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Sicilian Defense · As White · updated October 2026

Play against the Sicilian like Salem AR Saleh

A repertoire against the Sicilian built from 72 of Salem AR Saleh's public Chess.com blitz games. At every position you play the move Salem AR Saleh chose most often. Where Salem AR Saleh has fewer than 3 games, the course takes the other top-50 players' most played move, then Stockfish's. Learn a line on the board, then each position comes back in a short daily review until it sticks.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by Salem AR Saleh or Chess.com.

  • Salem AR Saleh was #41 in Chess.com blitz in October 2026 (3,206) and scored 49% against opponents averaging 3,115 in these games.
  • You play Salem AR Saleh's own move in 29 of 40 positions.
  • The whole course is free, and it is updated monthly.

Free · first 5 lines need no account

Blitz rank

#41

Chess.com

Rating

3,206

Games

72

in this opening

Score

49%

in these games

Opponents

3,115

average rating

More about Salem AR Saleh

Use arrow keys to navigate the board. Press Enter to select a piece, then use arrow keys and Enter to move. Press Escape to cancel a move.
Line 1 after 9 moves

Lines to learn

  1. Line 1 · 9% at top level

    2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 e6 6.c3

  2. Line 2 · 9% at top level

    2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Nc6 5.O-O g6 6.a4 Bg7 7.Re1 O-O 8.c3

  3. Line 3 · 6% at top level

    2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.O-O Bd7 5.c3 Nf6 6.Re1 a6 7.Bf1 Bg4 8.h3

  4. Line 4 · 5% at top level

    2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 e6 5.O-O Be7 6.a4 O-O 7.Bb3 Nc6 8.c3 e5 9.Re1

  5. Line 5 · 5% at top level

    2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 e6 5.O-O Be7 6.a4 O-O 7.Bb3 b6 8.c3

  6. Line 6 · 5% at top level

    2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3

  7. Line 7 · 5% at top level

    2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3

  8. Line 8 · 4% at top level

    2.Nf3 b6 3.Bc4 Bb7 4.d3

  9. Line 9 · 4% at top level

    2.Nf3 g6 3.Bc4 Bg7 4.O-O

  10. Line 10 · 4% at top level

    2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 g6 5.O-O Bg7 6.a4 O-O 7.Re1

  11. Line 11 · 4% at top level

    2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d3 Qc7 6.Nbd2 e5 7.a4 Be6 8.b3

  12. Line 12 · 4% at top level

    2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.O-O

Ordered by how often they come up in top-level games. Learned lines join your daily review.

Salem AR Saleh's main line against the Sicilian, move by move

The most common line at top level: 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 e6 6.c3.

  1. 2.Nf3 Your move · Salem AR Saleh's games Salem AR Saleh played 2.Nf3 in 72 games, scoring 49%.
  2. 2…d6 Reply · Salem AR Saleh's games A common reply here is 2…d6. At top level, this comes up about 49% of the time.
  3. 3.Bc4 Your move · Salem AR Saleh's games Salem AR Saleh played 3.Bc4 in 21 games, scoring 52%.
  4. 3…Nc6 Reply · Salem AR Saleh's games A common reply here is 3…Nc6. At top level, this comes up about 9% of the time.
  5. 4.O-O Your move · Salem AR Saleh's games Salem AR Saleh played 4.O-O in 4 games, scoring 38%.
  6. 4…Nf6 Reply · Salem AR Saleh's games A common reply here is 4…Nf6.
  7. 5.d3 Your move · Salem AR Saleh's games Salem AR Saleh played 5.d3 in 3 games, scoring 33%.
  8. 5…e6 Reply · Salem AR Saleh's games A common reply here is 5…e6.
  9. 6.c3 Your move · Salem AR Saleh's games Salem AR Saleh played 6.c3 in 1 game, scoring 100%.

Questions about this course

How does Salem AR Saleh play against the Sicilian?
After 1.e4 c5, Salem AR Saleh's most common line is 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Nc6 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 e6 6.c3. At top level it comes up about 9% of the time.
Is this Salem AR Saleh's course?
No. ChessDrills builds it automatically from Salem AR Saleh's public Chess.com blitz games.
What is this Sicilian course based on?
72 of Salem AR Saleh's Chess.com blitz games in the Sicilian Defense as White, against opponents with an average rating of 3,115. Salem AR Saleh scored 49% in them.
How many lines does the course have?
12 lines covering 40 positions, ordered by how often they come up in top-level games. The first 5 lines need no account; saving your progress with an email unlocks the rest, free.
Who is Salem AR Saleh?
GM Salem AR Saleh was ranked number 41 on the Chess.com blitz leaderboard with a rating of 3,206 when this course was built.