Caissa Codex
B83

Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Modern Variation 8…Nc6 9. Be3

Chess diagram: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Modern Variation after 9. Be3

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Statistics from Lichess

49,886 games: White 49.8% / Draw 6.1% / Black 44.1%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
22,08622K
8,9738,973
8,1998,199
3,4543,454
2,7072,707
1,6141,614
943943
583583

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 21, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.16 The position is about equal

Best play: 9... e5 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. Kh1 exf4 12. Bxf4 Re8 13. h3 Qb6 14. b3

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

Overview

Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Modern Variation (ECO B83, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Variation, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. f4 Nc6 9. Be3 (9 moves).

In 49,886 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 49.8%, Black 44.1% and 6.1% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 9…a6, in 44% of those games.

It continues into one named variation.

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How to answer 9. Be3

9…Bd7 scores best for Black: 49.3%, with Black winning 46.2% and White 47.6% of 8,199 games. The most played, 9…a6, scores 47.1% in 22K games, and 9…Nxd4 scores lowest: 42.8%. Stockfish's first choice is 9…e5.

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

Variations (1)

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Modern Variation (B83)”. Lichess data as of 21 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-scheveningen-variation-modern-variation-2

https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-scheveningen-variation-modern-variation-2