Chess Codex
Tree path 12 levels King's Pawn Game › Sicilian Defense › Sicilian Defense › Modern Variations › Sicilian Defense › Sicilian Defense › Modern Variations, Main Line › Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation › Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation › Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation › Traditional Variation › Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Neo-Modern Variation, Early Deviations
  1. Chess Codex
  2. King's Pawn Game B00
  3. Sicilian Defense B20
  4. Sicilian Defense B27
  5. Modern Variations B50
  6. Sicilian Defense B50
  7. Sicilian Defense B50
  8. Modern Variations, Main Line B54
  9. Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation B56
  10. Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation B60
  11. Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation B62
  12. Traditional Variation B63
  13. Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Neo-Modern Variation, Early Deviations B66 you are here
B66

Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Neo-Modern Variation, Early Deviations

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Overview

Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Neo-Modern Variation, Early Deviations is a specific line in the Semi-Open Games family (ECO B66), 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.

It begins with 14 plies and takes 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 to reach the canonical position.

The line refines Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Traditional Variation, which traces back to the root opening King's Pawn Game.

Explore the position on the interactive board, study its real-world results from Lichess, and challenge the engine when you are ready.

ECO code
B66
Group
Semi-Open Games (B)
Plies
14
Parent
Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Traditional Variation

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

150,852 games · White 47.2% / Draw 6.8% / Black 46.0%

MovesGamesW / D / B
O-O-O127,880
f37,627
f46,954
Nxc64,365
Be21,546
Bc4700
Nb3496
h4364

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:55:57

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Related variations at the same level

Sister lines that share the same parent Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Traditional Variation:

https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-richter-rauzer-variation-neo-modern-variation-early-deviations