Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Modern Variation 6…Bd7 7. Qd2
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Statistics from Lichess
40,760 games: White 47.1% / Draw 7.4% / Black 45.4%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 23,85124K | ||
| 4,0934,093 | ||
| 3,7693,769 | ||
| 2,5292,529 | ||
| 2,1602,160 | ||
| 1,2171,217 | ||
| 1,1971,197 | ||
| 1,1331,133 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 27, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.47 White is slightly better
Best play: 7... a6 8. O-O-O e6 9. Kb1 Be7 10. f3 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Bc6 12. h4
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Modern Variation (ECO B61, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense: Open, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 Bd7 7. Qd2 (7 moves).
In 40,760 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 47.1%, Black 45.4% and 7.4% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 7…Rc8, in 59% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to answer 7. Qd2
The most played answer, 7…Rc8, also scores best for Black: 52.3%, with Black winning 48.3% and White 43.6% of 24K games. Of the main answers, 7…e6 scores lowest: 41.5%. Stockfish's first choice is 7…a6.
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
Transpositions
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Modern Variation (B61)”. Lichess data as of 27 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-richter-rauzer-variation-modern-variation-2