About this opening
Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Venice System, Steiner Line is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings,
classified under code B28. 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 6 half-moves from the
starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. c3 d6.
It belongs to the Sicilian Defense family.
Within that family this is a level-3 branch (the O'Kelly Variation → Venice System → Steiner Line line). The immediate parent line is Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation, Venice System, transitioned via 3…d6.
The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 c5, 2.Nf3 a6, 3.c3 d6. From this position the encyclopaedia records no further canonical continuations — practical play branches into unnamed transpositions or returns to the parent line for alternative ideas.