Sicilian Defense · Chess.com blitz ·
How the top 10 Chess.com blitz players play against the Sicilian
1,393 blitz games where a top-10 Chess.com player had White and the opponent answered 1.e4 with 1…c5. See what each player chooses next and how it scores. All of the top 10 have games against it.
Sicilian games
1,393
Open Sicilian
34%
Top players' score
72%
vs ~3,000 avg opponents
Key findings
- Most games stay out of the Open Sicilian. 34% of 1,393 games are Open Sicilians. The chart below breaks the rest down by system.
- Hikaru Nakamura plays c3 setups most. 38 of Hikaru Nakamura's 98 games against the Sicilian (39%) are c3 setups, the highest share among players with 50 or more games against the Sicilian. 37 start 2.Nf3 and 3.c3, 1 starts 2.c3.
- Denis Lazavik plays the Open Sicilian most. 41 of Denis Lazavik's 77 games against the Sicilian (53%) are Open Sicilians, the highest share among players with 50 or more games against the Sicilian.
- Magnus Carlsen varies the most. After 1.e4 c5, Magnus Carlsen has played 5 different second moves at least 5 times: 2.Nf3 (110 games), 2.Nc3 (30 games), 2.c3 (14 games), 2.h3 (9 games), 2.f4 (6 games).
- Hikaru Nakamura scores best against the Sicilian. Hikaru Nakamura scores 86% over 98 games, the highest among players with 50 or more games against the Sicilian.
- Against the Najdorf, 6.Be3 leads. It was played in 44 of 186 Najdorf games (24%), ahead of 6.Be2 (25 games, 13%).
Which system each player chooses after 1.e4 c5
Share of each player's games against the Sicilian. Tap or hover a segment for the count and the score.
- Open Sicilian
- 3.Bb5 (Rossolimo & Moscow)
- c3 setups
- Closed & Grand Prix
- Other systems
Table view
| Player | Open Sicilian | 3.Bb5 (Rossolimo & Moscow) | c3 setups | Closed & Grand Prix | Other systems |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All 10 players | 474 · 34% · 70% | 221 · 16% · 71% | 149 · 11% · 77%2.c3 (the Alapin): 28 · 2% · 68%2.Nf3 and 3.c3: 121 · 9% · 79% | 70 · 5% · 76% | 479 · 34% · 73% |
| Hikaru Nakamura | 3 · 3% · 100% | 13 · 13% · 85% | 38 · 39% · 91%2.c3 (the Alapin): 1 · 1% · 100%2.Nf3 and 3.c3: 37 · 38% · 91% | 5 · 5% · 80% | 39 · 40% · 82% |
| Magnus Carlsen | 42 · 24% · 69% | 21 · 12% · 90% | 26 · 15% · 63%2.c3 (the Alapin): 14 · 8% · 54%2.Nf3 and 3.c3: 12 · 7% · 75% | 23 · 13% · 78% | 60 · 35% · 77% |
| Nihal Sarin | 52 · 31% · 71% | 21 · 12% · 50% | 4 · 2% · 63%2.c3 (the Alapin): –2.Nf3 and 3.c3: 4 · 2% · 63% | 12 · 7% · 83% | 80 · 47% · 68% |
| Ediz Gürel | 47 · 42% · 51% | 2 · 2% · 75% | 4 · 4% · 63%2.c3 (the Alapin): 1 · 1% · 100%2.Nf3 and 3.c3: 3 · 3% · 50% | 7 · 6% · 57% | 52 · 46% · 67% |
| Denis Lazavik | 41 · 53% · 80% | 11 · 14% · 73% | 3 · 4% · 100%2.c3 (the Alapin): 3 · 4% · 100%2.Nf3 and 3.c3: – | – | 22 · 29% · 91% |
| Wesley So | 31 · 32% · 69% | 17 · 17% · 76% | 4 · 4% · 75%2.c3 (the Alapin): 1 · 1% · 50%2.Nf3 and 3.c3: 3 · 3% · 83% | 6 · 6% · 67% | 40 · 41% · 66% |
| Aleksei Sarana | 16 · 53% · 69% | 1 · 3% · 0% | 4 · 13% · 100%2.c3 (the Alapin): –2.Nf3 and 3.c3: 4 · 13% · 100% | – | 9 · 30% · 78% |
| Jan-Krzysztof Duda | 71 · 47% · 72% | 19 · 13% · 76% | 10 · 7% · 80%2.c3 (the Alapin): –2.Nf3 and 3.c3: 10 · 7% · 80% | 2 · 1% · 100% | 48 · 32% · 78% |
| Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 84 · 37% · 68% | 51 · 22% · 75% | 40 · 18% · 75%2.c3 (the Alapin): 1 · <1% · 50%2.Nf3 and 3.c3: 39 · 17% · 76% | 6 · 3% · 83% | 47 · 21% · 76% |
| Nodirbek Abdusattorov | 83 · 32% · 75% | 65 · 25% · 65% | 16 · 6% · 69%2.c3 (the Alapin): 7 · 3% · 79%2.Nf3 and 3.c3: 9 · 3% · 61% | 7 · 3% · 71% | 88 · 34% · 69% |
| System | Games | Share | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Sicilian | 474 | 34% | 70% |
| 3.Bb5 (Rossolimo & Moscow) | 221 | 16% | 71% |
| c3 setups | 149 | 11% | 77% |
| 2.c3 (the Alapin) | 28 | 2% | 68% |
| 2.Nf3 and 3.c3 | 121 | 9% | 79% |
| Closed & Grand Prix | 70 | 5% | 76% |
| Other systems | 479 | 34% | 73% |
Player by player
Each player's main weapon against the Sicilian and what they play against the Najdorf.
