Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Exchange Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
495,357 games: White 44.2% / Draw 5.9% / Black 49.9%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 471,535472K | ||
| 19,57320K | ||
| 3,5983,598 | ||
| 275275 | ||
| 190190 | ||
| 8282 | ||
| 4848 | ||
| 2626 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026
Engine evaluation
−0.02 The position is about equal
Best play: 6... bxc6 7. Bd3 Bd6 8. Qf3 O-O 9. h3 a5 10. O-O h6 11. b3
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
By rating
Rating changes little here: White scores 49% both under 1400 and at 2200 and up (wins plus half the draws).
| Players | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1400 | 59K | |
| 1400–1799 | 253K | |
| 1800–2199 | 299K | |
| 2200 and up | 39K | |
| Masters, over the board | 59 |
Master games
- Kosasih, C. – So, W.
- Sahl, B. – Johannessen, L. E.
- Sahl, B. – Hausrath, D.
- Kofidis, A. – Nikolaidis, I.
- Kofidis, A. – Tzermiadianos, A.
Rated blitz, rapid and classical Lichess games by rating band, and over-the-board games of players rated 2200+ from the Lichess masters database, updated Sep 27, 2026
Overview
Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Exchange Variation (ECO B33, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Nxc6 (6 moves).
In 495,357 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 44.2%, Black 49.9% and 5.9% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 6…bxc6, in 95% of those games.
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Popularity by year
The Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Exchange Variation peaked in 2020 at 0.027% of Lichess games and has slipped since: 0.015% in 2025.
Numbers by year
| Year | Share of games | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0.016% | 5,856 |
| 2017 | 0.017% | 9,325 |
| 2018 | 0.019% | 14,901 |
| 2019 | 0.026% | 32,744 |
| 2020 | 0.027% | 78,492 |
| 2021 | 0.022% | 85,345 |
| 2022 | 0.019% | 71,194 |
| 2023 | 0.017% | 65,176 |
| 2024 | 0.016% | 56,379 |
| 2025 | 0.015% | 52,344 |
| 2026 (Jan–Apr) | 0.015% | 16,448 |
Share of rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500 (blitz, rapid and classical) that reach this position, by year; 2026: January to April. Which openings are rising and falling
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Exchange Variation (B33)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-lasker-pelikan-variation-exchange-variation