Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations
Chess opening · ECO B50 · 4 half-moves
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6
The Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations is reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6. It is White's move in the position shown.
It branches from the Sicilian Defense with 2. Nf3 d6.
How often it is played
The Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations and its variations appeared in 1.2% of games — 36,529 of 3,000,000 rated games sampled from Lichess in September 2026. That makes it number 44 of the openings listed here.
Results
White won 48%, 4.9% were drawn and Black won 47%. These are games between players of every strength and time control, so they say how the opening does in practice rather than how sound it is.
What the engine thinks
Stockfish, at depth 18, evaluates the position at +0.36 — a small edge for White. Positive numbers favour White; see reading the evaluation bar.
Similar openings
The most-played alternatives — what else could have been chosen around the move where this opening begins.
| Opening | Moves | Share of games |
|---|---|---|
| Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 | 2.1% |
| Sicilian Defense: French Variation | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 | 1.3% |
| Sicilian Defense: Closed | 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 | 0.99% |
Main continuations
| Variation | Moves | Share of games |
|---|---|---|
| Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations, Main Line | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 | 0.52% |
| Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, with d6 | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 | 0.14% |
| Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ | 0.09% |
| Sicilian Defense: Chekhover Variation | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 | 0.05% |
| Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations, Tartakower | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. c3 | 0.03% |
| Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Accelerated Dragon | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 | 0.01% |
| Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations, Anti-Qxd4 Move Order | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 | 0.01% |
| Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit, Deferred Variation | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. b4 | 0.01% |
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