Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line
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Statistics from Lichess
26,443 games: White 46.8% / Draw 7.1% / Black 46.1%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 12,51213K | ||
| 7,7697,769 | ||
| 2,1232,123 | ||
| 950950 | ||
| 895895 | ||
| 647647 | ||
| 503503 | ||
| 498498 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.47 White is slightly better
Best play: 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qxd5 d6 9. exd6 Qb6 10. Qe4+ Be6 11. Qh4 Bxd6
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line (ECO B29, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Advance Variation, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nc3 e6 5. Nxd5 exd5 6. d4 Nc6 (6 moves).
In 26,443 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 46.8%, Black 46.1% and 7.1% were drawn. White's most played move here is 7. dxc5, in 47% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line
7. c3 scores best for White: 51.6%, with White winning 47.4% and Black 44.3% of 7,769 games. The most played, 7. dxc5, scores 51.0% in 13K games, and 7. Bb5 scores lowest: 37.2%. Stockfish's first choice is 7. dxc5.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation, Main Line (B29)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-nimzowitsch-variation-main-line