Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Wing Attack
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 b5
The Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Wing Attack is a chess opening classified as ECO B43, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 b5. It is a line of the Sicilian Defense. White is to move. 3 named lines continue from this position.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 1,660 times by this move order. White won 43%, 6% were drawn and Black won 51%. The most popular continuation is 6. a3 (38% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.24 (Stockfish, depth 59; best line 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. O-O b4 8. Na4 Nc6)
- ECO
- B43
- Moves
- 10 plies
- FEN
rnbqkbnr/3p1ppp/p3p3/1p6/3NP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 0 6- PGN
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 b5
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1499 | 96 | |
| 1500-1999 | 1,008 | |
| 2000+ | 556 | |
| All | 1,660 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 6. a3 | 623 (38%) | |
| 6. Be3 | 395 (24%) | |
| 6. Bd3 | 260 (16%) | |
| 6. Be2 | 94 (6%) | |
| 6. Bf4 | 63 (4%) | |
| 6. g3 | 54 (3%) | |
| 6. a4 | 53 (3%) | |
| 6. Qf3 | 19 (1%) |
Master games
2,158 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 29%, draw 20%, Black 51%). The strongest:
- GM Alireza Firouzja (2767) – GM Magnus Carlsen (2832) 1/2-1/2 · Julius Baer Gen Cup D1 W · 2024-10-01
- GM Hikaru Nakamura (2772) – GM Gata Kamsky (2741) 1-0 · Sinquefield Cup 2013 · 2013-09-10
- GM Ian Nepomniachtchi (2773) – GM Dmitry Andreikin (2724) 1-0 · Titled Tue 22nd Mar Early · 2022-03-22
- GM Javokhir Sindarov (2682) – GM Hikaru Nakamura (2802) 1/2-1/2 · World Rapid 2024 · 2024-12-27
- GM Hao Wang (2729) – GM Peter Svidler (2753) 1-0 · FIDE World Blitz 2014 · 2014-06-19
Search all games of the Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Wing Attack and its sub-variations
Highest-rated Lichess games
- GM Elda64 (2741) – GM cutemouse83 (2972) 0-1 · 2026-09-01 · 180 + 0s
- bombokobombo123456 (2723) – IM Roshka_Yevgeniy (2834) 1-0 · 2026-09-07 · 180 + 0s
- secret_mikalsen (2639) – IM Roshka_Yevgeniy (2824) 0-1 · 2026-09-03 · 180 + 0s
Comes from
Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Knight Variation (4… a6 5. Nc3) 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3
Continuations
- Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Knight Variation (6… Bb7 7. Bg2) B43 · 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 b5 6. g3 Bb7 7. Bg2
- Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Wing Attack, Spraggett Attack B43 · 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 b5 6. Bd3 Qb6 7. Nf3
- Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Wing Attack, Christiansen's Dream B43 · 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 b5 6. Bd3 Qb6 7. Be3 Bc5 8. Qg4
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.