Chessiverse AB
Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3......... e6
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3......... e6
Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3...... e6
B62 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6
TL;DR
The classical Rauzer setup that remains viable after 540,000+ games. With ...e6, Black neutralizes White’s bishop pin while preparing ...Be7, stifling further complications. White typically heads for Qd2 and queenside castling, creating pawn storms. This opening emphasizes blunt positional or tactical play, where depth of theory pays off.
Reviewed by IM John Bartholomew (Co-Founder, Chessable & Chessiverse).
Summary
This Sicilian Defence (ECO B62) arises after 6.Bg5 e6. Some 539,412 Lichess games total govern these patterns, making it one of the largest practical samples in elite openings. The analysis explores:
- Historical contexts and notable players.
- Performance across rating levels (e.g., draws spike to 8.5% at 2500 Elo).
- Move diversity—theory adherence doubles from amateur to expert play.
- Key mistakes (theory drift, development neglect) and strategic guidelines.
History & Notable Players
White’s Favorites
- Vlastimil Jansa (58 games)
- Semen I Dvoirys (55 games)
- Thomas Luther (54 games)
Black’s Experts
- Zdenko Kozul (206 games)
- Vasilios Kotronias (90 games)
- Konstantin Z. Lerner (79 games)
Performance Across Rating Levels
| Elo | Pop. % | Games | White Win | Draw | Black Win | Sharpness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1200 | 0.00% | 6,756 | 49.2% | 3.4% | 47.4% | 0.966 |
| 1800 | 0.01% | 97,691 | 47.2% | 4.8% | 48.0% | 0.952 |
| 2200 | 0.10% | 176,685 | 47.3% | 6.6% | 46.0% | 0.934 |
| 2500+ | 0.30% | 41,464 | 46.3% | 8.5% | 45.2% | 0.915 |
- Sharpness declines from 0.97→0.915, indicating play toughens and theoretical battles increase.
- Draw frequency nearly doubles at mid-to-high Chessmaster levels.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Time Control Patterns
| Time Control | Pop. % | Games | White Win | Drawing % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet | <0.01% | 202,737 | 47.3% | 3.7% |
| Blitz | 0.01% | 477,496 | 47.4% | 5.7% |
| Rapid | <0.01% | 61,916 | 48.3% | 6.3% |
- Blitz remains lightly adopted (0.01% of games), emphasizing tactical flair over depth.
- Decimal attrition (decisive results spike to +3% in bullet).
Theory Depth & Common Mistakes
Move Adherence by Level
| Elo | Top Move | % Adherence | Viable Moves | Entropy (Uncertainty) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 400 | Bb5 | 29.5% | 6 | 3.000 (wide) |
| 1800 | Qd2 | 32.6% | 6 | 2.732 |
| 2500+ | Qd2 | 76.2% | 3 | 1.316 (clinical) |
љаstakes & Critical Errors
- Deviation from main lines (e.g., 7...Bxf6):
- 11.5% of 400-elo players opt here, seating an edge to prepared opponents.
- Underdeveloped positions:
- Early pawn “storms” can collapse piece hunts due to overcentralization.
- Ignoring lateral consistency:
- White’s attacks often follow long castling weaves (h-pawn pushes,Kn/BoB coordination). Black’s immediate countermoves on the queenside (e.g., delay b5?) are seldom practiced.
Main Lines & Critical Ideas
PLUs from 6.Bg5 e6
- 7.Qd2 secures rapid queenside modernization and internal tension. Here’s where racetracks converge:
- μ 7...a6 & ...Be7: pins White’s Bg5 while Nxc6 disrupts plans.
- μ ...dxe4(?) traps Nc3 but risks doubled e-pawn.
- π B65 Snapping Game: after 8.RC6 (modest threat Rxe6). Black favors ...N3 and ...Bf8, but White over-insures vs mistake-prone opponents by collating ...a5-press.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Practice Recommendations
Play on Chessiverse: Goal-oriented AI bots (spanning 1000–2700 Elo) replicate human error patters and highlight:
- transposable structures in B62.
- Lamont-Grinberg Principles for critical tank rig timing.
Style Fingerprint
Theoretician’s Playbook
- Gameplans based on perpetual multivector traction.
- Blue-collar essentials:
- Time-consuming preparation for e6-style Sicilianers.
- Traps: e.g., from Karpov vsavalt (meal prep for 8.Pc3, 9.Bxf6??).
Key Statistics
- White Wins: 47.5% (vs. 46.8 Black)
- Draw Rate: 5.7% (Leverages next e3 vs c4 pic, e4 Pawn Annular Game).
- Drobny Standard Dev: +/- 2% at 2500 (elite lines mirror 1.e4 e5 complete theory).
FAQs
Is this line good for beginners?
Yes! Focus on underlying principles like:
- The essence of ...e6—”fixing the bishop” and preventing pawn pushes.
- Pitfalls of piecemeal development vs precise opening tranches (e.g., Sveshnikov/Sorting).
Test via a Chessiverse 1000-elo bot before over-applying at table.
What wins do top players see?
| Result | % at 2500+ |
|---|---|
| White Wins | 46.3 |
| Black Wins | 45.2 |
| Draws | 8.5 (highest at master level)* |
(PM: Vlastimil Jansa foreseeable narrow range).
Related Openings (Meta-Options)
- Alapin Sicilian (2.c3)
- Bowdler Attack/Bd3 (2.Bc4)
- Chekhover (cxb5 moves)
- Najdorf d6 alternates
“Quick, any Sicilian on my grill?” Answer: try E6~enamelier! Almost tangibly netlocks Bg5’s aiming. Q23
Cheatable? No bargain.*
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills