Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3......... 6.Bg5

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Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3...... 6.Bg5

+30%

B601.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5

Dec 26, 2027

TL;DR

The Richter-Rauzer pins the f6-knight, preps Qd2 and 0-0-0, and aims at Black's king with the standard opposite-side pawn storm. The mainline weapon against the Classical Sicilian for nearly a century.

Reviewed by

IM John BartholomewCo-Founder & Chess Educator

International Master and chess educator. Co-founded Chessable and joined Chessiverse as co-founder. Best known for his "Climbing the Rating Ladder" YouTube series and structured opening courses.

Summary

• e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 opens the Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3... 6.Bg5, ECO B60. Lichess records 1,001,831 games in this line, which gives us a reliable view of how it actually performs in practice.

History and Notable Players

It arises from the Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation. Among the most prolific White practitioners are Vlastimil Jansa (75 games), Thomas Luther (66 games), Oleg Korneev (65 games). Black-side regulars include Zdenko Kozul (207 games), Istvan Csom (107 games), Vasilios Kotronias (89 games).

Performance Across Rating Levels

How well the Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3... 6.Bg5 works depends on what level you're playing at. At 1200 Elo, the opening shows up in 0.00% of games (22,689 samples). White scores 51.3%, Black 45.3%, draws 3.4%. By 1800, popularity is 0.03% and White's score is 49.7% to Black's 45.8%. Among 2500-rated players the line appears in 0.40% of games and draws spike to 8.7%, indicating tight preparation. White's edge erodes by 5.0pp from 1200 to 2500 Elo, suggesting Black's counterplay is easier to find with experience.

Time Control Patterns

Look at the same opening across time controls and blitz stands out. In bullet, it appears in 0.02% of games (418,051); White wins 48.5%. Blitz shows 0.02% adoption across 875,397 games, White scoring 49%. In rapid, the share rises to 0.01% — 126,434 games, White 51.2%. White's score swings 2.7pp across formats, so time control isn't just a stylistic choice here — it shifts the actual results.

Move Diversity and Theory Depth

Looking at move selection shows how forcing — or not — the position really is. At 1200 Elo, the top reply is e6, played 27.6% of the time. There are 6 other moves seeing meaningful share, and 69.4% of games stick to established theory. Entropy: 2.78. By 2500, e6 dominates at 76.5% of replies; only 2 viable alternatives remain and 95.1% of moves are theory. Entropy drops to 1.20. That entropy collapse is the signature of a line where preparation pays off: at the top, players know the best move and play it.

Historical Trends

Year-over-year data tells you whether this opening is a contemporary fixture or a fading one. Adoption peaked in 2020 at 0.03% (149,776 games). By 2025 it sits at 0.02% — a 30% shift overall, leaving the line on the rise.

Main Lines and Variations

After 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5, the established follow-ups are:

• Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3... e6
• Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3... 7.Qd2

Each branch leads to a different middlegame character — the resulting pawn structure decides what kind of game you get.

Common Mistakes

• Drifting away from main theory — At 400 Elo, theory adherence sits at 61% — versus 73.8% at 2000. The most popular deviation is g6 (played 18.4% of the time at 400, much less so up top). It looks fine but quietly hands the better-prepared side an edge.
• Neglecting development — It can feel productive to make extra pawn moves early, but falling behind in piece development is what loses most amateur games — especially in open positions where active pieces find squares fast.
• Ignoring the kingside attack — In sharp Sicilian lines, White typically castles long and pushes the h-pawn. Without your own counterplay on the queenside or in the centre, White's attack lands first.

Practice on Chessiverse

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Quick Facts

Main Line1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5

DifficultyExpert

Parent OpeningSicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation

Style

Theoretician openings have deep, well-studied lines where knowledge of specific variations gives a significant advantage. Preparation and memorization of key lines are essential.

1,001,831games on Lichess

49.3%

5.3%

45.5%

White wins Draws Black wins

Top Players

As White

• Vlastimil Jansa75 games
• Thomas Luther66 games
• Oleg Korneev65 games

As Black

• Zdenko Kozul207 games
• Istvan Csom107 games
• Vasilios Kotronias89 games

Data from Lichess opening explorer (blitz & rapid)

Most Popular At2500

SharpnessSharp

Popularity by Rating

Percentage of all games at each rating bracket that feature this opening.

Data from Lichess opening explorer (blitz & rapid games)

Theory Adherence by Rating

How often players choose the single most popular move at this position. Higher = more predictable play.

Black to move after the opening line

Popularity Over Time

Share of all Lichess blitz + rapid games featuring this opening, by year.

