Tree path 9 levels King's Pawn Game › Sicilian Defense › Sicilian Defense › Old Sicilian › Sicilian Defense: Open › Sicilian Defense: Open › Sicilian Defense: Open › Sicilian Defense: Open › Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation
- Chess Codex
- King's Pawn Game B00
- Sicilian Defense B20
- Sicilian Defense B27
- Old Sicilian B30
- Sicilian Defense: Open B32
- Sicilian Defense: Open B32
- Sicilian Defense: Open B32
- Sicilian Defense: Open B33
- Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation B64 you are here
Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation
Overview
Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation is a named branch in the Semi-Open Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO B64.
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.
It begins with 18 plies and takes 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8. O-O-O O-O 9. f4 e5 to reach the canonical position.
In the opening tree, this line branches off from Sicilian Defense: Open, 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
- B64
- Group
- Semi-Open Games (B)
- Plies
- 18
- Parent
- Sicilian Defense: Open
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
760 games · White 55.3% / Draw 6.6% / Black 38.2%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Nxc6 | 261 | |
| Nf5 | 185 | |
| Ndb5 | 101 | |
| Nf3 | 84 | |
| fxe5 | 71 | |
| Bxf6 | 31 | |
| Nb3 | 23 | |
| Nde2 | 4 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 03:18:52
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