Caissa Codex
B85

Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Main Line

Chess diagram: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Main Line after 10…O-O

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Statistics from Lichess

15,562 games: White 53.8% / Draw 5.8% / Black 40.4%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
9,4649,464
2,9672,967
921921
366366
315315
303303
235235
196196

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.20 The position is about equal

Best play: 11. Qg3 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 13. a3 Bb7 14. Rad1 Bc6 15. Kh1 Qb7

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

Overview

Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Main Line (ECO B85, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Be3 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. Qe1 O-O (10 moves).

In 15,562 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 53.8%, Black 40.4% and 5.8% were drawn. White's most played move here is 11. Qg3, in 61% of those games.

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How to play against the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Main Line

11. Kh1 scores best for White: 61.0%, with White winning 57.5% and Black 35.6% of 921 games. The most played, 11. Qg3, scores 57.9% in 9,464 games, and 11. Rd1 scores lowest: 56.7%. Stockfish's first choice is 11. Qg3.

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

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Be3 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. Qe1 O-O, the position after Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Main Line (B85)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-scheveningen-variation-classical-main-line

https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-scheveningen-variation-classical-main-line