Caissa Codex
B63

Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation

Chess diagram: Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation after 7…Be7

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.

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Statistics from Lichess

127,621 games: White 52.5% / Draw 5.8% / Black 41.7%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
100,185100K
9,2229,222
8,4578,457
1,9011,901
1,7581,758
1,6341,634
1,3001,300
822822

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

Engine evaluation

+0.44 White is slightly better

Best play: 8. O-O-O a6 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. f4 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Bd7 12. Kb1 Qa5

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

Overview

Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation (ECO B63, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Traditional Variation, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 (7 moves).

In 127,621 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 52.5%, Black 41.7% and 5.8% were drawn. White's most played move here is 8. O-O-O, in 79% of those games.

It branches into 2 named variations; the most played is Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation, Kantscher Line. In all, 4 named lines continue from it.

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How to play against the Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation

The most played answer, 8. O-O-O, also scores best for White: 56.2%, with White winning 53.3% and Black 40.8% of 100K games. Of the main answers, 8. f4 scores lowest: 51.7%. Stockfish's first choice is also 8. O-O-O.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Variations (2)

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 7…Be7, the position after Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Traditional Variation also goes on to:

All 4 named lines that continue from here

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation (B63)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-richter-rauzer-variation-classical-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-richter-rauzer-variation-classical-variation