Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO B33), reached after 16 half-moves: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5.

Black rook — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

Black bishop — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

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9.Bxf6 2 lines
- B33 Novosibirsk Variation
- B33 Peresypkin's Sacrifice
9.Nd5 1 line
- B33 Chelyabinsk Variation

About this opening

Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code B33. ECO group B (B00–B99) covers semi-open games (1.e4 with Black playing anything other than 1…e5), with the Sicilian, French, Caro-Kann and Pirc/Modern at its heart. This particular variation is reached after 16 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5.

It belongs to the Sicilian Defense family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Lasker-Pelikan Variation → Sveshnikov Variation line). The immediate parent line is Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, transitioned via 8…b5.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 c5, 2.Nf3 Nc6, 3.d4 cxd4, 4.Nxd4 Nf6, 5.Nc3 e5, 6.Ndb5 d6. From this position 2 named continuations are recorded in the encyclopaedia, each leading to a distinct theoretical line.