Tree path 6 levels King's Pawn Game › Sicilian Defense › Sicilian Defense › O'Kelly Variation › Venice System › Ljubojevic Line
B28

Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Venice System, Ljubojevic Line

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Overview

Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Venice System, Ljubojevic Line is a named branch in the Semi-Open Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO B28.

The Semi-Open Games group covers semi-open games — replies to 1.e4 where Black declines the symmetrical 1…e5 in favour of an asymmetric pawn structure.

Play reaches this position via 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. c3 b5, after 6 plies of opening development.

In the opening tree, this line branches off from Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Venice System, part of the broader King's Pawn Game system.

Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.

ECO code
B28
Group
Semi-Open Games (B)
Plies
6
Parent
Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Venice System

This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.

Statistics from Lichess

69,884 games · White 50.9% / Draw 4.5% / Black 44.6%

MovesGamesW / D / B
d459,571
a42,662
Be22,421
Bd31,671
d31,127
a3727
g3364
b3300

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 01:21:32

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