Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Zagorovsky Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4
The Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System, Zagorovsky Line is a chess opening classified as ECO B28, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4. 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 363 times by this move order. White won 46%, 4% were drawn and Black won 50%. The most popular continuation is 4… Nc6 (79% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.09 (Stockfish, depth 36; best line 4… Nc6 5. Qe3 Nf6 6. Nc3 d5 7. Nxd5)
- ECO
- B28
- Moves
- 7 plies
- FEN
rnbqkbnr/1p1ppppp/p7/8/3QP3/5N2/PPP2PPP/RNB1KB1R b KQkq - 0 4- PGN
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1499 | 120 | |
| 1500-1999 | 191 | |
| 2000+ | 52 | |
| All | 363 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 4… Nc6 | 286 (79%) | |
| 4… d6 | 23 (6%) | |
| 4… Nf6 | 20 (6%) | |
| 4… e6 | 13 (4%) | |
| 4… b5 | 10 (3%) | |
| 4… e5 | 5 (1%) | |
| 4… Qc7 | 2 (1%) | |
| 4… d5 | 1 (0%) |
Master games
85 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 45%, draw 14%, Black 41%). The strongest:
- GM Daniil Dubov (2699) – GM Vladislav Artemiev (2716) 0-1 · Abu Dhabi Super Blitz KO · 2020-04-15
- GM Hans Moke Niemann (2711) – GM Nikita Vitiugov (2678) 0-1 · Niemann - Vitiugov Blitz · 2024-08-18
- GM Vladimir Fedoseev (2687) – GM Aleksandar Indjic (2607) 1/2-1/2 · Titled Arena Mar 6th 2021 · 2021-03-06
- GM Anton Demchenko (2609) – IM Milosz Szpar (2495) 1/2-1/2 · Titled Tue 5th Mar Early · 2024-03-05
- GM Milos Perunovic (2531) – GM Ivan Ivanisevic (2536) 1/2-1/2 · SixDays Budapest Jun GM B · 2024-06-08
Highest-rated Lichess games
- Sableye_302 (2549) – neurolukas (2376) 0-1 · 2026-09-05 · 180 + 0s
- nikograef (2362) – zsk-64 (2504) 1-0 · 2026-09-02 · 180 + 2s
- Pawmni (2435) – NooN-E (2368) 1-0 · 2026-09-03 · 180 + 2s
Comes from
Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Normal System 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. 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.