Openings 1.e4 c5: the Sicilian
Sicilian Sveshnikov and Kalashnikov: Lines and Stats by Rating
5...e5 kicks the d4 knight at once and grabs space, at the cost of a lasting hole on d5 and a backward d-pawn. Active pieces make up for it, which is why the Sveshnikov is a favorite of top players, Magnus Carlsen among them.
B33Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation
Games from this position (1600–1999): 4,040
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
| Move | Played | Games | White · Draw · Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46% | 1,859 | ||
| 20% | 806 | ||
| 15% | 592 | ||
| 11% | 433 | ||
| 8% | 326 | ||
| 0.6% | 24 |
Plans for both sides
White
- 6.Ndb5 is the main move: the knight eyes d6, and after 6...d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 the fight is all about d5.
- 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Nd5 breaks up Black’s kingside pawns; 9.Nd5 keeps it quieter.
- A knight on d5 that cannot be traded is White’s dream. Trade off the black pieces that can cover d5.
Black
- After 6.Ndb5 play 6...d6: the knight must not land on d6.
- Your plan is ...f5 to hit e4, and ...Bg5 or ...Bg7 to trade or activate the bad bishop.
- The Kalashnikov (4...e5 5.Nb5 d6) is the same idea a move earlier, without ...Nf6.
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Sicilian Sveshnikov at each rating
How often the position after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 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 | 109<0.1% | 6.Nxc652% | |
| 1200–1599 | 909<0.1% | 6.Nxc639% | |
| 1600–1999 | 4,040<0.1% | 6.Ndb546% | |
| 2000+ | 5,1200.3% | 6.Ndb579% | |
| All | 10k<0.1% | 6.Ndb560% |
What usually comes next
The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.
Main variations
Black’s pawns look broken, but the bishop pair and ...f5 give real counterplay.
345 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 51%, 9% were drawn, Black won 41%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Nd5 f5White keeps the bishop and trades on f6 only when it helps.
2,114 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 47%, 9% were drawn, Black won 44%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Nd5 Be7White trades at once and gains space; the d5 pawn blocks Black’s center.
991 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 50%, 8% were drawn, Black won 42%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Nd5 Nxd5 8.exd5The same d5 fight before ...Nf6; White can also clamp d5 with 6.c4.
1,737 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 50%, 6% were drawn, Black won 44%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6 6.N1c3 a6 7.Na3 b5 8.Nd5Black gives up the dark-squared bishop for fast development.
970 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 48%, 7% were drawn, Black won 45%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 a6 6.Nd6+ Bxd6 7.Qxd6 Qf6Common below 1600. Black’s center gets stronger and ...d5 comes soon.
5,190 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 46%, 5% were drawn, Black won 49%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Nxc6 bxc6
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At club level
Below 1600 the most common answer to 5...e5 is 6.Nxc6, and below 1200 three in four answer 4...e5 with 5.Nxc6. After 5...e5 6.Nxc6 bxc6 White scores only about 48%. At 2000+ four in five play 6.Ndb5, so that is the line to learn first.
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