ECO B66 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Neo-Modern Variation, Early Deviations

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6

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

8. O-O-O+0.43

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Neo-Modern Variation, Early Deviations (B66), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. O-O-O for White. White is slightly better (+0.43).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.438. O-O-O Qc7 9. Be2 Bd7 10. f4 Be7 11. Nf3 h6 12. Bh4 b5
  2. +0.418. Be2 Be7 9. O-O-O Bd7 10. f4 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Bc6 12. Bf3 O-O
  3. +0.308. Nxc6 bxc6 9. O-O-O Be7 10. g4 h6 11. Bh4 d5 12. Bg2 Bb7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Neo-Modern Variation, Early Deviations?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. O-O-O for White, continuing Qc7 9. Be2 Bd7 10. f4 Be7 11. Nf3 h6 12. Bh4 b5. White is slightly better (+0.43). The next best moves are 8. Be2 (+0.41) and 8. Nxc6 (+0.30).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Neo-Modern Variation, Early Deviations a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.43: 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, Neo-Modern Variation, Early Deviations?
B66. 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+).