Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation, Fianchetto Variation
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. g3
The Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation, Fianchetto Variation is a chess opening classified as ECO B56, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. g3. It is a line of the Sicilian Defense. Black is to move.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 47 times by this move order. White won 40%, 13% were drawn and Black won 47%. The most popular continuation is 6… g6 (53% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.03 (Stockfish, depth 36; best line 6… g6 7. Bg2 Nxd4 8. Qxd4 Bg7 9. O-O)
- ECO
- B56
- Moves
- 11 plies
- FEN
r1bqkb1r/pp2pppp/2np1n2/8/3NP3/2N3P1/PPP2P1P/R1BQKB1R b KQkq - 0 6- PGN
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. g3
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1499 | 1 | |
| 1500-1999 | 4 | |
| 2000+ | 42 | |
| All | 47 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 6… g6 | 25 (53%) | |
| 6… e5 | 7 (15%) | |
| 6… Qb6 | 5 (11%) | |
| 6… Bg4 | 2 (4%) | |
| 6… Bd7 | 2 (4%) | |
| 6… e6 | 2 (4%) | |
| 6… Nxd4 | 1 (2%) | |
| 6… a6 | 1 (2%) |
Master games
454 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 36%, draw 27%, Black 37%). The strongest:
- KomodoDragon 3.3 (3583) – Ethereal 14.40 (3545) 1/2-1/2 · TCEC 27 Premier 2024 · 2024-12-04
- Ethereal 14.40 (3545) – KomodoDragon 3.3 (3583) 1/2-1/2 · TCEC 27 Premier 2024 · 2024-12-02
- Berserk 20230311 (3476) – SlowChess Blitz 2.9 avx2 (3455) 1-0 · TCEC 24 Premier 2023 · 2023-03-24
- SlowChess Blitz 2.9 avx2 (3455) – Berserk 20230311 (3476) 1/2-1/2 · TCEC 24 Premier 2023 · 2023-03-22
- GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2775) – GM Fabiano Caruana (2819) 1-0 · GCT Rapid Paris 2019 · 2019-07-28
Highest-rated Lichess games
- IM Arrowlimit (2478) – khvichachess (2658) 1-0 · 2026-09-07 · 180 + 0s
- slabak1234 (2492) – maxiboks (2572) 0-1 · 2026-09-07 · 180 + 2s
- IM Angelicanmade (2486) – Hippolytus (2563) 1/2-1/2 · 2026-09-05 · 180 + 0s
Comes from
Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation (5. Nc3 Nc6) 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6
More Sicilian Defense lines (all)
- Sicilian Defense (1. e4 c5) B20
- Sicilian Defense: Amazon Attack B20
- Sicilian Defense: Big Clamp Formation B20
- Sicilian Defense: Bowdler Attack B20
- Sicilian Defense: Brick Variation B20
- Sicilian Defense: Czerniak Attack B20
- Sicilian Defense: Czerniak Attack, Queen Fianchetto Variation B20
- Sicilian Defense: Euwe Attack, Prins Gambit B20
- Sicilian Defense: Gloria Variation B20
- Sicilian Defense: Grob Variation B20
- Sicilian Defense: Keres Variation B20
- Sicilian Defense: King David's Opening B20
Opening names and moves from the Lichess openings dataset; statistics from the Lichess open database, 2026-09 (CC0), sample of 12.6 million games, bots excluded; evaluations from Lichess cloud analysis (all CC0). Master games from The Week in Chess #920–#1664 by Mark Crowther, used with permission.