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Sicilian (B20)
1 e4 c5

Number of games in database: 7445
Years covered: 1620 to 2025
Overall record:
   White wins 33.9%
   Black wins 40.6%
   Draws 25.5%

Popularity graph, by decade

Explore this opening  |  Search for sacrifices in this opening.
PRACTITIONERS
With the White Pieces With the Black Pieces
Tamaz Gelashvili  90 games
Miguel Munoz Pantoja  71 games
Arlette van Weersel  41 games
Howard Staunton  19 games
Pavel Tregubov  15 games
Kaido Kulaots  11 games
NOTABLE GAMES [what is this?]
White Wins Black Wins
Marshall vs Stodie, 1920
A Kvicala vs NN, 1869
Marshall vs H Rogosin, 1940
P Potemkin vs Alekhine, 1912
Cochrane vs Staunton, 1843
K Shirazi vs J Peters, 1984
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 page 1 of 298; games 1-25 of 7,445 
Game  ResultMoves YearEvent/LocaleOpening
1. Greco vs NN 1-0201620Miscellaneous gameB20 Sicilian
2. Greco vs NN 1-0321620Miscellaneous gameB20 Sicilian
3. T Bowdler vs Philidor ½-½511783Philidor Blindfold Simul 3b, LondonB20 Sicilian
4. Szen vs G Walker ½-½391837Casual gameB20 Sicilian
5. H Wilson vs S Newham  ½-½531840Correspondence mB20 Sicilian
6. Cochrane vs Staunton 0-1141842Casual gameB20 Sicilian
7. Cochrane vs Staunton 1-0191842Casual gameB20 Sicilian
8. Cochrane vs Staunton 0-1201842Casual gameB20 Sicilian
9. Cochrane vs Staunton 0-1231842Casual gameB20 Sicilian
10. Staunton vs Cochrane  1-0231842Casual gameB20 Sicilian
11. Staunton vs Cochrane 1-0251842Casual gameB20 Sicilian
12. Cochrane vs Staunton 0-1321842Casual gameB20 Sicilian
13. Staunton vs Cochrane  0-1321842Casual gameB20 Sicilian
14. Cochrane vs Staunton  1-0401842Casual gameB20 Sicilian
15. Cochrane vs Staunton 0-1401842Casual gameB20 Sicilian
16. Cochrane vs Staunton  1-0421842Casual gameB20 Sicilian
17. Cochrane vs Saint-Amant ½-½341842Casual gameB20 Sicilian
18. Cochrane vs Staunton 0-191843Casual gameB20 Sicilian
19. Staunton vs Cochrane 1-0201843Casual gameB20 Sicilian
20. Cochrane vs Staunton 0-1261843Casual gameB20 Sicilian
21. Staunton vs Cochrane  1-0261843Casual gameB20 Sicilian
22. Cochrane vs Staunton  ½-½271843Casual gameB20 Sicilian
23. Cochrane vs Staunton 0-1281843Casual gameB20 Sicilian
24. Cochrane vs Staunton  1-0321843Casual gameB20 Sicilian
25. Cochrane vs Staunton 0-1331843Casual gameB20 Sicilian
 page 1 of 298; games 1-25 of 7,445 
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)  

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 10 OF 11 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Sep-30-08  MaxxLange: actually, players only 200 points below you will be able to force draws sometimes. Refusal to admit that is called "playing for the loss"

<Maxx: it actually looks survivable after:...>

is that engine analysis, or your analysis? I'm sceptical that 11...Qb6 is the best move for Black, first of all. I'll have to make some time to look at this. You seem like a patient guy, so I hope you don't mind if it takes a week or two!

I believe that you are just lost after your error 9. d4?

