ECO B40 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Kveinis Variation

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qb6

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

5. Be3+0.72

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Kveinis Variation (B40), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qb6, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Be3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.72).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.725. Be3 Qxb2 6. Nd2 a6 7. Bd3 Qc3 8. O-O Qc7 9. e5 Ne7
  2. +0.565. Nb3 Bb4+ 6. c3 Be7 7. c4 Nf6 8. Nc3 Bb4 9. Qd3 Nc6
  3. +0.425. Be2 Bc5 6. c3 Nc6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. e5 Ne4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Kveinis Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qb6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Be3 for White, continuing Qxb2 6. Nd2 a6 7. Bd3 Qc3 8. O-O Qc7 9. e5 Ne7. White is slightly better (+0.72). The next best moves are 5. Nb3 (+0.56) and 5. Be2 (+0.42).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Kveinis Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.72: 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: Kveinis Variation?
B40. 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+).