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Tree path 8 levels King's Pawn Game › Sicilian Defense › Sicilian Defense › Modern Variations › Sicilian Defense › Sicilian Defense › Modern Variations, Main Line › Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation
  1. Chess Codex
  2. King's Pawn Game B00
  3. Sicilian Defense B20
  4. Sicilian Defense B27
  5. Modern Variations B50
  6. Sicilian Defense B50
  7. Sicilian Defense B50
  8. Modern Variations, Main Line B54
  9. Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation B56 you are here
B56

Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation

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Overview

Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation is a named branch in the Semi-Open Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO B56.

The Semi-Open Games group covers semi-open games — replies to 1.e4 where Black declines the symmetrical 1…e5 in favour of an asymmetric pawn structure.

It is reached after 10 plies of play, with the move sequence 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6.

In the opening tree, this line branches off from Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations, Main Line, part of the broader King's Pawn Game system.

4 named variations grow from this line, including Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation, Fianchetto Variation, Sozin Attack, and others.

In total, the branch covers 20 sub-variations across all depths.

Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.

ECO code
B56
Group
Semi-Open Games (B)
Plies
10
Parent
Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations, Main Line
Direct variations
4
Total in subtree
20

This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.

Statistics from Lichess

4,882,629 games · White 47.6% / Draw 5.2% / Black 47.2%

MovesGamesW / D / B
Be31,154,728
Bg5933,869
Bc4652,665
Be2509,446
Bb5481,364
f3398,458
Nxc6377,083
h364,753

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:14:46

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Variations (4)

Related variations at the same level

Sister lines that share the same parent Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations, Main Line:

Show all 20 sub-variations (full subtree)

https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-classical-variation