Sicilian Defense: Bücker Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
129,517 games: White 52.6% / Draw 4.5% / Black 42.9%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 62,82763K | ||
| 29,73530K | ||
| 14,11414K | ||
| 11,11011K | ||
| 1,7801,780 | ||
| 1,6531,653 | ||
| 1,4871,487 | ||
| 1,1611,161 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.57 White is slightly better
Best play: 3. Nc3 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 a6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. f3 e5
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Sicilian Defense: Bücker Variation (ECO B27, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 h6 (2 moves).
In 129,517 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 52.6%, Black 42.9% and 4.5% were drawn. White's most played move here is 3. d4, in 49% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Sicilian Defense: Bücker Variation
3. c3 scores best for White: 57.2%, with White winning 55.0% and Black 40.6% of 14K games. The most played, 3. d4, scores 55.4% in 63K games, and 3. Bc4 scores lowest: 53.4%. Stockfish's first choice is 3. Nc3.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Bücker Variation (B27)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-bucker-variation