ECO B85 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Main Line

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Be3 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. Qe1 O-O

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

11. a4+0.37

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Main Line (B85), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Be3 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. Qe1 O-O, Stockfish 18 recommends 11. a4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.37).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.3711. a4 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 e5 13. Be3 Be6 14. f5 Bc4 15. Bg5 Qb6+
  2. +0.3111. Rd1 Bd7 12. Qg3 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Bc6 14. Bd3 Rfd8 15. Rf3 b5
  3. +0.2711. Qg3 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 13. a3 Bb7 14. Kh1 Rad8 15. Rae1 h6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Main Line?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Be3 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. Qe1 O-O, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 11. a4 for White, continuing Nxd4 12. Bxd4 e5 13. Be3 Be6 14. f5 Bc4 15. Bg5 Qb6+. White is slightly better (+0.37). The next best moves are 11. Rd1 (+0.31) and 11. Qg3 (+0.27).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Main Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.37: 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, Classical Main Line?
B85. 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+).