- ECO code
- B52
- Moves
- 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- To move
- White
- Master games
- 561
- Average game length
- 44 moves
- Years covered
- 1953–2026
Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Main Line is the opening filed under ECO code B52, reached after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7. It belongs to the Sicilian Defense family and is known as the Moscow Variation, Main Line; in the resulting position it is White to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 561 games on this line — the 195th most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1953 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2020s, with 253 games. An average game here lasts 44 moves.
White wins 32% of those games, 47% end in a draw, and Black wins 21%. Compared with the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%), Black scores worse here by 7 percentage points. Draws are more common here than usual, by 12 points.
From this position the most popular move is 4.Bxd7+, played in 457 games, followed by 4.c4 (78) and 4.a4 (22). After 4.Bxd7+ White scores 28% and Black 21%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Carlsen,M (23 games); on the Black side, Vachier Lagrave,M (70).
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Results in master games
- White 32% (181)
- Draws 47% (260)
- Black 21% (120)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.Bxd7+ | 457 | 28/51/21 | — |
| 4.c4 | 78 | 54/33/13 | — |
| 4.a4 | 22 | 41/14/45 | — |
| 4.Qe2 | 3 | 34/33/33 | — |
| 4.Bc4 | 1 | 0/0/100 | — |
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: Moscow Variation · 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ · 1,420 games
Played most often by
As White
- Carlsen,M 23
- So,W 23
- Caruana,F 21
As Black
- Vachier Lagrave,M 70
- Nakamura,Hi 21
- Hou Yifan 20
Games per decade
- 1950s 15
- 1960s 19
- 1970s 15
- 1980s 13
- 1990s 40
- 2000s 78
- 2010s 128
- 2020s 253
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abdusattorov,Nodirbek | Yakubboev,Nodirbek | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | Titled Tue 19th May 2026 |
| Dau Khuong Duy | Nepomniachtchi,I | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 10th Feb 2026 |
| Moussard,J | Caruana,F | 1-0 | 2026 | Titled Tue 28th Apr 2026 |
| Martirosyan,Haik M. | Nakamura,Hi | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | Titled Tue 30th Jun 2026 |
| Abdusattorov,Nodirbek | Sarana,A | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 19th May 2026 |
| Zierk,S | Caruana,F | 1-0 | 2026 | Naroditsky Mem Rapid 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Main Line?
It is the opening with ECO code B52, reached after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7. It belongs to the Sicilian Defense family.
Is the Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Main Line good for White or for Black?
In 561 master games on this line White wins 32%, 47% are drawn and Black wins 21%. 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: Moscow Variation, Main Line?
4.Bxd7+ — played in 457 of the master games on this line.
Which grandmasters play the Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Main Line?
On the White side Carlsen,M (23), So,W (23), Caruana,F (21); on the Black side Vachier Lagrave,M (70), Nakamura,Hi (21), Hou Yifan (20).
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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