Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f4 e6 7. Be2 Qc7 8. O-O Nc6
9. Kh1+0.41
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation (B85), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f4 e6 7. Be2 Qc7 8. O-O Nc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. Kh1 for White. White is slightly better (+0.41).
Top engine moves
- +0.419. Kh1 Be7 10. Be3 O-O 11. a4 Bd7 12. Nb3 b6 13. Qd2 Na5
- +0.399. Be3 Be7 10. Kh1 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. e5 dxe5 13. fxe5 Nd7
- +0.239. Bf3 Be7 10. Be3 O-O 11. Kh1 Nxd4 12. Qxd4 Bd7 13. a4 Bc6
Other move orders
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Be3 d6 9. f4
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Kh1 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. a4
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f4 e6 7. Be2 Qc7 8. O-O Nc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. Kh1 for White, continuing Be7 10. Be3 O-O 11. a4 Bd7 12. Nb3 b6 13. Qd2 Na5. White is slightly better (+0.41). The next best moves are 9. Be3 (+0.39) and 9. Bf3 (+0.23).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.41: 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, Paulsen Variation?
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+).