Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation, Cobra Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
70,003 games: White 43.8% / Draw 6.7% / Black 49.5%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 38,30938K | ||
| 24,80625K | ||
| 1,9741,974 | ||
| 1,7551,755 | ||
| 1,5351,535 | ||
| 448448 | ||
| 411411 | ||
| 243243 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.53 White is slightly better
Best play: 7. Bf4 O-O 8. Bc7 Qe7 9. Bd6 Bxd6 10. Qxd6 Qd8 11. O-O-O a6
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation, Cobra Variation (ECO B45, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Ndb5 Bc5 (6 moves).
In 70,003 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 43.8%, Black 49.5% and 6.7% were drawn. White's most played move here is 7. Nd6+, in 55% 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: Four Knights Variation, Cobra Variation
7. Bf4 scores best for White: 48.4%, with White winning 44.3% and Black 47.5% of 25K games. The most played answer, 7. Nd6+, scores lowest: 47.1% in 38K games. Stockfish's first choice is also 7. Bf4.
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: Four Knights Variation, Cobra Variation (B45)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-four-knights-variation-cobra-variation