1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Bc4 Nc6 opens the Scheveningen Sicilian: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3... Nc6, ECO B88. Lichess records 597,264 games in this line, which gives us a reliable view of how it actually performs in practice.
History and Notable Players
It arises from the Scheveningen Sicilian: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3... 6.Bc4. Among the most prolific White practitioners are Nick E De Firmian (33 games), Dragoljub Velimirovic (30 games), Robert James Fischer (23 games). Black-side regulars include Ildiko Madl (35 games), Zigurds Lanka (28 games), Enrico Paoli (27 games).
Performance Across Rating Levels
Popularity and results vary sharply by rating level. Among 1200-rated players, it appears in 0.00% of games — 28,550 of them on record — with White winning 45% and Black 51.4%. At 1800 the opening surfaces in 0.02% of games; White wins 45.7%, Black 49.7%, draws 4.6%. At 2500, 0.06% of games go into this opening; draws sit at 7.4% — the line is well-mapped at this level.
Time Control Patterns
The Scheveningen Sicilian: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3... Nc6 skews toward blitz chess. In bullet, it appears in 0.01% of games (203,690); White wins 47.1%. Blitz shows 0.01% adoption across 484,998 games, White scoring 46.4%. In rapid, the share rises to 0.01% — 112,266 games, White 44.5%. White's score swings 2.6pp across formats, so time control isn't just a stylistic choice here — it shifts the actual results.
Move Diversity and Theory Depth
What players actually play after the opening moves depends heavily on rating. At 1200 Elo, the top reply is Nxc6, played 36.6% of the time. There are 5 other moves seeing meaningful share, and 75.7% of games stick to established theory. Entropy: 2.58. By 2500, Be3 dominates at 48.5% of replies; only 3 viable alternatives remain and 93.5% of moves are theory. Entropy drops to 1.79. That entropy collapse is the signature of a line where preparation pays off: at the top, players know the best move and play it.
Historical Trends
Tracking the Scheveningen Sicilian: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3... Nc6 year over year shows a clear story. Adoption peaked in 2015 at 0.02% (4,054 games). By 2025 it sits at 0.01% — a 44% shift overall, leaving the line in decline.
Main Lines and Variations
After 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Bc4 Nc6, the established follow-ups are:
Each branch leads to a different middlegame character — the resulting pawn structure decides what kind of game you get.
Common Mistakes
- Neglecting development — It can feel productive to make extra pawn moves early, but falling behind in piece development is what loses most amateur games — especially in open positions where active pieces find squares fast.
- Ignoring the kingside attack — In sharp Sicilian lines, White typically castles long and pushes the h-pawn. Without your own counterplay on the queenside or in the centre, White's attack lands first.
Practice on Chessiverse
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