Sicilian Defense: Closed Variation

ECO B23-B26intermediate

In the Closed Sicilian White plays 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3, holding back d4 and instead deploying g3, Bg2, d3 and f4. The center stays locked while both sides attack on opposite wings: White rolls forward with f4-f5 and a kingside pawn storm, Black expands with ...b5 and ...Rb8 on the queenside. Spassky used it as a deadly attacking weapon, and it remains one of the easiest anti-Sicilians to learn because plans matter far more than memorized moves.

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Main line

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Diagram shows the position after 6 half-moves of the main line. On SpeakChess you can drill this line move by move — the trainer plays the other side and corrects you instantly, then spaced repetition schedules each variation so you review it right before you would forget it.

Move by move

The first 12 moves of the main line, explained one at a time. Every move of every variation is annotated like this inside the trainer — this page shows the opening moves so you can judge the explanations before signing up.

Right away the pawn steps up to e4, claiming a big chunk of the middle of the board. Grabbing the center early is a super start, and it opens paths so your other pieces can come out soon. Great first move!
Black plays c5, advancing the pawn two squares from its starting square. This is the Sicilian Defense, a standard response that indirectly challenges White's center.
You develop your knight to c3, controlling the key d5 square and preventing Black's immediate d5 advance. A minor drawback is that this move blocks your c-pawn.
Black moves their knight from b8 to c6. This is a good developing move, bringing a piece into the game!
White moves their bishop from f1 to b5. This is a good, early move to get a piece into the game.
Black moves their knight from c6 to d4. This is a strong move because it puts the knight right in the middle of the board, controlling lots of important squares.
The bishop slides from b5 to c4. It's a simple move to a new square.
Black moves a pawn from its starting spot forward one square. This opens a path for the bishop and queen to join the game.
White moves their knight from g1 to e2. This is a good developing move that brings the knight into the game.
Black moves a pawn from its starting square forward one space. This is a safe and simple move to start the game.
The knight leaps to d4 in the heart of the board. Standing proudly on this dark square, your knight grabs a strong central post and helps your other knight on c3 watch the middle.
Black captures the knight on d4 with the pawn from c5. This challenges White's center and disrupts development by threatening to fork with d takes c3.

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Win rates by rating

Results from real online games, measured after the line shown in each row. Most opening sites show one aggregate number — how an opening scores depends heavily on who is playing it.

Rating	Games	White wins	Draws	Black wins	Position after
400-600	108	54.6%	6.5%	38.9%	1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6
600-800	74	40.5%	1.4%	58.1%	1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4
800-1000	29	37.9%	0%	62.1%	1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 4.Bc4 e6
1000-1200	27	37%	0%	63%	1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 4.Bc4
1200-1400	44	52.3%	2.3%	45.5%	1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 4.Bc4 e6 5.Nge2 a6 6.Nxd4 cxd4
1400-1600	140	52.1%	1.4%	46.4%	1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 4.Bc4 e6 5.Nge2 a6 6.Nxd4 cxd4
1600-1800	43	60.5%	4.7%	34.9%	1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 4.Bc4 e6 5.Nge2
1800-2000	44	52.3%	0%	47.7%	1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 4.Bc4 e6 5.Nge2 a6 6.Nxd4 cxd4
2000-2200	47	42.5%	2.1%	55.3%	1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 4.Bc4 e6 5.Nge2 a6 6.Nxd4 cxd4
2200-2400	70	57.1%	5.7%	37.1%	1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 4.Bc4 e6 5.Nge2 a6 6.Nxd4 cxd4

Most played continuations (1400-1600 rating)

After 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4 4.Bc4 e6 5.Nge2 a6 6.Nxd4 cxd4:

Ne2 — played 87.9% of the time (White wins 56.9%, draws 0.8%, Black wins 42.3%)
d3 — played 5.7% of the time (White wins 25%, draws 0%, Black wins 75%)
O-O — played 2.1% of the time (White wins 33.3%, draws 0%, Black wins 66.7%)

Related openings

Frequently asked questions

Who should play the Closed Sicilian?

Players who want a system against the Sicilian with minimal theory and a built-in attacking plan. The same setup works against nearly every Black arrangement, and the f4-f5 lever generates a real initiative even against accurate defense.

How should Black meet the Closed Sicilian?

The standard recipe is a mirror fianchetto: ...g6, ...Bg7, ...d6, ...e6 with ...Nge7, racing on the queenside with ...b5 and ...b4 to hit the c3 knight before White's kingside attack matures. Timing the ...f5 counter-break is the other key resource.