The Sicilian Defense Great For All Levels

The Sicilian Defense: The most popular chess opening for Black at master level, and a world of theory that has revolutionized the King's Pawn Game over the last half-century.

Yet the Sicilian is comparatively rare at amateur level. The complexities involved often deter club players, and few stray far into its conceptual labyrinth until they’re approaching master level.

But the Sicilian Defense doesn’t have to wait until you’re a chess expert. In fact, 1...c5 is so sound that it scores better than 1..e5 even at beginner level! Here, we’ll show you simple yet effective variations of the Sicilian Defense that, with practice, could easily win you a majority of games.

History of the Sicilian Defense

In contemporary chess, the Sicilian Defense (1.e4 c5) is the most popular Black opening at master level. But its widespread popularity is a relatively recent phenomenon. First analyzed in the late 16th century, early scholars failed to find much merit in 1...c5.

The Sicilian Defense wasn’t formally named until 1813 and only enjoyed a brief spell of popularity with the masters of the early 1800s. Chess legend Howard Staunton, whom the Staunton chess set is named after, proclaimed 1...c5 as the “Best possible reply to 1.e4". But the World Greats Paul Morphy and Wilheim Steinitz who followed once again mocked the Sicilian in favor of the symmetrical king's pawn opening.

It wasn’t until after the 1940s that the Sicilian Defense began to recover favor among the world’s elite. Masters like Miguel Najdorf contributed greatly to theoretical development, and by the 1970s and 80s, Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov cemented it as a firm favorite among masters for generations to come.

Sicilian Defense Central Themes

Fight for d4

After 1.e4, Black must do something to prevent White from posting a pawn on d4 and claiming full control of the center. Instead of mirroring White with 1.e5, Black challenges the d4 square with the asymmetrical 1...c5.

A Safe Square on c5

One drawback of the symmetrical king's pawn opening (1.e4 e5) is that White can immediately attack Black’s central pawn with its knight. In contrast, c5 is a frustratingly tricky square to challenge with any White piece except a pawn.

Counter Attack on the Queenside

By playing 1...c5, Black immediately creates a spatial advantage on White’s queenside. As we’ll see in a moment, many lines of the Sicilian Defense lead to each side attacking on opposite sides of the board. After the c-pawn is exchanged, the semi-open c-file becomes a dangerous corridor for Black’s rooks and queen to attack.

Doesn’t Open Up Any Pieces

One of the chief criticisms of the Sicilian Defense is that advancing the c-pawn doesn’t immediately offer development to any of Black’s pieces except the queen. In this way, 1...c5 can delay development and allow White a head start.

Complex Theory

Among all chess openings, the Sicilian Defense is cloaked in more theory than any other. One of the reasons for this is the multitude variations that both Black and White can choose from following 1. e4 c5.

As Black, you’ll want to begin by keeping things as simple as you can. Choose a straight forward Open Sicilian line that works well for you. Then, learn some winning responses to White’s other options such as the ones suggested below.

Open Sicilian Defense Variations

One of the most daunting aspects of playing the Sicilian Defense is that, like against 1...e5, White can reply with a myriad of lines. The good news is that in the majority of games, White will choose the Open Sicilian.

In the Open Sicilian Defense, White meets 1...c5 with 2.Nf3. White’s main objective here is to follow soon after with d4. At master level the most common response for Black is 2...d6. This move scores better than 2...Nc6 at club level, too.

From here, the main line follows: 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3. Then, from move five, the ball is in your court. Since this is the version you’ll be playing most often, we’d highly recommend becoming fluent with one line that works for your style of play.

The Sicilian Dragon Variation (5...g6)

In the Dragon Variation, Black answers 5.Nc3 with 5...g6. In doing so, the dark squared bishop is ready to be fianchettoed – a deadly weapon against White’s center and queenside. On the downside, ...g6 weakens the kingside pawn structure which White may exploit later. For this reason, the Dragon is often dubbed a double edged sword!

In most lines, Black follows with Bg7, Nc6, and castles kingside. Traditionally, White castles on the queenside. From here, both sides typically launch ferocious, fast-paced attacks on opposite sides of the board. Pawn storms are a common weapon to attack the enemy fort, and passive moves can prove fatal for either side. Black also often exploits the semi-open c-file to infiltrate the enemy camp with its rook.

While there are too many variations to mention here, your attacking opportunities upon initiating the Dragon with 5...g6 are so strong that the Dragon Variation wins Black the majority of games. If you wish to play this high-octane opening regularly, it may be worth investing in a comprehensive course from a master to unleash its dazzling potential.

Sicilian Najdorf Variation (5...a6)

While the Dragon is an extremely fun, attacking, and easy-to-understand variation that scores highly for intermediate players, it's not the most frequently played Open Sicilian for Black. On move five, instead of 5...g3, more players instead choose the Najdorf Variation: 5...a6.

