Caissa Codex
B51

Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Dorfman Gambit

Chess diagram: Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Dorfman Gambit after 6. e5

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

153 games: White 49.0% / Draw 3.9% / Black 47.1%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
6060
5151
2525
88
66
11
11
11

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

Engine evaluation

+0.07 The position is about equal

Best play: 6... dxe5 7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. Nxe5 Qd5 9. f4 Bg7 10. Nc3 Qd4+ 11. Rf2

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

Overview

Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Dorfman Gambit (ECO B51, Semi-Open Games) is a gambit in the Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nc6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Qe2 g6 6. e5 (6 moves).

In 153 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 49.0%, Black 47.1% and 3.9% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 6…dxe5, in 39% of those games.

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Other lines from the same position

Instead of 3…Nc6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Qe2 g6 6. e5, the position after Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Dorfman Gambit (B51)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-moscow-variation-dorfman-gambit

https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-moscow-variation-dorfman-gambit