e4 c5 Qg4 Bowdler Attack B20 e4 c5 Bc4 Openings from the same volume ECO groups openings by the structures they lead to, so these families tend to share plans with the Sicilian Defense.
C o dy Clear chess coaching, right beside the board.
Brick Variation B20
e4 c5 Nh3
Closed B23 e4 c5 Nc3
Czerniak Attack B20 e4 c5 b3
Grob Variation B20 e4 c5 g4
Keres Variation B20 e4 c5 Ne2
King David's Opening B20 e4 c5 Ke2
Kronberger Variation B20 e4 c5 Na3
Lasker-Dunne Attack B20 e4 c5 g3
McDonnell Attack B21 e4 c5 f4
Mengarini Variation B20 e4 c5 a3
Myers Attack, with a4 B20 e4 c5 a4
Myers Attack, with h4 B20 e4 c5 h4
Smith-Morra Gambit B21 e4 c5 d4
Staunton-Cochrane Variation B20 e4 c5 c4
Wing Gambit B20 e4 c5 b4
Brussels Gambit B27 e4 c5 Nf3 f5
Bücker Variation B27 e4 c5 Nf3 h6
Closed, Traditional B23 e4 c5 Nc3 Nc6
Czerniak Attack, Queen Fianchetto Variation B20 e4 c5 b3 b6
French Variation B40 e4 c5 Nf3 e6 © 2026 Cody Chess. All rights reserved.
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