Caissa Codex
B89

Sicilian Defense: Sozin Attack, Main Line, Sherbakov Variation

Chess diagram: Sicilian Defense: Sozin Attack, Main Line, Sherbakov Variation after 10…b6

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Statistics from Lichess

147 games: White 43.5% / Draw 6.8% / Black 49.7%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
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Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 1, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.14 The position is about equal

Best play: 11. e5 Ne8 12. Qh5 Bb7 13. Nxe6 fxe6 14. Bxe6+ Kh8 15. Bf7 h6

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

Overview

Sicilian Defense: Sozin Attack, Main Line, Sherbakov Variation (ECO B89, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation, Sozin Attack, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Bb3 O-O 9. O-O Na5 10. f4 b6 (10 moves).

In 147 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 43.5%, Black 49.7% and 6.8% were drawn. White's most played move here is 11. f5, in 41% of those games.

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Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Sozin Attack, Main Line, Sherbakov Variation (B89)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-sozin-attack-main-line-sherbakov-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-sozin-attack-main-line-sherbakov-variation