Sicilian Defense: Kotov Gambit
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. g3 b5
The Sicilian Defense: Kotov Gambit is a chess opening classified as ECO B50, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. g3 b5. It is a line of the Sicilian Defense. White is to move.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 2 times by this move order. White won 100%, 0% were drawn and Black won 0%. The most popular continuation is 4. Bg2 (100% of games).
Engine evaluation: +1.34 (Stockfish, depth 29; best line 4. Bxb5+ Bd7 5. Bxd7+ Qxd7 6. O-O g6)
- ECO
- B50
- Moves
- 6 plies
- FEN
rnbqkbnr/p3pppp/3p4/1pp5/4P3/5NP1/PPPP1P1P/RNBQKB1R w KQkq - 0 4- PGN
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. g3 b5
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1500-1999 | 2 | |
| All | 2 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 4. Bg2 | 2 (100%) |
Highest-rated Lichess games
- vat (2039) – viktor89s (1949) 1-0 · 2026-09-04 · 300 + 3s
- dahim33 (1787) – Egugumeira (1790) 1-0 · 2026-09-04 · 180 + 0s
Comes from
Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6
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.