Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation
The Richter-Rauzer Variation, also called the Richter–Rauzer Attack, is White's most common reply to the Classical Variation of the Sicilian Defense: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5. Read the guide
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Statistics from Lichess
935,582 games: White 49.1% / Draw 5.5% / Black 45.4%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| B62 | 514,497514K | |
| Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Dragon Variation | 93,67294K | |
| 84,74685K | ||
| Modern Variation | 77,46777K | |
| 40,66941K | ||
| 38,82839K | ||
| 29,98630K | ||
| 26,43326K |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 2, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.47 White is slightly better
Best play: 6... e6 7. Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O Bd7 9. Kb1 b5 10. f3 Nxd4 11. Qxd4
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
By rating
Rating changes little here: White scores 53% under 1400, 51% at 2200 and up and 55% in master games (wins plus half the draws).
| Players | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1400 | 29K | |
| 1400–1799 | 243K | |
| 1800–2199 | 457K | |
| 2200 and up | 316K | |
| Masters, over the board | 25K |
Master games
- Carlsen, M. – Nakamura, H.
- Anand, V. – Carlsen, M.
- Carlsen, M. – Radjabov, T.
- Anand, V. – Caruana, F.
- Carlsen, M. – Maghsoodloo, P.
Rated blitz, rapid and classical Lichess games by rating band, and over-the-board games of players rated 2200+ from the Lichess masters database, updated Sep 27, 2026
Description
The Richter-Rauzer Variation, also called the Richter–Rauzer Attack, is White's most common reply to the Classical Variation of the Sicilian Defense: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5. Its ECO codes are B60–B69.
Origins
The move 6.Bg5 was Kurt Richter's invention. After 6...e6, Vsevolod Rauzer introduced the modern plan of Qd2 and O-O-O in the 1930s.
The Classical Variation itself can arise from two move orders: 2...d6 followed by 5...Nc6, as on this page, or 2...Nc6 followed by 5...d6.
The idea
6.Bg5 threatens to double Black's pawns with Bxf6, and it forestalls the Dragon, because 6...g6 is now unplayable.
White's pressure on the d6-pawn often makes Black answer Bxf6 with ...gxf6 rather than recapture with a piece, such as the queen, that also has to defend the d-pawn. This weakens Black's kingside pawn structure, but in return Black gets the two bishops and a central pawn majority.
Main lines
- 6...e6 (this position) 7.Qd2 is Rauzer's plan, the Traditional Variation in this database, with long castling to follow. 7...Be7 is the Classical Variation of the Richter-Rauzer, and 8.O-O-O O-O 9.f4 Nxd4 the Rauzer Attack.
- 7.Qd3, favoured by Paul Keres, is an alternative for those who want to avoid the main lines (6...e6 7.Qd3).
- Other seventh moves in this database include 7.Bb5, the Vitolins Variation, and 7.Nxc6, the Exchange Variation.
- 6...Bd7 is the Modern Variation in this database.
Strengths and weaknesses
For White
- A clear plan: Qd2, long castling and pressure on d6.
- Bxf6 can double Black's pawns, and the Dragon set-up with ...g6 is ruled out.
For Black
- After ...gxf6 Black's kingside pawns are weakened, but Black has the two bishops and a central pawn majority.
Who should play it
The Richter-Rauzer suits White players who want to meet the Classical Sicilian with a direct plan: Qd2, long castling and pressure on Black's d-pawn.
The numbers
In 935,582 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 and 2500, White won 49.1%, Black 45.4%, and 5.5% were drawn. White is ahead in every rating band: 51.4% against 45.1% under 1400, 50.0% against 46.0% at 1400–1799, 50.0% against 45.1% at 1800–2199 and 47.6% against 45.4% from 2200 up. In about 25,000 master games White won 36.2%, Black 26.1%, and 37.7% were drawn.
Suggest an improvement or report a mistake
How to play against the Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation
6…Bd7 (Modern Variation) scores best for Black: 50.0%, with Black winning 46.7% and White 46.7% of 77K games. The most played, 6…e6, scores 49.5% in 514K games, and 6…e5 scores lowest: 43.7%. Stockfish's first choice is 6…e6.
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
Popularity by year
The Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation peaked in 2019 at 0.042% of Lichess games and has slipped since: 0.032% in 2025.
Numbers by year
| Year | Share of games | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0.033% | 11,820 |
| 2017 | 0.039% | 21,422 |
| 2018 | 0.04% | 31,695 |
| 2019 | 0.042% | 52,749 |
| 2020 | 0.042% | 122,635 |
| 2021 | 0.039% | 154,137 |
| 2022 | 0.035% | 131,337 |
| 2023 | 0.034% | 127,334 |
| 2024 | 0.034% | 120,168 |
| 2025 | 0.032% | 111,943 |
| 2026 (Jan–Apr) | 0.033% | 36,198 |
Share of rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500 (blitz, rapid and classical) that reach this position, by year; 2026: January to April. Which openings are rising and falling
Variations (2)
Transpositions
All 13 named lines that continue from here
- B62 Richter-Rauzer Variation 6 moves
- B60 Modern Variation 6 moves
- B62 Richter-Rauzer Variation 7 moves
- B62 Exchange Variation 7 moves
- B63 Traditional Variation 7 moves
- B62 Vitolins Variation 7 moves
- B63 Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation 7 moves
- B63 Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Ivanov Variation 7 moves
- B66 Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Neo-Modern Variation, Early Deviations 7 moves
- B64 Classical Variation 9 moves
- B63 Kantscher Line 10 moves
- B65 Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Rauzer Attack 9 moves
- B65 Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation 10 moves
Sources
- History and theory: adapted from the Wikipedia article Sicilian Defence, version of 27 October 2026, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Results: Lichess opening explorer, figures collected from September to November 2026.
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation (B60)”. Lichess data as of 2 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-richter-rauzer-variation