Sicilian Defense: Closed, Smyslov Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
7,142 games: White 55.6% / Draw 7.9% / Black 36.5%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 3,5633,563 | ||
| 2,0522,052 | ||
| 865865 | ||
| 154154 | ||
| 154154 | ||
| 139139 | ||
| 7575 | ||
| 6262 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.16 The position is about equal
Best play: 7... Nc6 8. Qd2 b6 9. Rd1 Bb7 10. c4 Nf6 11. Bh6 Bxh6 12. Qxh6
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Sicilian Defense: Closed, Smyslov Variation (ECO B24, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense: Closed, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 e6 6. Be3 Nd4 7. Nce2 (7 moves).
In 7,142 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 55.6%, Black 36.5% and 7.9% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 7…Ne7, in 50% 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: Closed, Smyslov Variation
7…d6 scores best for Black: 42.7%, with Black winning 38.2% and White 52.7% of 865 games. The most played, 7…Ne7, scores 39.6% in 3,563 games, and 7…Nxe2 scores lowest: 39.4%. Stockfish's first choice is 7…Nc6.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black'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, Smyslov Variation (B24)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-closed-smyslov-variation