Tree path 10 levels King's Pawn Game › Sicilian Defense › Sicilian Defense › Old Sicilian › Sicilian Defense: Open › Sicilian Defense: Open › Sicilian Defense: Open › Sicilian Defense: Open › Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation › Sveshnikov Variation
Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation
Overview
Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation is a named branch in the Semi-Open Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO B33.
The Semi-Open Games group covers semi-open games — replies to 1.e4 where Black declines the symmetrical 1…e5 in favour of an asymmetric pawn structure.
The line arises from 16 plies — specifically the moves 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5.
In the opening tree, this line branches off from Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, part of the broader King's Pawn Game system.
3 named variations grow from this line, including Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Chelyabinsk Variation, Novosibirsk Variation.
Together the deeper variations number 4 across the full subtree.
Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.
- ECO code
- B33
- Group
- Semi-Open Games (B)
- Plies
- 16
- Direct variations
- 3
- Total in subtree
- 4
This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.
Statistics from Lichess
1,010,077 games · White 48.8% / Draw 7.2% / Black 44.0%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Nd5 | 763,826 | |
| Bxf6 | 227,009 | |
| Nab1 | 13,855 | |
| Naxb5 | 2,326 | |
| Bxb5 | 1,148 | |
| Ne2 | 871 | |
| b4 | 219 | |
| Bd3 | 152 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 03:09:42
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