Sicilian Defense: Gaw-Paw Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
24,720 games: White 40.4% / Draw 4.9% / Black 54.7%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 8,8638,863 | ||
| 3,0543,054 | ||
| 3,0023,002 | ||
| 1,8711,871 | ||
| 1,8591,859 | ||
| 918918 | ||
| 839839 | ||
| 757757 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026
Engine evaluation
+1.93 White is clearly better
Even so, Black scores 57.1% here in practice: wins plus half the draws in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500.
Best play: 6. e5 Nd5 7. Nxd5 exd5 8. Nb5 a6 9. Be3 Qa5+ 10. Bd2 Qd8
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Sicilian Defense: Gaw-Paw Variation (ECO B40, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Normal, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Qb6 (5 moves).
In 24,720 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 40.4%, Black 54.7% and 4.9% were drawn. White's most played move here is 6. Nb3, in 36% 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: Gaw-Paw Variation
6. e5 scores best for White: 47.2%, with White winning 44.5% and Black 50.0% of 1,859 games. The most played, 6. Nb3, scores 46.7% in 8,863 games, and 6. Bc4 scores lowest: 35.6%. Stockfish's first choice is also 6. e5.
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: Gaw-Paw Variation (B40)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-gaw-paw-variation