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
The Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Haag Gambit is a chess opening classified as ECO B52, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. O-O Nc6 6. c3 Nf6 7. d4. 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 38 times by this move order. White won 66%, 10% were drawn and Black won 24%. The most popular continuation is 7… cxd4 (71% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.04 (Stockfish, depth 38; best line 7… Nxe4 8. d5 Ne5 9. Re1 Nxf3+ 10. Qxf3)
- ECO
- B52
- Moves
- 13 plies
- FEN
r3kb1r/pp1qpppp/2np1n2/2p5/3PP3/2P2N2/PP3PPP/RNBQ1RK1 b kq - 0 7- PGN
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. O-O Nc6 6. c3 Nf6 7. d4
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1499 | 1 | |
| 1500-1999 | 7 | |
| 2000+ | 30 | |
| All | 38 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 7… cxd4 | 27 (71%) | |
| 7… Nxe4 | 10 (26%) | |
| 7… e6 | 1 (3%) |
Master games
310 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 51%, draw 24%, Black 25%). The strongest:
- GM Hikaru Nakamura (2802) – GM Ian Nepomniachtchi (2770) 1/2-1/2 · CrunchLabs Masters PlayIn · 2024-07-17
- GM Richard Rapport (2740) – GM Rauf Mamedov (2646) 1-0 · 8th Gashimov Mem Blitz · 2022-12-22
- GM Hikaru Nakamura (2746) – GM Ahmed Adly (2626) 1-0 · World Rapid 2018 · 2018-12-26
- GM Anton Filippov (2615) – GM Yi Wei (2638) 1/2-1/2 · TCh-TUR Super League 2014 · 2014-08-27
- GM Mikhail Kobalia (2614) – GM Farrukh Amonatov (2622) 0-1 · 1st Ismagambetov Mem 2020 · 2020-06-26
Search all games of the Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Haag Gambit and its sub-variations
Highest-rated Lichess games
- FM The_Fawkes (2684) – IM AngelitoRT (2877) 0-1 · 2026-09-04 · 180 + 0s
- CM Mikkel_Vinh (2652) – IM PVKMSSSSR3991 (2692) 1-0 · 2026-09-06 · 180 + 0s
- IM AjedrezEstrategico (2509) – khvichachess (2668) 1/2-1/2 · 2026-09-04 · 180 + 0s
Comes from
Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Main Line 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7
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.