Hikaru Nakamura
98 games vs the Sicilian · score 86%
Main choice: c3 setups, 38 games (39%)
37 start 2.Nf3 and 3.c3, 1 starts 2.c3
Next: 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4, 22 games (22%)
Avoids the Najdorf: 22 of 23 games after 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 go 4.Qxd4
Magnus Carlsen
172 games vs the Sicilian · score 75%
Main choice: Open Sicilian, 42 games (24%)
Next: c3 setups, 26 games (15%)
14 start 2.c3, 12 start 2.Nf3 and 3.c3
Meets the Najdorf in 25 games and varies the sixth move: none more than 8 times
Also tries 1.e4 c5 2.h3 (9 games)
Nihal Sarin
169 games vs the Sicilian · score 67%
Main choice: Open Sicilian, 52 games (31%)
Next: 2.Nf3 and 3.Nc3 (or 2.Nc3 and 3.Nf3), 27 games (16%)
Meets the Najdorf in 17 games and varies the sixth move: none more than 4 times
Ediz Gürel
112 games vs the Sicilian · score 60%
Main choice: Open Sicilian, 47 games (42%)
Next: 2.Nf3 and 3.b3, 34 games (30%)
Meets the Najdorf in 19 games; most often 6.Be3 (14 games)
Denis Lazavik
77 games vs the Sicilian · score 83%
Main choice: Open Sicilian, 41 games (53%)
Next: 3.Bb5 (Rossolimo & Moscow), 11 games (14%)
Meets the Najdorf in 18 games and varies the sixth move: none more than 9 times
Wesley So
98 games vs the Sicilian · score 69%
Spreads the games across many systems; the Open Sicilian leads at 32%.
Meets the Najdorf in 13 games; most often 6.Be2 (8 games)
Also tries 1.e4 c5 2.d4 (5 games)
Aleksei Sarana
30 games vs the Sicilian · score 73%
Main choice: Open Sicilian, 16 games (53%)
Next: c3 setups, 4 games (13%)
4 start 2.Nf3 and 3.c3
Meets the Najdorf in 5 games; most often 6.Be2 (4 games)
Jan-Krzysztof Duda
150 games vs the Sicilian · score 75%
Main choice: Open Sicilian, 71 games (47%)
Next: 3.Bb5 (Rossolimo & Moscow), 19 games (13%)
Meets the Najdorf in 22 games and varies the sixth move: none more than 8 times
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
228 games vs the Sicilian · score 73%
Main choice: Open Sicilian, 84 games (37%)
Next: 3.Bb5 (Rossolimo & Moscow), 51 games (22%)
Meets the Najdorf in 33 games and varies the sixth move: none more than 5 times
Nodirbek Abdusattorov
259 games vs the Sicilian · score 70%
Main choice: Open Sicilian, 83 games (32%)
Next: 3.Bb5 (Rossolimo & Moscow), 65 games (25%)
Meets the Najdorf in 34 games and varies the sixth move: none more than 12 times
Also tries 1.e4 c5 2.f4 (7 games)
Against the Najdorf: move 6
186 games reached the Najdorf (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6). White's sixth move, player by player.
- 6.Be3
- 6.Be2
- 6.Bg5
- 6.f3
- 6.Bd3
- 6.h3
- Other sixth moves
Faded rows: fewer than 20 Najdorf games.
