Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations

ECO B50beginner

The B50 Sicilian is the flexible middle ground after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6, where White declines both the Open Sicilian and the immediate 3.Bb5+. The line here goes 3.c3 Nf6 4.Be2 Nc6 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 d5, an Alapin-flavoured structure in which White builds the classical centre in two steps and Black hits back with ...d5 straight away. These systems have become the most common way club players meet the Sicilian, precisely because they demand structure understanding rather than memorised theory.

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Main line

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Be2 Nc6 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 d5 7.e5 Ne4

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.

1.e4 We open by pushing the king's pawn out to e4, a light square right in the middle. This is a great first move because it grabs space in the center and opens lines for our pieces to come out later.
1...c5 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.
2.Nf3 White moves their knight from g1 to f3. This is a good developing move that helps get your pieces into the game.
2...d6 Black advances the pawn from d7 to d6. This supports the c5 pawn and controls the e5 square, preparing for the development of the king's bishop.
3.c3 White advances the pawn to c3, preparing to support the thematic d4 push to challenge Black's central control.
3...Nf6 Black moves their knight from g8 to f6. This is a good developing move that helps bring a piece into the game.
4.Be2 You moved your bishop from f1 to e2. This is a great developing move, getting a strong piece into the game!
4...Nc6 Black moves their knight from b8 to c6. This is a good developing move, bringing a piece into the game from the starting spot.
5.d4 Your pawn jumps two squares to d4. This is like a brave guard marching to the middle. Now it helps you control that very important space on the board. Great move!
5...cxd4 Black's pawn slides over to d4, a dark square, scooping up a white pawn there. It's a tidy little trade that lands a black pawn deep in the heart of the board.
6.cxd4 White answers by taking back on d4 with the pawn from c3. Now a proud white pawn stands on this central dark square, helping White claim space in the middle of the board.
6...d5 Black advances the pawn from d6 to d5, challenging White's center. This thematic counter-strike gains central space but can lead to an isolated pawn structure after e takes d5.

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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	109	48.6%	4.6%	46.8%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6
600-800	267	47.2%	3.4%	49.4%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6
800-1000	58	43.1%	3.4%	53.5%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Be2 Nc6
1000-1200	47	61.7%	4.3%	34%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Be2
1200-1400	411	56.7%	2.7%	40.6%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Be2 Nc6 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4
1400-1600	1,551	58.9%	2.1%	39%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Be2 Nc6 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4
1600-1800	405	53.1%	2.7%	44.2%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Be2 Nc6 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4
1800-2000	33	30.3%	9.1%	60.6%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Be2 Nc6 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 d5
2000-2200	91	36.3%	5.5%	58.2%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Be2 Nc6 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 d5
2200-2400	120	49.2%	6.7%	44.2%	1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Be2 Nc6 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 d5

Most played continuations (1400-1600 rating)

After 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Be2 Nc6 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4:

Nxe4 — played 48% of the time (White wins 64%, draws 2.3%, Black wins 33.7%)
e6 — played 17.6% of the time (White wins 54.2%, draws 2.6%, Black wins 43.2%)
g6 — played 15% of the time (White wins 52.4%, draws 1.7%, Black wins 45.9%)

Related openings

Frequently asked questions

Why do so many players avoid the Open Sicilian?

Because 3.d4 opens the door to the Najdorf, Dragon, Scheveningen and Classical all at once, and each is a career's worth of theory. Systems like 3.c3 or 3.Bb5+ let White reach a playable middlegame with a handful of ideas instead. The trade-off is that Black equalises more easily, so White plays for a small edge rather than a refutation.

How does Black equalise against the c3 systems?

By striking in the centre before White finishes building it — usually ...d5 in one move, as in the main line here, or ...Nf6 followed by ...e6 and ...d5. Once Black gets ...d5 in without concessions the position is balanced. The mistake is to play slowly and let White establish pawns on d4 and e4 unchallenged.

Is the B50 Sicilian a good choice for a club player?

For White, it is one of the best value openings there is: a small set of plans covering a huge chunk of Sicilian move orders. For Black, it means facing a solid opponent rather than a sharp one, so results come from patient play and correct pawn breaks rather than from preparation.