Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation

Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation is a chess opening with the ECO code B51, part of the Sicilian Defense family. It goes 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... c5. After 5 moves it is Black 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. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3
• 2... d6 – Black plays the pawn to d6
• 3. Bb5+ – White plays the bishop to b5, giving check

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 3... Bd7.

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: Moscow Variation course lesson.

Related openings

• It extends: Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations (1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6)
• Continues with: Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Dorfman Gambit – adds 3... Nc6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Qe2
• Continues with: Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Moscow Gambit – adds 3... Nc6 4. O-O Bd7 5. c3
• Continues with: Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Main Line – adds 3... Bd7
• Related line: Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit, Deferred Variation (1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. b4)
• Related line: Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Dorfman Gambit (1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nc6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Qe2 g6 6. e5)
• Related line: Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations, Tartakower (1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. c3)
• Related line: Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Moscow Gambit (1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nc6 4. O-O Bd7 5. c3 Nf6 6. Re1 a6 7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. d4 Bxe4 9. Bg5)
• Related line: Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations, Anti-Qxd4 Move Order Accepted (1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. dxc5 Nxe4)
• Related line: Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Haag Gambit (1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. O-O Nc6 6. c3 Nf6 7. d4)

Browse every named opening · Opening courses