Table view
| Player | 6.Be3 | 6.Be2 | 6.Bg5 | 6.f3 | 6.Bd3 | 6.h3 | Other sixth moves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All 10 players | 44 · 24% · 68% | 25 · 13% · 78% | 23 · 12% · 48% | 19 · 10% · 74% | 17 · 9% · 59% | 17 · 9% · 65% | 41 · 22% · 76% |
| Magnus Carlsen | 8 · 32% · 69% | 4 · 16% · 100% | – | – | – | 4 · 16% · 38% | 9 · 36% · 61% |
| Nihal Sarin | – | – | 4 · 24% · 100% | – | 3 · 18% · 33% | – | 10 · 59% · 80% |
| Ediz Gürel | 14 · 74% · 54% | – | 5 · 26% · 60% | – | – | – | – |
| Denis Lazavik | – | – | – | 9 · 50% · 67% | – | 3 · 17% · 100% | 6 · 33% · 83% |
| Wesley So | – | 8 · 62% · 69% | – | – | – | – | 5 · 38% · 90% |
| Aleksei Sarana | – | 4 · 80% · 38% | – | – | – | – | 1 · 20% · 100% |
| Jan-Krzysztof Duda | – | – | 8 · 36% · 50% | 3 · 14% · 33% | – | – | 11 · 50% · 82% |
| Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | 4 · 12% · 88% | – | 3 · 9% · 0% | – | 5 · 15% · 60% | 4 · 12% · 38% | 17 · 52% · 82% |
| Nodirbek Abdusattorov | 12 · 35% · 75% | 3 · 9% · 83% | – | – | 8 · 24% · 63% | – | 11 · 32% · 68% |
Move explorer
Starts after 1.e4 c5. Pick all 10 players or one of them, then click a move to go deeper. Rarer moves are grouped as other moves.
- 1.e4
- c5
Sicilian Defense
1,393 games · top players scored 72%
Other moves: 3 games
Questions people ask
- What do top players play against the Sicilian?
- In Chess.com blitz, the top 10 players go into the Open Sicilian in 34% of 1,393 games. Here the Open Sicilian means White plays d4 and, after …cxd4, recaptures with a knight. Lines where the queen recaptures on d4 count under other systems. The rest: 3.Bb5 (Rossolimo & Moscow) 16%, c3 setups 11%, the Closed or Grand Prix 5%, other systems 34%, spread over many smaller lines; the biggest is 2.Nf3 and 3.Nc3 (or 2.Nc3 and 3.Nf3), with 83 games.
- Which anti-Sicilian do top players play most?
- The most played anti-Sicilian is 3.Bb5 (Rossolimo & Moscow), in 16% of games. Here that means 2.Nf3 with 2…Nc6 or 2…d6, then 3.Bb5 or 3.Bb5+, whatever follows. Next: c3 setups at 11%, 2.Nf3 and 3.Nc3 (or 2.Nc3 and 3.Nf3) at 6%, the Closed or Grand Prix at 5%.
- What does Hikaru Nakamura play against the Sicilian?
- In 98 blitz games as White against 1…c5, Hikaru Nakamura's most common second moves were 2.Nf3 (80 games), 2.Nc3 (17 games). Hikaru Nakamura's main choice was c3 setups, 38 games (39%): 37 start 2.Nf3 and 3.c3, 1 starts 2.c3; then 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4, 22 games (22%).
- What does Magnus Carlsen play against the Sicilian?
- In 172 blitz games as White against 1…c5, Magnus Carlsen's most common second moves were 2.Nf3 (110 games), 2.Nc3 (30 games), 2.c3 (14 games). Magnus Carlsen's main choice was the Open Sicilian, 42 games (24%); then c3 setups, 26 games (15%): 14 start 2.c3, 12 start 2.Nf3 and 3.c3.
- What do top players play against the Najdorf?
- In the 186 games that reached the Najdorf (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6), the most common sixth move is 6.Be3 (44 games, 24%), followed by 6.Be2 (25 games, 13%).
- Does a high score mean the opening is good?
- Not by itself. Scores also reflect the rating gap between the top players and their opponents. Compare lines by how often the top players choose them, and use the scores as context.
- Where do these numbers come from?
- From up to 1,000 Chess.com blitz games as White of each of the top 10 players on the leaderboard. 1,393 of them start 1.e4 c5. A win counts as 1 and a draw as ½, from the top player's side. The games were last refreshed on 18 Oct 2026.
How we counted
We took the Chess.com blitz games as White of each of the top 10 players on the leaderboard, up to 1,000 each, and kept the ones that started 1.e4 c5. Each game counts under the first rule below that fits it:
- 3.Bb5 (Rossolimo & Moscow): 2.Nf3 with 2…Nc6 or 2…d6, then 3.Bb5 or 3.Bb5+, whatever follows.
- Grand Prix (in Closed & Grand Prix): 2.f4, or 2.Nc3 and then 3.f4.
- c3 setups: 2.c3, or 2.Nf3 and then 3.c3.
- Open Sicilian: White plays d4 and, after …cxd4, recaptures with a knight.
- Closed (in Closed & Grand Prix): 2.Nc3, when White plays neither 3.Nf3 nor d4 by move 4.
- Other systems: everything else, such as the queen recapturing on d4 (2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4), 2.Nf3 and 3.Nc3 (or 2.Nc3 and 3.Nf3) without a knight recapturing on d4, other third moves after 2.Nf3 (3.g3, 3.b3 and the like), 2.d4 gambits and rarer second moves.
A win counts as 1 and a draw as ½, from the top player's side. Scores also reflect the rating gap: opponents average about 3,000.
2.f4 is also known as the McDonnell Attack; here it counts with the Grand Prix. A row or a card built on fewer than 20 games is faded. Players with fewer than 10 games in the opening have no card or row; their games count in the totals.
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