ECO B40 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Paulsen-Basman Defense

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5

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

5. Be3+0.78

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Paulsen-Basman Defense (B40), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Be3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.78).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.785. Be3 d6 6. Nc3 a6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8. O-O-O Qe7 9. Nb3 Bxe3
  2. +0.585. Nb3 Bb6 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. Bf4 e5 8. Bg3 h5 9. h4 Nf6
  3. +0.425. Nc3 Qb6 6. Na4 Qa5+ 7. c3 Bxd4 8. Qxd4 Nf6 9. Nc5 Nc6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Paulsen-Basman Defense?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Be3 for White, continuing d6 6. Nc3 a6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8. O-O-O Qe7 9. Nb3 Bxe3. White is slightly better (+0.78). The next best moves are 5. Nb3 (+0.58) and 5. Nc3 (+0.42).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Paulsen-Basman Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.78: 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: Paulsen-Basman Defense?
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+).