Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Sokolsky Variation
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4
The Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation, Sokolsky Variation is a chess opening classified as ECO B52, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4. 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 419 times by this move order. White won 52%, 9% were drawn and Black won 39%. The most popular continuation is 5… Nc6 (59% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.11 (Stockfish, depth 49; best line 5… e5 6. d3 Nc6 7. Nc3 Be7 8. O-O)
- ECO
- B52
- Moves
- 9 plies
- FEN
rn2kbnr/pp1qpppp/3p4/2p5/2P1P3/5N2/PP1P1PPP/RNBQK2R b KQkq - 0 5- PGN
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1499 | 8 | |
| 1500-1999 | 125 | |
| 2000+ | 286 | |
| All | 419 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 5… Nc6 | 246 (59%) | |
| 5… Nf6 | 88 (21%) | |
| 5… e5 | 33 (8%) | |
| 5… g6 | 29 (7%) | |
| 5… e6 | 13 (3%) | |
| 5… Qg4 | 6 (1%) | |
| 5… b5 | 3 (1%) | |
| 5… a6 | 1 (0%) |
Master games
4,264 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 42%, draw 31%, Black 27%). The strongest:
- GM Magnus Carlsen (2855) – GM Anish Giri (2777) 1/2-1/2 · Meltwater Tour Final 2021 · 2021-10-01
- GM So, W. (2770) – GM Magnus Carlsen (2862) 1-0 · Opera Euro Rapid Prelim · 2021-02-06
- GM Magnus Carlsen (2843) – GM Viswanathan Anand (2780) 1-0 · 5th Final Masters · 2012-10-12
- GM Fabiano Caruana (2807) – GM Garry Kasparov (2812) 1-0 · Saint Louis Rapid 2017 · 2017-08-16
- GM Magnus Carlsen (2847) – GM So, W. (2770) 1/2-1/2 · Magnus Carlsen Inv KO · 2021-03-21
Highest-rated Lichess games
- puziko52 (2813) – Yakamuzosan (2682) 1-0 · 2026-09-04 · 180 + 0s
- JelenaZ (2590) – LY0329 (2788) 0-1 · 2026-09-06 · 180 + 0s
- Garry-Kasparov2400 (2643) – OX528354 (2695) 1/2-1/2 · 2026-09-07 · 600 + 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.