Openings 1.e4 c5: the Sicilian
Sicilian Classical (5...Nc6): Richter-Rauzer, Sozin and Stats
5...Nc6 is the most natural move in the Open Sicilian: the knight goes to its best square and hits d4. Black keeps the choice between ...e6, ...e5 and ...g6 for one more move, so White has to decide how to fight first.
B56Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation
Games from this position (1600–1999): 6,010
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
| Move | Played | Games | White · Draw · Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27% | 1,633 | ||
| 14% | 842 | ||
| 14% | 815 | ||
| 12% | 718 | ||
| 12% | 706 | ||
| 10% | 598 | ||
| 9% | 512 | ||
| 1% | 62 | ||
| 0.8% | 47 | ||
| 0.5% | 32 | ||
| 0.3% | 19 |
Plans for both sides
White
- 6.Bg5 (Richter-Rauzer) is the main line: after 6...e6 7.Qd2 White castles long and puts pressure on d6 and f6.
- 6.Bc4 (Sozin) aims the bishop at e6 and f7. With Be3, Qe2 and O-O-O it becomes the very sharp Velimirovic Attack.
- 6.Be3 is popular too, but 6...Ng4 hits the bishop at once. Answer it with 7.Bb5 or 7.Bg5.
Black
- Against 6.Bg5, 6...e6 with ...a6, ...Bd7 and ...Be7 is the main line. If White takes on f6, recapture with the g-pawn and use the bishop pair.
- Against 6.Bc4, 6...e6 blunts the bishop, or 6...Qb6 (Benko) chases the d4 knight first.
- After 6.Nxc6 bxc6 your center gets stronger: aim for ...e5 or ...d5 and use the half-open b-file.
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Sicilian Classical at each rating
How often the position after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.
| Rating | Games (Share of games) | White · Draw · Black | Top next move |
|---|---|---|---|
| <1200 | 179<0.1% | 6.Nxc641% | |
| 1200–1599 | 1,675<0.1% | 6.Bb526% | |
| 1600–1999 | 6,010<0.1% | 6.Be327% | |
| 2000+ | 5,7560.3% | 6.Bg534% | |
| All | 14k<0.1% | 6.Bg522% |
What usually comes next
The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.
Main variations
White castles long and pushes f4–f5 or e5; Black races with ...b5–b4.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.O-O-O Bd7 9.f4 b5The bishop hits e6, the queen goes to e2 and White castles long to push g4–g5.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qe2 a6 9.O-O-OBlack pushes the knight back from d4 before the Sozin setup is complete.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bc4 Qb6 7.Nb3 e6Black wins the bishop pair; White gets the half-open f-file and quick development.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be3 Ng4 7.Bb5 Nxe3 8.fxe3Black takes space with ...e5 and accepts the hole on d5, as in the Najdorf.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7
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At club level
At 2000+ a third of players answer with 6.Bg5, and nearly half meet 6.Be3 with 6...Ng4, after which White scores only about 41%. Between 1200 and 1599 the most common move is 6.Bb5, and below 1200 it is 6.Nxc6. After 6.Nxc6 bxc6 White scores about 47%, so that trade helps Black.
Practice it
The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.
Related openings
- Sicilian Defense
1.e4 c5
- Closed Sicilian
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3
- Alapin Sicilian
1.e4 c5 2.c3
- Smith-Morra Gambit
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3
- Rossolimo Attack
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
- Sicilian Najdorf
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6