ECO B33 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5

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

6. Ndb5+0.38

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation (B33), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. Ndb5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.38).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.386. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7
  2. +0.076. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 Bb4 8. O-O O-O 9. Qf3 d6 10. Bg5 Rb8
  3. +0.046. Nf5 d5 7. exd5 Bxf5 8. dxc6 bxc6 9. Qf3 Qd7 10. Bc4 Bxc2

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. Ndb5 for White, continuing d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 Bg7. White is slightly better (+0.38). The next best moves are 6. Nxc6 (+0.07) and 6. Nf5 (+0.04).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.38: 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: Lasker-Pelikan Variation?
B33. 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+).