Caissa Codex
B94

Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Ivkov Variation

Chess diagram: Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Ivkov Variation after 12. e5

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Statistics from Lichess

2 games: White 50.0% / Draw 50.0% / Black 0.0%

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Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
22

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 22, 2026

Engine evaluation

−0.13 The position is about equal

Best play: 12... dxe5 13. Bxe6 b4 14. Bf5 Be7 15. Rxe5 Nb3+ 16. Nxb3 Qxe5 17. Bxf6

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

Overview

Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Ivkov Variation (ECO B94, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. Bc4 Qa5 8. Qd2 e6 9. O-O-O b5 10. Bb3 Bb7 11. Rhe1 Nc5 12. e5 (12 moves).

In 2 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 50.0%, Black 0.0% and 50.0% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 12…dxe5, in 100% of those games. That is too few games for the percentages to mean much.

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Other lines from the same position

Instead of 6…Nbd7 7. Bc4 Qa5 8. Qd2 e6 9. O-O-O b5 10. Bb3 Bb7 11. Rhe1 Nc5 12. e5, the position after Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, Ivkov Variation (B94)”. Lichess data as of 22 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-najdorf-variation-ivkov-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-najdorf-variation-ivkov-variation