Tree path 6 levels King's Pawn Game › Sicilian Defense › Closed › Sicilian Defense: Closed › Sicilian Defense: Closed › Korchnoi Defense

B23

Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense

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Overview

Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense is a named branch in the Semi-Open Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO B23.

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 6 plies of play, with the move sequence 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. g3 d5.

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

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: B23
Group: Semi-Open Games (B)
Plies: 6
Parent: Sicilian Defense: Closed

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

308,174 games · White 49.5% / Draw 6.3% / Black 44.2%

Moves	Games	W / D / B
exd5	151,220
Bg2	124,648
d3	23,656
e5	6,131
d4	883
f3	502
Bb5+	341
Nge2	201

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 01:21:04

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