Sicilian Defense: Pin Variation, Koch Variation
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. e5
6… Nd5+0.95
White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Sicilian Defense: Pin Variation, Koch Variation (B40), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. e5, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… Nd5 for Black. White is clearly better (+0.95).
Top engine moves
- +0.956… Nd5 7. Qg4 Kf8 8. Bd3 h5 9. Qe4 d6 10. O-O dxe5 11. Nxe6+
- +1.256… Ne4 7. Qg4 Nxc3 8. Qxg7 Rf8 9. a3 Nc6 10. axb4 Nxd4 11. Bd3
- +1.756… Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Nd5 8. Qg4 Kf8 9. Nb5 h5 10. Qf3 Nc6 11. c4
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Pin Variation, Koch Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. e5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… Nd5 for Black, continuing 7. Qg4 Kf8 8. Bd3 h5 9. Qe4 d6 10. O-O dxe5 11. Nxe6+. White is clearly better (+0.95). The next best moves are 6… Ne4 (+1.25) and 6… Bxc3+ (+1.75).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Pin Variation, Koch Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.95: white is clearly 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: Pin Variation, Koch Variation?
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+).