Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Main Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7
The Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Main Line is a chess opening classified as ECO B52, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7. It is a line of the Sicilian Defense. White is to move. 2 named lines continue from this position.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 7,166 times by this move order. White won 49%, 6% were drawn and Black won 45%. The most popular continuation is 4. Bxd7+ (75% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.22 (Stockfish, depth 56; best line 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 g6)
- ECO
- B52
- Moves
- 6 plies
- FEN
rn1qkbnr/pp1bpppp/3p4/1Bp5/4P3/5N2/PPPP1PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq - 2 4- PGN
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1499 | 1,218 | |
| 1500-1999 | 3,481 | |
| 2000+ | 2,467 | |
| All | 7,166 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 4. Bxd7+ | 5,378 (75%) | |
| 4. a4 | 491 (7%) | |
| 4. Qe2 | 419 (6%) | |
| 4. Nc3 | 334 (5%) | |
| 4. c4 | 230 (3%) | |
| 4. Bc4 | 225 (3%) | |
| 4. Be2 | 46 (1%) | |
| 4. Bd3 | 16 (0%) |
Master games
12,385 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 42%, draw 26%, Black 32%). The strongest:
- GM Magnus Carlsen (2870) – GM Anish Giri (2776) 1/2-1/2 · Tata Steel India Blitz · 2019-11-25
- GM Magnus Carlsen (2853) – GM Hikaru Nakamura (2787) 1/2-1/2 · chess.com Blitz Final 1m+1spm 2016 · 2016-10-27
- GM Magnus Carlsen (2832) – GM Hikaru Nakamura (2786) 1/2-1/2 · chess.com Speed 3m+2spm 2017 · 2018-01-03
- GM Magnus Carlsen (2832) – GM Hikaru Nakamura (2786) 1-0 · chess.com Speed 1m+1spm 2017 · 2018-01-03
- GM Magnus Carlsen (2832) – GM Hikaru Nakamura (2786) 1-0 · chess.com Speed 1m+1spm 2017 · 2018-01-03
Search all games of the Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Main Line and its sub-variations
Highest-rated Lichess games
- GM Dr_Tiger (2948) – CM Sultai (2695) 1-0 · 2026-09-02 · 180 + 0s
- FM The_Fawkes (2684) – IM AngelitoRT (2877) 0-1 · 2026-09-04 · 180 + 0s
- IM shuriks91 (2822) – Juplt3rLlk3 (2732) 1-0 · 2026-09-05 · 180 + 0s
Comes from
Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+
Continuations
- Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Sokolsky Variation B52 · 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4
- Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Haag Gambit B52 · 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. O-O Nc6 6. c3 Nf6 7. d4
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.