Oct-02-08  goldenbear: I have come to the conclusion that 1.e4 c5 2.b4 b6 3.bxc5 bxc5 favors Black. I still think White is winning after 2.cxb4.
Nov-01-08  D.Observer: <perceyblakeney> Starting from a normal position, how could we reach that situation?
Dec-25-08  ILikeFruits: when i play...
the sicilian...
i always...
try to transpose it...
to an english type...
opening...
with maroczy bind...
is that bad...
Dec-25-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  WannaBe: No, it's a sound opening.
Feb-26-09  OneArmedScissor: Here's a cute little Sicilian blitz game I played the other day:

[Event "Yahoo Chess"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "?"]
[Round "-"]
[White "NN"]
[Black "OneArmedScissor"]
[Result "0-1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Nf3 d6 4. a3 a6 5. O-O Nf6 6. d3 e6 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 Be7 9. h3 O-O 10. Nh2 Ne5 11. Ba2 Ng6 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. c3 d5 14. f3 d4 15. Ng4 Bh4 16. f4 Qd6 17. f5 exf5 18. exf5 Nf4 19. Qf3 dxc3 20. Nxc3 Nxd3 21. Rad1 c4 22. Bxc4 Qc5+ 23. Kh1 Nxb2 24. Qd5 Qxc4
*

Feb-27-09  chessman95: Does anyone have any experience in the hyper-accelerated dragon (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6)? I like to play the dragon and accelerated dragon as black, so I thought I might try this variation. I'm having trouble finding good analysis on it though. Thanks!
Jun-15-09  Moses2792796: I have a perverse theory about why the Sicilian is so successful as a response to 1 e4. It psychologically challenges white by infringing on his plan to push his D pawn. White feels compelled to break the centre open even though this doesn't necessarily give him an advantage, it is therefore much easier for black to equalise. In my humble opinion the Rossolimo (which performs much better for white than any other system) makes more of white's initiative than the classical line.
Jul-16-09  drukenknight: Hey everyone! July is closed sicilian month, everyone should try to get run over by a pawn storm at least once this month. Here is one with the Bb2 fianchetto:

Sicilian, closed rev q indian
1. e4 c5
2. b3 d6
3. Bb2 e6
4. d3 Nd7
5. Nd2 Ngf6
6. f4 Qc7
7. Qf3 e5
8. Ne2 Be7
9. fxe5 (9 g4 is pc suggestion but seems to lead to =)

9… dxe5
10. Nc4 Bd6 (…b5 might improve this)
11. g4 O-O
12. g5 Ne8
13. Rg1 b5
14. Ne3 Be7
15. O-O-O Qd8
16. h4 Nd6
17. Nd5 Bb7
18, Bh3 Bxd5
19 exd5 a5
20 Bxd7 Qxd7

After 20...Qxd7. Crap pc says it's even but a few moves later white appears to have the advantge.


click for larger view

Aug-03-09  WhiteRook48: one simple way to avoid this: don't play 1. e4
Aug-05-09  muwatalli: in eric schillers book on gambits he said something to the effect that the (smith)-morra is 1e4 c5 2d4 cxd4 3c3 is better than the morphy gambit 1e4 c5 2d4 cxd4 3 nf3

any ideas on why this is?

Aug-05-09  Colonel Mortimer: If White is going to gambit a pawn in the Morra he has pressure up the cleared C&D files where he usually develops his rooks and rapid development. In the Morphy gambit Black can hold on to his pawn on d4 with e5. If the knight takes on e5 he can check the white king via a5 forking the knight on e5. Having said that it is better for Black to develop normally as per traditional Sicilian lines and let the knight recapture on d4.

A better line in the Morra is to first develop the knight on f3 then d4 and c3 - that way you get to see if Black plays e6 or d6 first. The Morra is better versus d6 as e6 blocks the diagonal of the White bishop which is normally developed to c4 in the Morra. Hope that helps:)

Aug-06-09  muwatalli: after e5 protecting the pawn couldn't white play c3 that move or a bit later transposing into a superior version of the morra?
Aug-06-09  drukenknight: Another 2 b2 closed sicilian. I am still just learning how to get my pieces out on the k side, it still amazes me the way spassky did it..

This features another standard sicilian tactical play...

1. e4 c5
2. b3 e6
3. Bb2 Nf6
4. d3 Nc6
5. f4 d5
6. e5 Nd7
7. Qf3 (this novel apparently )

7...Be7
8. Ne2 O-O
9. g3 Nb4
10. Na3 Qa5
11. c3 Nc6 (Nxd3!?)
12. Bg2 d4
13. Nc4 Qc7
14. O-O Ndb8
15. cxd4 cxd4
16. Kh1 b5

(interesting the crap pc gives:
16. Nxd4! but after Bc5
17. Qe3 Rd8
18. Nd6 Qb6 seemd about =)

17. Nd2 Bb7
18. Ne4 Nb4

After 18...Nb4 and now?


click for larger view

Aug-07-09  Colonel Mortimer: <after e5 protecting the pawn couldn't white play c3 that move or a bit later transposing into a superior version of the morra?> Yes that would be a superior Morra. Anyhow most good players would respond with regular sicilian moves mindful that their opponent may want to transpose into the Morra.
Oct-20-09  Manic: <muwatalli> Not sure if you'll get this, but this was posted on the O'kelly variation page. I had remembered why 3.d4 is bad against the O'kelly and realised you can transpose into it!

