Caissa Codex
B31

Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Gurgenidze Variation

Chess diagram: Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Gurgenidze Variation after 6. b4

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.

Play any move on the board to explore from there, or step through the line with ‹ › and the arrow keys.

Statistics from Lichess

7,832 games: White 53.6% / Draw 6.5% / Black 40.0%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
3,5553,555
3,3383,338
341341
235235
138138
131131
4949
2525

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

Engine evaluation

+0.10 The position is about equal

Best play: 6... Nxb4 7. Bb2 a6 8. a3 axb5 9. axb4 Rxa1 10. Bxa1 d6 11. bxc5

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

Overview

Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Gurgenidze Variation (ECO B31, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Fianchetto Variation, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. Re1 e5 6. b4 (6 moves).

In 7,832 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 53.6%, Black 40.0% and 6.5% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 6…cxb4, in 45% of those games.

Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.

Write a description or report a mistake
What would you like to send?

Markdown supported (headings ###, bold, lists, links). Submissions are reviewed before publishing.

How to play against the Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Gurgenidze Variation

The most played answer, 6…cxb4, also scores best for Black: 44.4%, with Black winning 41.2% and White 52.5% of 3,555 games. Of the main answers, 6…Nxb4 scores lowest: 43.7%. Stockfish's first choice is 6…Nxb4.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black'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 4. O-O Bg7 5. Re1 e5 6. b4, the position after Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Fianchetto Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Gurgenidze Variation (B31)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-nyezhmetdinov-rossolimo-attack-gurgenidze-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-nyezhmetdinov-rossolimo-attack-gurgenidze-variation