ECO B30 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6

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

3. d4+0.37

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian (B30), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. d4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.37).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.373. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bf4 d5 7. exd5 exd5
  2. +0.323. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 Be7 6. Nd2 Be6 7. a4 Bg5
  3. +0.283. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. Re1 e5 6. Bxc6 bxc6 7. c3 Ne7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. d4 for White, continuing cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bf4 d5 7. exd5 exd5. White is slightly better (+0.37). The next best moves are 3. Nc3 (+0.32) and 3. Bb5 (+0.28).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian 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: Old Sicilian?
B30. 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+).