ECO B20 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Mengarini Variation

1. e4 c5 2. a3

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

2… g6−0.19

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Mengarini Variation (B20), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. a3, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… g6 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.19).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.192… g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. Be3
  2. −0.162… Nc6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 g6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Bg7 7. Be3
  3. −0.042… d6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 g6 7. Be2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Mengarini Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. a3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… g6 for Black, continuing 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. Be3. The position is roughly equal (−0.19). The next best moves are 2… Nc6 (−0.16) and 2… d6 (−0.04).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Mengarini Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.19: the position is roughly equal. 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: Mengarini Variation?
B20. 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+).