Sicilian Defense

The idea

With 1...c5 Black fights for d4 from the side instead of copying White. In the Open Sicilian, 2.Nf3 and 3.d4, White swaps the d-pawn for Black's c-pawn. White gets quick development and more space; Black gets an extra center pawn and a half-open c-file for the rooks.

From there the Sicilian splits into whole families of its own: the Najdorf with ...a6, the Dragon with ...g6, the Scheveningen with ...e6 and ...d6, the Sveshnikov with an early ...e5, and many more. White often castles queenside and storms the kingside with pawns, while Black attacks down the c-file and on the queenside. White can also avoid all of this with 2.c3, the Alapin, or with quieter setups such as 2.Nc3 and g3.

Sharp and unbalanced. The two sides usually attack on opposite wings, so one tempo can decide the game. There is a lot of theory in the main lines, but the plans are clear once you know the pawn structure.

Players who want winning chances with Black and do not mind complications. It rewards study more than almost any other opening, so it fits players who enjoy preparation.

Each Sicilian has its own traps. In the Open lines, watch for White's sacrifices on d5, e6 and b5, and do not let your king sit in the center for long.

The main line, move by move

1. 1.e4 · White puts a pawn in the center and frees the queen and the bishop on f1. It is the most popular first move of all.
2. 1...c5 · Black fights for d4 with a pawn from the side instead of copying White. This is the Sicilian Defense, which leads to unbalanced games where both sides can play to win.
3. 2.Nf3 · The knight develops toward the center and helps prepare the push d4.
4. 2...d6 · Black covers e5, so White's pawn cannot safely move up there, and opens a diagonal for the bishop on c8. Now ...Nf6 can come without being chased away by e5.
5. 3.d4 · White opens the center and offers a pawn trade, to get the pieces out quickly.
6. 3...cxd4 · Black trades the c-pawn for White's d-pawn. Black now has two center pawns against one and the c-file, with no Black pawn on it, to use for a rook later.
7. 4.Nxd4 · White takes back with the knight, which stands well in the center. White has a lead in development and more space.
8. 4...Nf6 · Black develops the knight and attacks the pawn on e4, so White must guard it.
9. 5.Nc3 · White guards e4 with the knight and develops another piece. This is the main position of the Open Sicilian.
10. 5...a6 · The Najdorf: Black keeps White's knight and bishop off b5 and prepares ...b5 to gain space on the queenside. Black also keeps the choice of ...e5 or ...e6 until White shows a plan.

Next moves in book

• 2.a3 · Mengarini Variation
• 2.a4 · Myers Attack, with a4
• 2.Na3 · Kronberger Variation
• 2.Nc3 · Closed
• 2.b3 · Czerniak Attack
• 2.b4 · Wing Gambit
• 2.c3 · Alapin Variation
• 2.c4 · Staunton-Cochrane Variation
• 2.Qg4 · Amazon Attack
• 2.d3
• 2.d4 · Smith-Morra Gambit
• 2.Ke2 · King David's Opening
• 2.Bc4 · Bowdler Attack
• 2.f4 · McDonnell Attack
• 2.Ne2 · Keres Variation
• 2.Nf3 · Sicilian Defense
• 2.Nh3 · Brick Variation
• 2.g3 · Lasker-Dunne Attack
• 2.g4 · Grob Variation
• 2.h4 · Myers Attack, with h4

A famous game

• Carlsen vs Karjakin World Championship Tiebreak, New York, 2016

Related openings

• French Defense C00–C19 · 171 named lines
• Caro-Kann Defense B10–B19 · 92 named lines
• Alekhine Defense B02–B05 · 53 named lines
• Petrov's Defense C42–C43 · 43 named lines