Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack
Chess opening · ECO B30 · 5 half-moves
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5
The Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack is reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5. It is Black's move in the position shown.
It branches from the Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian with 3. Bb5.
How often it is played
The Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack and its variations appeared in 0.27% of games — 8,195 of 3,000,000 rated games sampled from Lichess in September 2026. That makes it number 147 of the openings listed here.
Results
White won 50%, 4.7% were drawn and Black won 45%. 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 +0.32 — 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: Open | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 | 0.94% |
| Sicilian Defense: French Variation | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 | 1.3% |
| Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 | 1.2% |
Main continuations
| Variation | Moves | Share of games |
|---|---|---|
| Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Fianchetto Variation | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 | 0.06% |
| Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Brooklyn Retreat Defense | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nb8 | 0.00% |
| Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, San Francisco Gambit | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Na5 4. b4 | 0.00% |
Check your own games
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