- ECO code
- B56
- Moves
- 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- To move
- White
- Master games
- 737
- Average game length
- 42 moves
- Years covered
- 1933–2026
Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation is the opening filed under ECO code B56, reached after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6. It belongs to the Sicilian Defense family and is known as the Classical Variation; in the resulting position it is White to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 737 games on this line — the 147th most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1933 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2020s, with 230 games. An average game here lasts 42 moves.
White wins 41% of those games, 32% end in a draw, and Black wins 27%. That is close to the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%).
From this position the most popular move is 6.Bg5, played in 491 games, followed by 6.Bc4 (115) and 6.Be2 (53). 6.Bg5 leads into Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation. After 6.Bg5 White scores 42% and Black 25%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Shirov,A (33 games); on the Black side, Shirov, Alexei (41).
3 named variations branch off this position and have their own page here, among them Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation; Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation; Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Traditional Variation.
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Results in master games
- White 41% (301)
- Draws 32% (239)
- Black 27% (197)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.Bg5 | 491 | 42/33/25 | Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation |
| 6.Bc4 | 115 | 40/30/30 | — |
| 6.Be2 | 53 | 28/38/34 | — |
| 6.g3 | 22 | 36/41/23 | — |
| 6.f3 | 20 | 50/15/35 | — |
| 6.Be3 | 18 | 33/39/28 | — |
| 6.h3 | 5 | 60/20/20 | — |
| 6.f4 | 4 | 25/50/25 | — |
Variations from this position
- Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation · 6.Bg5 · 491 games
- Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation · 6.Bg5 e6 · 404 games
- Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Traditional Variation · 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 · 379 games
How the position is reached
- King's Pawn Game · 1.e4 · 62,859 games
- Sicilian Defense · 1.e4 c5 · 21,789 games
- Sicilian Defense · 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 · 18,942 games
- Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations · 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 · 9,282 games
- Sicilian Defense · 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 · 6,995 games
- Sicilian Defense · 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 · 6,811 games
- Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations, Main Line · 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 · 6,441 games
Played most often by
As White
- Shirov,A 33
- Nepomniachtchi,I 27
- Anand, Viswanathan 25
As Black
- Shirov, Alexei 41
- Firouzja,Alireza 40
- Kortschnoj, Viktor 33
Games per decade
- 1930s 1
- 1940s 1
- 1950s 11
- 1960s 20
- 1970s 23
- 1980s 67
- 1990s 156
- 2000s 123
- 2010s 105
- 2020s 230
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liang,Awonder | Nakamura,Hi | 0-1 | 2026 | Nakamura-Liang Rapid |
| Sanal,V | Carlsen,M | 1-0 | 2026 | 1st 3-0 Thu 15th Jan 2026 |
| Nepomniachtchi,I | Tabernilla,Tyrhone James | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 23rd Jun 2026 |
| Grischuk,A | Henriquez Villagra,C | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 20th Jan 2026 |
| Vachier Lagrave,M | Saric,Iv | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | GCT Super Blitz Croatia |
| Vachier Lagrave,M | Henriquez Villagra,C | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 20th Jan 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation?
It is the opening with ECO code B56, reached after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6. It belongs to the Sicilian Defense family.
Is the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation good for White or for Black?
In 737 master games on this line White wins 41%, 32% are drawn and Black wins 27%. The collection average is White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28% — so this line is no worse than usual for White than the field as a whole.
What is the main continuation of the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation?
6.Bg5 — played in 491 of the master games on this line, which leads into Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation.
Which grandmasters play the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation?
On the White side Shirov,A (33), Nepomniachtchi,I (27), Anand, Viswanathan (25); on the Black side Shirov, Alexei (41), Firouzja,Alireza (40), Kortschnoj, Viktor (33).
Every number on this page is computed from Katuranga's master game collection; names and ECO codes follow the lichess opening book (CC0).
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