ECO B63 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7

abcdefgh87654321
White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

8. O-O-O+0.44

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation (B63), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. O-O-O for White. White is slightly better (+0.44).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.448. O-O-O Nxd4 9. Qxd4 O-O 10. h4 Bd7 11. f3 Qb8 12. Bxf6 Bxf6
  2. +0.348. f4 Nxd4 9. Qxd4 h6 10. Bh4 O-O 11. O-O-O Qa5 12. Qe3 d5
  3. +0.198. Bb5 Qc7 9. O-O-O O-O 10. Be2 Rd8 11. Kb1 Nxd4 12. Qxd4 Bd7

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O O-O 9. f4
  • 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O O-O 9. f4 e5
  • 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O O-O 9. f4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. O-O-O for White, continuing Nxd4 9. Qxd4 O-O 10. h4 Bd7 11. f3 Qb8 12. Bxf6 Bxf6. White is slightly better (+0.44). The next best moves are 8. f4 (+0.34) and 8. Bb5 (+0.19).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.44: 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: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation?
B63. 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+).