Top Moves by Rating

Black to move after the opening line

RatingMost Popular2nd3rd

400e525.7%g618.4�16.9%

1000e526.2�20.7%g618.2%

1200e627.6�24.3%g617.6%

1400e631.7�20.8%g618.1%

1600e636.6%g618.4�17%

1800e644.1%g614.8�13.2%

2000e656.6�78.7�8.6%

2200e670�712.5%g64%

2500e676.5�714.5%g64.1%

Popularity by Time Control

Bullet

0.02A8K

Blitz

0.02�5K

Rapid

0.01 6K

2% more decisive in bullet

Raw data tables (Lichess blitz + rapid)

Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3...... 6.Bg5: popularity and win rates by player rating Rating (Elo) Share % Games White win % Black win % Draw % Sharpness 400 0.00 610 53.1 43.1 3.8 0.962 1000 0.00 4,305 52.0 44.6 3.4 0.966 1200 0.00 22,689 51.3 45.3 3.4 0.966 1400 0.01 76,751 50.2 46.1 3.7 0.963 1600 0.02 156,253 49.8 46.1 4.1 0.959 1800 0.03 213,081 49.7 45.8 4.5 0.955 2000 0.05 224,280 50.1 44.6 5.3 0.947 2200 0.15 249,739 47.9 45.5 6.6 0.934 2500 0.40 54,123 46.3 45.0 8.7 0.913 Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3...... 6.Bg5: move-choice theory adherence by rating Rating (Elo) Top move Top move % Viable moves Theory % Entropy 400 e5 25.7 6 61.0 2.919 1000 e5 26.2 6 65.1 2.859 1200 e6 27.6 6 69.4 2.777 1400 e6 31.7 5 70.6 2.757 1600 e6 36.6 5 72.0 2.711 1800 e6 44.1 5 72.0 2.626 2000 e6 56.6 4 73.8 2.289 2200 e6 70.0 2 86.5 1.660 2500 e6 76.5 2 95.1 1.204 Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3...... 6.Bg5: popularity over time Year Share % Games White win % Black win % Draw % 2013 0.01 393 49.9 45.3 4.8 2014 0.02 1,691 50.6 45.4 4.0 2015 0.02 4,831 51.2 44.0 4.8 2016 0.02 14,563 50.2 45.2 4.6 2017 0.02 27,317 50.6 44.8 4.6 2018 0.02 43,923 50.3 45.2 4.5 2019 0.02 70,006 49.7 45.6 4.7 2020 0.03 149,776 49.2 45.3 5.5 2021 0.02 185,247 49.3 45.5 5.2 2022 0.02 155,822 49.2 45.6 5.2 2023 0.02 150,248 49.2 45.5 5.3 2024 0.02 141,087 49.0 45.5 5.5 2025 0.02 131,137 48.8 45.5 5.7 Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3...... 6.Bg5: popularity by time control Format Share % Games White win % Black win % Draw % Sharpness bullet 0.02 418,051 48.5 48.0 3.5 0.965 blitz 0.02 875,397 49.0 45.8 5.2 0.948 rapid 0.01 126,434 51.2 43.2 5.6 0.944 Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3...... 6.Bg5: top candidate moves by rating bracket Rating (Elo) 1st move 1st % 2nd move 2nd % 3rd move 3rd % 400 e5 25.7 g6 18.4 e6 16.9 1000 e5 26.2 e6 20.7 g6 18.2 1200 e6 27.6 e5 24.3 g6 17.6 1400 e6 31.7 e5 20.8 g6 18.1 1600 e6 36.6 g6 18.4 e5 17.0 1800 e6 44.1 g6 14.8 e5 13.2 2000 e6 56.6 Bd7 8.7 e5 8.6 2200 e6 70.0 Bd7 12.5 g6 4.0 2500 e6 76.5 Bd7 14.5 g6 4.1 Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3...... 6.Bg5: top practitioners by side Side Player Games White Vlastimil Jansa 75 White Thomas Luther 66 White Oleg Korneev 65 Black Zdenko Kozul 207 Black Istvan Csom 107 Black Vasilios Kotronias 89

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3... 6.Bg5?

The Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3... 6.Bg5 begins with 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 and is classified under ECO code B60.

Is the Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3... 6.Bg5 good for beginners?

The Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3... 6.Bg5 can be played at any level. Beginners should focus on understanding the key strategic ideas rather than memorizing long theoretical lines. Our AI bots at various rating levels provide a great way to practice the opening concepts.

What are the main variations of the Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3... 6.Bg5?

The main continuations include: Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3... e6; Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3... 7.Qd2. Each variation leads to distinct types of positions with their own strategic themes.

What are the win rates for the Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3... 6.Bg5?

In a database of 1,001,831 master games, White wins 49.3% of the time, Black wins 45.5%, and 5.3% are drawn. Notable players on the White side include Vlastimil Jansa and Thomas Luther. On the Black side, Zdenko Kozul and Istvan Csom are among the most frequent practitioners.

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Reviewed by

IM John BartholomewCo-Founder & Chess Educator

International Master and chess educator. Co-founded Chessable and joined Chessiverse as co-founder. Best known for his "Climbing the Rating Ladder" YouTube series and structured opening courses.

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