ECO B83 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2

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

6… Be7+0.43

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation (B83), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… Be7 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.43).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.436… Be7 7. Be3 O-O 8. Qd2 a6 9. g4 b5 10. a3 d5 11. exd5
  2. +0.496… Nc6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qd2 e5 9. Nb3 Ng4 10. Bxg4 Bxg4 11. f3
  3. +0.496… a6 7. Be3 Be7 8. f4 e5 9. Nf5 Bxf5 10. exf5 exf4 11. Bxf4

Other move orders

  • 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6
  • 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Qc7

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… Be7 for Black, continuing 7. Be3 O-O 8. Qd2 a6 9. g4 b5 10. a3 d5 11. exd5. White is slightly better (+0.43). The next best moves are 6… Nc6 (+0.49) and 6… a6 (+0.49).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation 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: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation?
B83. 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+).