Tree path 6 levels King's Pawn Game › Sicilian Defense › Sicilian Defense › Modern Variations › Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation › Moscow Gambit
- Chess Codex
- King's Pawn Game B00
- Sicilian Defense B20
- Sicilian Defense B27
- Modern Variations B50
- Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation B51
- Moscow Gambit B51 you are here
Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Moscow Gambit
Overview
Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Moscow Gambit belongs to the gambit family of chess openings (ECO B51, Semi-Open Games). It trades material for attacking chances — a classic trade-off that has fascinated players from the Romantic era to modern correspondence chess.
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 17 plies — specifically the moves 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nc6 4. O-O Bd7 5. c3 Nf6 6. Re1 a6 7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. d4 Bxe4 9. Bg5.
The line refines Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, which traces back to the root opening King's Pawn Game.
Explore the position on the interactive board, study its real-world results from Lichess, and challenge the engine when you are ready.
- ECO code
- B51
- Group
- Semi-Open Games (B)
- Plies
- 17
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
3,060 games · White 52.5% / Draw 8.1% / Black 39.4%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Bc6 | 846 | |
| Bd5 | 703 | |
| d5 | 500 | |
| Bg6 | 323 | |
| Bxf3 | 310 | |
| Bxb1 | 263 | |
| cxd4 | 56 | |
| Bf5 | 39 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 03:14:13
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