Caissa Codex
B85

Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation 9…d6 10. a4

Chess diagram: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation after 10. a4

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Statistics from Lichess

1,907 games: White 51.1% / Draw 5.9% / Black 43.1%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
1,1711,171
307307
181181
102102
3838
2525
2424
2323

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

Engine evaluation

+0.24 The position is about equal

Best play: 10... O-O 11. Be3 Nxd4 12. Qxd4 Bd7 13. a5 Bc6 14. Qd3 Nd7 15. b4

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

Overview

Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation (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. Kh1 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. a4 (10 moves).

In 1,907 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 51.1%, Black 43.1% and 5.9% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 10…O-O, in 61% of those games.

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How to answer 10. a4

10…Bd7 scores best for Black: 48.0%, with Black winning 44.6% and White 48.5% of 307 games. The most played, 10…O-O, scores 47.6% in 1,171 games, and 10…b6 scores lowest: 39.8%. Stockfish's first choice is 10…O-O.

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

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Kh1 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. a4, the position after Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, Paulsen Variation (B85)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-scheveningen-variation-classical-variation-paulsen-variation-3

https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-scheveningen-variation-classical-variation-paulsen-variation-3