ECO B80 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6

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

6. Be3+0.60

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation (B80), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. Be3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.60).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.606. Be3 Nc6 7. Qe2 Nxd4 8. Bxd4 e5 9. Be3 Be7 10. O-O-O a6
  2. +0.476. g4 h6 7. Be3 e5 8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bxd7+ Qxd7 10. Nf5 g6
  3. +0.476. Qf3 Nc6 7. Be3 Bd7 8. O-O-O a6 9. Qg3 Qc7 10. Kb1 b5

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. Be3 for White, continuing Nc6 7. Qe2 Nxd4 8. Bxd4 e5 9. Be3 Be7 10. O-O-O a6. White is slightly better (+0.60). The next best moves are 6. g4 (+0.47) and 6. Qf3 (+0.47).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.60: 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: Scheveningen Variation?
B80. 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+).