Caissa Codex
B30

Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Brooklyn Retreat Defense

Chess diagram: Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Brooklyn Retreat Defense after 3…Nb8

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

30,315 games: White 51.8% / Draw 4.4% / Black 43.9%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
15,55216K
6,1126,112
2,7942,794
2,3572,357
883883
576576
451451
363363

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

Engine evaluation

+1.03 White is better

Best play: 4. Ba4 a6 5. c4 Nc6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nf6 8. Nc3 e5

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

Overview

Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Brooklyn Retreat Defense (ECO B30, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nb8 (3 moves).

In 30,315 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 51.8%, Black 43.9% and 4.4% were drawn. White's most played move here is 4. O-O, in 51% of those games.

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How to play against the Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Brooklyn Retreat Defense

4. c3 scores best for White: 56.5%, with White winning 54.5% and Black 41.5% of 2,794 games. The most played, 4. O-O, scores 55.6% in 16K games, and 4. Nc3 scores lowest: 50.4%. Stockfish's first choice is 4. Ba4.

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

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 3…Nb8, the position after Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Brooklyn Retreat Defense (B30)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-nyezhmetdinov-rossolimo-attack-brooklyn-retreat-defense

https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-nyezhmetdinov-rossolimo-attack-brooklyn-retreat-defense