ECO B45 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6

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

6. Ndb5+0.37

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation (B45), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. Ndb5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.37).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.376. Ndb5 d6 7. Bf4 e5 8. Bg5 a6 9. Na3 b5 10. Bxf6 gxf6
  2. +0.366. Bf4 d6 7. Ndb5 e5 8. Bg5 a6 9. Na3 b5 10. Bxf6 gxf6
  3. +0.356. Be2 Bb4 7. O-O Bxc3 8. bxc3 Nxe4 9. Bd3 Nxc3 10. Qd2 Na4

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. Ndb5 for White, continuing d6 7. Bf4 e5 8. Bg5 a6 9. Na3 b5 10. Bxf6 gxf6. White is slightly better (+0.37). The next best moves are 6. Bf4 (+0.36) and 6. Be2 (+0.35).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.37: 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: Four Knights Variation?
B45. 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+).