Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation, Kantscher Line
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 Nxd4 9. Qxd4 a6 10. f4 b5
11. Bxf6+0.55
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation, Kantscher Line (B63), reached after 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 Nxd4 9. Qxd4 a6 10. f4 b5, Stockfish 18 recommends 11. Bxf6 for White. White is slightly better (+0.55).
Top engine moves
- +0.5511. Bxf6 gxf6 12. f5 Qa5 13. fxe6 fxe6 14. Kb1 b4 15. Ne2 Qc5
- +0.1311. Be2 Bb7 12. Bf3 O-O 13. e5 Bxf3 14. exf6 gxf6 15. gxf3 fxg5
- +0.0911. h4 Bb7 12. Rh3 h6 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Qxd6 Qxd6 15. Rxd6 Be7
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation, Kantscher Line?
After 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 Nxd4 9. Qxd4 a6 10. f4 b5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 11. Bxf6 for White, continuing gxf6 12. f5 Qa5 13. fxe6 fxe6 14. Kb1 b4 15. Ne2 Qc5. White is slightly better (+0.55). The next best moves are 11. Be2 (+0.13) and 11. h4 (+0.09).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation, Kantscher Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.55: 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, Kantscher Line?
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+).