Tree path 4 levels King's Pawn Game › Sicilian Defense › Sicilian Defense › Old Sicilian
- Chess Codex
- King's Pawn Game B00
- Sicilian Defense B20
- Sicilian Defense B27
- Old Sicilian B30 you are here
Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian
Overview
Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian is a specific line in the Semi-Open Games family (ECO B30), arising from a recognised theoretical position.
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 Nc6, after 4 plies of opening development.
The line refines Sicilian Defense, which traces back to the root opening King's Pawn Game.
The line splits into 4 documented sub-systems: Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Sicilian Defense: Open, and others.
Below the direct variations, the full subtree contains 67 documented sub-variations.
Explore the position on the interactive board, study its real-world results from Lichess, and challenge the engine when you are ready.
- ECO code
- B30
- Group
- Semi-Open Games (B)
- Plies
- 4
- Parent
- Sicilian Defense
- Direct variations
- 4
- Total in subtree
- 67
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
86,860,004 games · White 48.5% / Draw 4.9% / Black 46.6%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| d4 | 42,323,159 | |
| Bc4 | 12,392,686 | |
| Bb5 | 11,997,626 | |
| c3 | 9,111,669 | |
| Nc3 | 5,375,958 | |
| d3 | 1,451,760 | |
| c4 | 791,334 | |
| g3 | 775,780 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 01:00:23
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Variations (4)
Show all 67 sub-variations (full subtree)
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