Semi-open games

Sicilian Defense

1.e4 c5

The Sicilian Defense starts with 1.e4 c5 and is catalogued under ECO B20, in the semi-open games half of the book. The catalog indexes 388 lines inside it, grouped into 327 named variations, and the position after those moves has 10 playable continuations to walk from here.

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.

Current position
Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation
Popularity by Elo
Share of Lichess blitz, rapid, and classical games that continued with each move.
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Current setup

Move ideas

  1. 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.

  2. 1…c5

    Challenges d4 from the flank instead of mirroring White’s e-pawn.

    Idea: Create an unbalanced center and active queenside counterplay.

  3. 2.Nf3

    Develops the knight to f3, bringing it into the game.

    Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.

  4. 2…d6

    Advances to d6 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.

    Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.

  5. 3.d4

    Advances to d4 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.

    Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.

  6. 3…cxd4

    Captures the pawn on d4 and changes the local pawn or piece balance.

    Idea: Open lines in the center and reshape the center for the next phase.

  7. 4.Nxd4

    Captures the pawn on d4 and changes the local pawn or piece balance.

    Idea: Remove an active defender and improve the moving piece’s influence.

  8. 4…Nf6

    Develops the knight to f6, bringing it into the game.

    Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.

  9. 5.Nc3

    Develops the knight to c3, bringing it into the game.

    Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.

  10. 5…a6

    Advances the a-pawn to gain queenside edge space and control new squares.

    Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.

Book continuations

Waiting for Lichess game popularity.

10 moves
Bg5Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation11 named lines · Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Main Line · Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Ivkov VariationDevelops the bishop to g5, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Be3Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English Attack6 named lines · Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Delayed Keres Attack · Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English Attack, Anti-EnglishDevelops the bishop to e3, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Be2Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Opocensky Variation5 named lines · Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Scheveningen Variation · Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical VariationDevelops the bishop to e2, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Bc4Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Lipnitsky Attack2 named lines · Sicilian Defense: Sozin Attack, Flank VariationDevelops the bishop to c4, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.f4Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Amsterdam Variation2 named lines · Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen VariationAdvances the f-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Bd3Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Yates Variation1 named lineDevelops the bishop to d3, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.g3Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Zagreb Variation1 named lineAdvances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.g4Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Dekker Gambit1 named lineAdvances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Prepare a fianchetto or discourage the opponent’s expansion on that wing.h3Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Adams Attack1 named lineAdvances the h-pawn to gain kingside edge space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Rg1Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Petronić Attack1 named lineRepositions the rook to g1, where it influences a new part of the board.Idea: Improve the piece’s activity and support the next stage of the plan.

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.

303 more named lines sit inside this family — the tree above walks all of them.

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.