Caissa Codex
B30

Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with d6

Chess diagram: Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with d6 after 5…d6

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

96,029 games: White 45.2% / Draw 5.9% / Black 48.8%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
20,04520K
17,68218K
16,50217K
15,58316K
7,7057,705
6,5006,500
4,9104,910
1,9971,997

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 16, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.19 The position is about equal

Best play: 6. Nd2 Nf6 7. Nf1 Bg4 8. f3 Be6 9. Ne3 O-O 10. Bd2 Nd7

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

In 96,029 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 45.2%, Black 48.8% and 5.9% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. O-O, in 21% of those games.

It continues into one named variation, Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, Kharlov-Kramnik Line.

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How to play against the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with d6

6. Nd2 scores best for White: 56.2%, with White winning 51.1% and Black 38.7% of 6,500 games. The most played, 6. O-O, scores 49.1% in 20K games, and 6. Be3 scores lowest: 44.2%. Stockfish's first choice is also 6. Nd2.

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

Variations (1)

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 4. Bc4 Be7 5. d3 d6, the position after Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with d6 (B30)”. Lichess data as of 16 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-closed-anti-sveshnikov-variation-with-d6

https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-closed-anti-sveshnikov-variation-with-d6