ECO B56 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

6. Bg5+0.46

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation (B56), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. Bg5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.46).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.466. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O Nxd4 9. Qxd4 a6 10. f4 O-O
  2. +0.386. Bc4 Bd7 7. Bb3 a6 8. Be3 Na5 9. Qe2 g6 10. Qd2 Nxb3
  3. +0.376. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Qe2 a5 9. a4 Nb4 10. O-O-O O-O

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be2

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. Bg5 for White, continuing e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O Nxd4 9. Qxd4 a6 10. f4 O-O. White is slightly better (+0.46). The next best moves are 6. Bc4 (+0.38) and 6. Be3 (+0.37).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.46: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation?
B56. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; B is the volume for semi-open games (other than the French).

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).