Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation

ECO B41-B43intermediate

The Kan, 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6, is the most flexible Sicilian of all: Black commits nothing except the useful ...a6, deciding later whether the king's knight goes to f6 or e7, and where the bishops belong. White chooses between the space-grabbing Maroczy setup with 5.c4 and natural development with 5.Nc3 or 5.Bd3. The Kan produces fewer forced lines than any major Sicilian, making it ideal for players who want Sicilian dynamism on a low theory budget.

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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 marches to e4, planting itself proudly on a light square in the middle of the board. This is a great first move because it grabs space and opens paths for your pieces to come out later.
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.
White moves their knight from g1 to f3. This is a good developing move that helps get your pieces into the game.
Black slides a pawn up to e6, a small but steady step on a light square. It quietly opens a road so the dark-squared bishop on f8 can leave home soon. A calm, sensible way to start building.
This move creates central tension, challenging Black’s c5 pawn and opening the position for your pieces.
Black captures White's pawn on d4 with the pawn from c5. This opens the center and challenges White's control, but also surrenders the central pawn tension.
The knight moves from f3 to d4 and takes a pawn! This is a great move because it puts your knight right in the middle of the board.
Black moves a pawn from its starting square one step forward. This opens a path for their queen or bishop later in the game.
You move your knight from b1 to c3. This is a great developing move that brings your piece into the game and helps control the middle of the board.
Black moves their queen from d8 to c7. This is a good developing move that gets a strong piece into the game.
You moved your bishop from f1 to d3. This is a great developing move that gets your piece into the game!
Black moves their knight from g8 to f6. This is a good developing move, bringing a piece out to help control the board.

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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	66	56.1%	7.6%	36.4%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6
600-800	28	50%	3.6%	46.4%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Bd3
800-1000	50	48%	0%	52%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Bd3 Nf6
1000-1200	34	38.2%	5.9%	55.9%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Bd3 Nf6
1200-1400	989	43.4%	2.6%	54%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Bd3 Nf6
1400-1600	2,874	43.9%	2.5%	53.6%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Bd3 Nf6
1600-1800	684	41.4%	2.6%	56%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Bd3 Nf6
1800-2000	1,291	42.5%	4.4%	53.1%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Bd3 Nf6
2000-2200	1,398	45.2%	3.9%	50.9%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Bd3 Nf6
2200-2400	1,096	47%	4.9%	48.1%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Bd3 Nf6

Most played continuations (1400-1600 rating)

After 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Bd3 Nf6:

O-O — played 56.1% of the time (White wins 44.7%, draws 2.5%, Black wins 52.8%)
Bg5 — played 14.8% of the time (White wins 42.7%, draws 2.6%, Black wins 54.7%)
Be3 — played 10.1% of the time (White wins 42.9%, draws 1.7%, Black wins 55.4%)

Related openings

Frequently asked questions

Is the Kan Variation sound?

Completely. It has been a lifetime weapon for elite grandmasters precisely because White has no forcing path to an advantage — every White setup leads to a playable, unbalanced middlegame where the better-prepared side on plans, not moves, usually wins.

What's the difference between the Kan and the Taimanov?

Move order and the c6-square: in the Kan Black plays ...a6 before developing the queenside knight, often putting it on d7 or c6 later. This avoids the Nxc6 structural concessions common in the Taimanov but gives White a free hand to set up the Maroczy Bind with c4.