< BiLL RobeRTiE: 3.c3 is also good versus this variation. However the 3. d4 mistake is important to remember if you ever run into the move order 1. e4 c5 2. d4?! cxd4 3. Nf3 a6!, where White can play 4. Nxd4 e5 and be slightly worse or enter the dubious and gimmicky Smith-Morra with 4. c3.>

The point of 3...a6 is that white's knight cannot jump to b5 as in a normal Sveshnikov. I am guessing black will just develop normally after 3...a6.

Oct-20-09  MaxxLange: 1 e4 c5

radically fighting White's natural d4 push. The theory of the opening is based on White's response.

The Morra Gambit says, no, I play 2 d4 anyway, you cannot stop it. I gambit a pawn.

The Open Sicilian: 2 Nf3, developing and preparing the d4 cxd4 exchange

Alapin with 2 c3 fights for d4 positionally

Wing Gambit with 2 b4 tries to divert the Sicilian pawn

Closed with 2 Nc3 tries to play a slow attack where Black's control of d4 is not important. Very flexible move, White can go Bb5, or do a delayed Wing Gambit, or even still play the Open Sicilian, or do the Closed or Grand Prix

2 b3 is supposed to be OK, but better after 2 Nf3 e6 3 b3

2 a3 or 2 Na3: crazy new ideas...interesting

Oct-20-09  Manic: <MaxxLange> Doesn't the delayed wing gambit come after 2.Nf3, not 2.Nc3?

In any case, the delayed wing gambit is supposed to be a bit better than 2.b4. I think the reason was after 2...d6 3.b4 cxb4 black has to use an extra tempo if they want to play d5. Can't be 100% sure.

2.Nc3 is better than 2.f4 if you are aiming for the Grand Prix, as 2.f4 d5 is considered equal.

Oct-20-09  MaxxLange: <Manic> yeah, you are right

Delayed Wing Gambit:
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 (or even 2..d6, like in Keres-Elikasases) 3 b4!?

Nov-03-09  WhiteRook48: 2 f4?! might work vs Sicilian
Jan-12-10  mrandersson: i really do hate the Sicilian Defense its always nice to beat it was white but it does not happen enough tho. the g6 Bg7 dragon thing is so strong in my level anyway.
Jan-12-10  FrogC: <WhiteRook48> 2.f4 is generally consided almost refuted by the Tal-Lisitsyn gambit, 2...d5! Certainly I've found it very effective.
Feb-05-10  rapidcitychess: what about the marshall sicilian?<1e4 c5 2 d4 e6>
Feb-05-10  rapidcitychess: what I got was a advance variation<3 d5>,exchange variation <3 c3>, and classical. (probably best) <Nf3>
Mar-13-10  drukenknight: another interesting b3 Sicilian, an unusual placement of whites KB; a k side storm, blacks QN attacks the q side and white's N does some typical cartwheeling tactics....

1. e4 c5
2. b3 d6
3. Bb2 Nc6
4. f4 e6
5. Qf3 Nf6
6. Bd3 (seems everytime I move d3 in this I get hammered by the ...Qa4+ so I think my B has to go here something to think about)

6... Be7
7. Ne2 O-O
8. Nbc3 e5
9. f5 a6
10. g4 b5
11. Ng3 Nd4

typical closed sicilan blacks Qn attacks the Q side, see Spassky/Geller match for example

12. Qg2 Nxg4
13. O-O-O c4
14. Be2 cxb3
15. cxb3 Nxe2+
16. Ncxe2!? (I grabbed the wrong N!)

16...Bg5!? (Qb6 better)
17. Kb1 Bb7
18. Nh5

after Nh5 find blacks defense..


click for larger view

18…. Nh6!?
19. Nxg7 Bxe4+
20. Qxe4 Kxg7

after 20 ..Kxg7 white to win:


click for larger view

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