The main idea behind 5...a6 is to control the important b5 square while remaining passive and flexible to see what White will do. It’s very passivity, however, makes the Najdorf inadvisable for intermediate players. In reply, White has countless valid moves to play, meaning you’ll have to memorize endless lines.

The Najdorf is indeed the most popular grandmaster line of the Sicilian, and in emulating grandmasters, many intermediate players do try it. But before reaching 2000 Elo and doing a lot of homework, we’d highly recommend sticking with simpler lines.

Sicilian Defense Classical Variation (5.Nc3)

If you’d like to play an Open Sicilian that is less nail biting than the Dragon and less complicated than the Najdorf, the Classical Sicilian may make a sensible choice for you.

The Classical Sicilian setup may be arrived at in two common ways:

a) 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6

or b) 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6

Either way, Black has favored developing the queenside knight over the kingside bishop or a7-a6. In response, White’s best move is to immediately threaten Black’s kingside knight (and therefore its pawn structure) with 6.Bg5. Your best answer as Black, 6...e6 affords your knight protection from your queen (albeit revealing a pin!).

But many White players don’t know how to play the Classical Variation the right way. In fact, White’s most common response at club level - 6.Be3 can easily lose the game. By countering with 6...Ng4, Black attacks the newly developed Bishop and the f2 square in one fell swoop. Why is f2 relevant? After the bishop moves, Black plays 7...Qb6, x-raying checkmate on that square while also attacking White's knight and b2. White must be extremely careful now not to lose from this three-pronged attack!

Anti-Sicilian Openings

For many, the Open Sicilian (2.Nf3) is synonymous with the Sicilian Defense itself. All other White responses are regarded as ways of evading the mainlines and have been collectively termed the Anti-Sicilians. As a Sicilian player, its prudent to learn the most important ones!

Closed Sicilian Defense (2.Nc3)

Instead of trying to win quick control of the center on d4, the Closed Sicilian is a more patient approach for White. By playing 2.Nc3 instead of Nf3, White is in no hurry to take the fight to Black.

While there are many variations, White typically aims to mount a slow kingside attack. The mainline follows: 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 d6. From here, White aims to undermine Black’s fianchettoed bishop and will often march its f-pawn towards the enemy camp. It’s an imposing position that can be intimidating to play against.

Against the Closed Sicilian, one of Black’s best weapons is to counterattack on the queenside. In the diagram below, notice how White's queenside knight is pinned to the b2 pawn by Black's dark-squared bishop.

A highly effective strategy here is to undermine the covering knight as quickly as possible. By playing 5...Rb8 and marching your b-pawn towards b4, White will often be forced into cramped, clumsy positions to prevent the fatal Bxb2. Suddenly, the tables are turned and you’ve won a convincing positional advantage!

Smith-Morra Gambit (2.d4)

In the Smith-Morra Gambit, White breaks the usual rules of the Sicilian Defense by playing d4 before propping up the move with its kingside knight.

The Smith-Morra is a gambit because, instead of recapturing with the queen, White offers up another pawn on c3 to secure quick development (1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3). In the majority of games, Black plays into White’s hands by taking both pawns and allowing their opponent a substantial head start (3...cxd3 4.Nxc3). But there are other options.

Statistically more promising for Black is to counterattack with 3...d5. Needing to save its remaining central pawn, White should capture with 4.exd5. Now, instead of recapturing with your queen, you’re better off reclaiming the pawn with your knight: 4...Nf6 5. cxd4 Nxd5:

After the exchange, Black is in good stead. The board is wide open, and White is left with one lonely isolated central pawn. Chess database analysis reveals that from here, Black goes on to score a majority.

Alapin Variation (2.c3)

Since the birth of chess databases, some White players have been becoming wise to the statistically most successful response to the Sicilian Defense: the Alapin Variation. By meeting 1...c5 with 2.c3, White refutes the Sicilian mainlines while maintaining a strong bid for d4.

The biggest reason the Alapin is so successful, however, is that many Black players don’t know how to counter it. The most common response: 2...Nc6 is a mistake. After the two sides exchange pawns on d4, White has a strong center and threatens to push its d-pawn towards Black's knight, to which there is no good answer.

Luckily, the Alapin Variation shares some similarities with the Smith-Morra Gambit. As Black, you can coax White into precisely the same superior position that we landed up with before: 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Nf6 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 Nxd5

Yes, that really is an identical board to the diagram shown in the Smith-Morra Gambit! If White simply follows the most natural moves, that’s exactly what you’ll get. Sorted!

Conclusion

The Sicilian Defense is an incredibly complex and dynamic opening that often leads to sharp, aggressive lines for both sides. While it can take time to learn all the variations, you’ll likely be able to play an Open Sicilian favorite like the Dragon Variation in the majority of games.

If White tries to fox you with an Anti-Sicilian line such as the Alapin Variation, make sure you have an even more cunning line up your sleeve to outsmart them. After practicing your favorite variations for a while, you may well begin to win the majority of Sicilian games, which is always a great achievement with the Black pieces.