Starting from 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7, players enter the Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3... Bd7 — ECO B52. Across rating levels it shows up in 3,760,058 recorded games — enough data to map exactly where it succeeds and where it stalls.
History and Notable Players
It arises from the Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation. On the White side, Sergei Rublevsky (51 games), Igor Glek (43 games), Eduardas Rozentalis (39 games) top the database. Notable Black exponents: Krum Georgiev (35 games), Kiril Georgiev (30 games), Georg Danner (27 games).
Performance Across Rating Levels
The picture changes a lot as you climb the rating ladder. At 1200 Elo, the opening shows up in 0.04% of games (282,943 samples). White scores 47.3%, Black 48.2%, draws 4.6%. Move up to 1800 Elo and the share shifts to 0.10%, with White winning 48.4% versus Black's 45.4%. Among 2500-rated players the line appears in 0.43% of games and draws spike to 11.7%, indicating tight preparation. Positions also become less sharp as level rises (sharpness 0.95 → 0.88).
Time Control Patterns
Look at the same opening across time controls and blitz stands out. In bullet, it appears in 0.05% of games (1,411,653); White wins 49.8%. Blitz shows 0.08% adoption across 3,017,808 games, White scoring 48.6%. In rapid, the share rises to 0.07% — 742,250 games, White 47%. White's score swings 2.8pp 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 Bxd7+, played 62.1% of the time. There are 4 other moves seeing meaningful share, and 86.9% of games stick to established theory. Entropy: 1.82. By 2500, Bxd7+ dominates at 78.2% of replies; only 3 viable alternatives remain and 98.8% of moves are theory. Entropy drops to 1.06. The narrowing is significant — strong players consolidate around a small set of best moves, while amateurs scatter across many plausible-looking options.
Historical Trends
Year-over-year data tells you whether this opening is a contemporary fixture or a fading one. Adoption peaked in 2020 at 0.10% (564,333 games). By 2025 it sits at 0.06% — a 13% shift overall, leaving the line in decline.
Common Mistakes
- Drifting away from main theory — At 400 Elo, theory adherence sits at 84.4% — versus 93.6% at 2000. The most popular deviation is Bc4 (played 17.6% of the time at 400, much less so up top). It looks fine but quietly hands the better-prepared side an edge.
- Neglecting development — Extra pawn moves in the opening are tempting, especially when you "know the moves". Developing a piece each turn is the simple correction.
- 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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