Caissa Codex
B41

Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Maróczy Bind, Bronstein Variation

Chess diagram: Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Maróczy Bind, Bronstein Variation after 7…Nc6

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Statistics from Lichess

40,696 games: White 44.4% / Draw 6.7% / Black 48.9%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
19,35319K
7,9827,982
6,4596,459
3,8873,887
1,0871,087
959959
384384
296296

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.21 The position is about equal

Best play: 8. Be3 Ne5 9. O-O Bxc3 10. bxc3 d6 11. Nf3 Nxf3+ 12. Qxf3 e5

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Maróczy Bind, Bronstein Variation (ECO B41, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Maróczy Bind, Réti Variation, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Bd3 Nc6 (7 moves).

In 40,696 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 44.4%, Black 48.9% and 6.7% were drawn. White's most played move here is 8. Nxc6, in 48% of those games.

It continues into one named variation.

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How to play against the Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Maróczy Bind, Bronstein Variation

8. Ne2 scores best for White: 52.7%, with White winning 49.5% and Black 44.0% of 3,887 games. The most played answer, 8. Nxc6, scores lowest: 45.0% in 19K games. Stockfish's first choice is 8. Be3.

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 5…Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Bd3 Nc6, the position after Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Maróczy Bind, Réti Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Maróczy Bind, Bronstein Variation (B41)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-kan-variation-maroczy-bind-bronstein-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-kan-variation-maroczy-bind-bronstein-variation