Caissa Codex
B28

Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Zagorovsky Line

Chess diagram: Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Zagorovsky Line after 4. Qxd4

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Statistics from Lichess

92,384 games: White 45.0% / Draw 4.6% / Black 50.4%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
62,65163K
9,0399,039
8,1928,192
6,4326,432
3,0263,026
1,4761,476
972972
304304

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 27, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.13 The position is about equal

Best play: 4... Nc6 5. Qe3 Nf6 6. Nc3 d5 7. Nxd5 Nxd5 8. exd5 Qxd5 9. Qb3

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

Overview

Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Zagorovsky Line (ECO B28, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 (4 moves).

In 92,384 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 45.0%, Black 50.4% and 4.6% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 4…Nc6, in 68% of those games.

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How to play against the Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Zagorovsky Line

4…Nf6 scores best for Black: 54.7%, with Black winning 52.6% and White 43.2% of 9,039 games. The most played, 4…Nc6, scores 52.6% in 63K games, and 4…d6 scores lowest: 52.5%. Stockfish's first choice is 4…Nc6.

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 3…cxd4 4. Qxd4, the position after Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Zagorovsky Line (B28)”. Lichess data as of 27 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-okelly-variation-normal-system-zagorovsky-line

https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-okelly-variation-normal-system-zagorovsky-line