Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Bird Variation
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 Be6
9. Nc4+0.49
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Bird Variation (B33), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 Be6, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. Nc4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.49).
Top engine moves
- +0.499. Nc4 b5 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. Ne3 Qd8 12. a4 b4 13. Ncd5 g6
- +0.449. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Nd5 Qd8 11. Nc4 b5 12. Nce3 g6 13. a4 b4
- +0.119. Be2 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Nd5 O-O 12. c3 Bg5 13. O-O Ne7
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Bird Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 Be6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. Nc4 for White, continuing b5 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. Ne3 Qd8 12. a4 b4 13. Ncd5 g6. White is slightly better (+0.49). The next best moves are 9. Bxf6 (+0.44) and 9. Be2 (+0.11).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Bird Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.49: 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, Bird 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+).