- ECO code
- B23
- Moves
- 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- To move
- White
- Master games
- 692
- Average game length
- 43 moves
- Years covered
- 1869–2026
Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional is the opening filed under ECO code B23, reached after 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6. It belongs to the Sicilian Defense family and is known as the Closed, Traditional; in the resulting position it is White to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 692 games on this line — the 163rd most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1869 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2020s, with 230 games. An average game here lasts 43 moves.
White wins 36% of those games, 29% end in a draw, and Black wins 35%. Compared with the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%), Black scores better here by 7 percentage points. Draws are less common here than usual, by 6 points.
From this position the most popular move is 3.g3, played in 228 games, followed by 3.Nf3 (152) and 3.Bb5 (151). After 3.g3 White scores 25% and Black 37%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Spassky, Boris V (62 games); on the Black side, Praggnanandhaa,R (22).
Reading about an opening is not the same as knowing it. Play this line against the Katuranga bot, then let the engine mark your brilliant moves, mistakes and blunders in Analysis — the fastest way to find out which of these moves you actually understand.
Results in master games
- White 36% (254)
- Draws 29% (199)
- Black 35% (239)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.g3 | 228 | 25/38/37 | — |
| 3.Nf3 | 152 | 45/27/28 | — |
| 3.Bb5 | 151 | 40/26/34 | — |
| 3.Nge2 | 82 | 53/26/21 | — |
| 3.f4 | 70 | 30/14/56 | — |
| 3.d3 | 4 | 0/25/75 | — |
| 3.Bc4 | 3 | 33/0/67 | — |
| 3.f3 | 1 | 100/0/0 | — |
How the position is reached
- King's Pawn Game · 1.e4 · 62,859 games
- Sicilian Defense · 1.e4 c5 · 21,789 games
- Sicilian Defense: Closed · 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 · 1,468 games
Played most often by
As White
- Spassky, Boris V 62
- Smyslov, Vassily 44
- Grischuk,A 31
As Black
- Praggnanandhaa,R 22
- Giri,A 20
- Gukesh,D 19
Games per decade
- 1860s 1
- 1870s 2
- 1880s 3
- 1890s 8
- 1900s 12
- 1910s 2
- 1920s 8
- 1930s 4
- 1940s 26
- 1950s 25
- 1960s 36
- 1970s 18
- 1980s 61
- 1990s 89
- 2000s 63
- 2010s 104
- 2020s 230
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashraf,Artin | Caruana,F | 0-1 | 2026 | 2nd 3-0 Thu 19th Feb 2026 |
| Praggnanandhaa,R | Firouzja,Alireza | 0-1 | 2026 | GCT Super Rapid Croatia |
| Carlsen,M | Lazavik,Denis | 1-0 | 2026 | SpeedChess Final 2025 |
| Lu,Miaoyi | Ivanchuk,V | 0-1 | 2026 | Tata Steel Challengers |
| Kravtsiv,M | Nakamura,Hi | 0-1 | 2026 | 2nd 3-0 Thu 29th Jan 2026 |
| Caruana,F | Duda,J | 0-1 | 2026 | 2nd 3-0 Thu 15th Jan 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional?
It is the opening with ECO code B23, reached after 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6. It belongs to the Sicilian Defense family.
Is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional good for White or for Black?
In 692 master games on this line White wins 36%, 29% are drawn and Black wins 35%. The collection average is White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28% — so this line is a slightly better bargain for Black than the field as a whole.
What is the main continuation of the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional?
3.g3 — played in 228 of the master games on this line.
Which grandmasters play the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional?
On the White side Spassky, Boris V (62), Smyslov, Vassily (44), Grischuk,A (31); on the Black side Praggnanandhaa,R (22), Giri,A (20), Gukesh,D (19).
Every number on this page is computed from Katuranga's master game collection; names and ECO codes follow the lichess opening book (CC0).
Try this line on the board
Play this opening against the Katuranga bot, then review the game — the engine marks every brilliant move, mistake and blunder.