Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional

Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional is a chess opening with the ECO code B23, part of the Sicilian Defense family. It goes 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... c5. After 4 moves it is White to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.

The moves

• 1. e4 – White plays the pawn to e4
• 1... c5 – Black plays the pawn to c5
• 2. Nc3 – White plays the knight to c3
• 2... Nc6 – Black plays the knight to c6

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 3. f4.

About the Sicilian Defense

Black answers 1.e4 with 1...c5, fighting for the d4 square from the side. The game becomes unbalanced and sharp, with chances for both sides.

• After d4 and ...cxd4, Black trades a side pawn for White's centre pawn and gets an extra centre pawn.
• Black uses the half-open c-file: a rook on c8 and pressure on c3 and c2.
• Kings often castle on opposite sides, so both players race to attack; every tempo counts.

chessGM has a full course for this line: open the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional course lesson.

Related openings

• It extends: Sicilian Defense: Closed (1. e4 c5 2. Nc3)
• Continues with: Sicilian Defense: Closed, Chameleon Variation – adds 3. Nge2
• Continues with: Sicilian Defense: Closed, Grob Attack – adds 3. g4
• Continues with: Sicilian Defense: Closed, Portland Attack – adds 3. d3 g6 4. g4
• Continues with: Sicilian Defense: Grand Prix Attack – adds 3. f4
• Continues with: Sicilian Defense: Closed, Fianchetto Variation – adds 3. g3
• Related line: Sicilian Defense: Closed, Portland Attack (1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. d3 g6 4. g4)
• Related line: Sicilian Defense: Grand Prix Attack (1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4)
• Related line: Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense (1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. g3 d5)
• Related line: Sicilian Defense: Grand Prix Attack, Schofman Variation (1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bc4 e6 6. f5)
• Related line: Sicilian Defense: Closed, Grob Attack (1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g4)
• Related line: Sicilian Defense: Closed (1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6)

Browse every named opening · Opening courses