Sicilian defence

The Sicilian defence, usually called just the Sicilian, is a chess opening, which starts with these moves:

• 1. e4 c5

In competitive chess, it is by far the most frequently played reply to the King's Pawn opening (1.e4).

The open Sicilian

								[[Image:chess rd d44.png|22px|alt=h8 black rook]]
								[[Image:chess pd l44.png|22px|alt=h7 black pawn]]
								[[Image:chess __ d44.png|22px|alt=h6 __|link=]]
								[[Image:chess __ l44.png|22px|alt=h5 __|link=]]
								[[Image:chess __ d44.png|22px|alt=h4 __|link=]]
								[[Image:chess __ l44.png|22px|alt=h3 __|link=]]
								[[Image:chess pl d44.png|22px|alt=h2 white pawn]]
								[[Image:chess rl l44.png|22px|alt=h1 white rook]]

• Open variations 1e4 c5 2Nf3 followed by 3d4. A typical line is

1.e4 c5

2.Nf3 d6

3.d4 cxd4

4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3

Now Black decides where to put his KB: on e7 or g7; his QN will probably go to c6.

The closed Sicilian

								[[Image:chess rd d44.png|22px|alt=h8 black rook]]
								[[Image:chess pd l44.png|22px|alt=h7 black pawn]]
								[[Image:chess __ d44.png|22px|alt=h6 __|link=]]
								[[Image:chess __ l44.png|22px|alt=h5 __|link=]]
								[[Image:chess __ d44.png|22px|alt=h4 __|link=]]
								[[Image:chess __ l44.png|22px|alt=h3 __|link=]]
								[[Image:chess pl d44.png|22px|alt=h2 white pawn]]
								[[Image:chess rl l44.png|22px|alt=h1 white rook]]

• Closed variations 1e4 c5 2Nc3 not followed by d4. A typical line is

1.e4 c5

2.Nc3 Nc6

3.f4 d6

4.Nf3 g6

5.Bb5 Bg7

6.d3

Instead of 3.f4, a slower game with 3.g3 followed by Bg2 and d3 could be chosen by White.

• ECO code B20–B99. ECO is the Encyclopaedia of chess openings.