Caissa Codex
B30

Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, Kharlov-Kramnik Line

Chess diagram: Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, Kharlov-Kramnik Line after 6…Bg5

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

1,021 games: White 46.6% / Draw 12.6% / Black 40.7%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
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Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.31 White is slightly better

Best play: 7. h4 Bh6 8. Qh5 g6 9. Qd1 Nf6 10. Nf1 Bxc1 11. Qxc1 Nd4

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, Kharlov-Kramnik Line (ECO B30, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with d6, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Bc4 Be7 5. d3 d6 6. Nd2 Bg5 (6 moves).

In 1,021 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 46.6%, Black 40.7% and 12.6% were drawn. White's most played move here is 7. Nf1, in 69% of those games.

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How to play against the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, Kharlov-Kramnik Line

7. h4 scores best for White: 55.9%, with White winning 52.5% and Black 40.6% of 202 games. The most played answer, 7. Nf1, scores lowest: 52.4% in 703 games. Stockfish's first choice is also 7. h4.

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: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, Kharlov-Kramnik Line (B30)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-closed-anti-sveshnikov-variation-kharlov-kramnik-line

https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-closed-anti-sveshnikov-variation-kharlov-kramnik-line