1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 opens the Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3... 6.Bg5, ECO B60. Lichess records 1,001,831 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 Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation. Among the most prolific White practitioners are Vlastimil Jansa (75 games), Thomas Luther (66 games), Oleg Korneev (65 games). Black-side regulars include Zdenko Kozul (207 games), Istvan Csom (107 games), Vasilios Kotronias (89 games).
Performance Across Rating Levels
How well the Sicilian Defence: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3... 6.Bg5 works depends on what level you're playing at. At 1200 Elo, the opening shows up in 0.00% of games (22,689 samples). White scores 51.3%, Black 45.3%, draws 3.4%. By 1800, popularity is 0.03% and White's score is 49.7% to Black's 45.8%. Among 2500-rated players the line appears in 0.40% of games and draws spike to 8.7%, indicating tight preparation. White's edge erodes by 5.0pp from 1200 to 2500 Elo, suggesting Black's counterplay is easier to find with experience.
Time Control Patterns
Look at the same opening across time controls and blitz stands out. In bullet, it appears in 0.02% of games (418,051); White wins 48.5%. Blitz shows 0.02% adoption across 875,397 games, White scoring 49%. In rapid, the share rises to 0.01% — 126,434 games, White 51.2%. White's score swings 2.7pp across formats, so time control isn't just a stylistic choice here — it shifts the actual results.
Move Diversity and Theory Depth
Looking at move selection shows how forcing — or not — the position really is. At 1200 Elo, the top reply is e6, played 27.6% of the time. There are 6 other moves seeing meaningful share, and 69.4% of games stick to established theory. Entropy: 2.78. By 2500, e6 dominates at 76.5% of replies; only 2 viable alternatives remain and 95.1% of moves are theory. Entropy drops to 1.20. 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
Year-over-year data tells you whether this opening is a contemporary fixture or a fading one. Adoption peaked in 2020 at 0.03% (149,776 games). By 2025 it sits at 0.02% — a 30% shift overall, leaving the line on the rise.
Main Lines and Variations
After 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5, 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
- Drifting away from main theory — At 400 Elo, theory adherence sits at 61% — versus 73.8% at 2000. The most popular deviation is g6 (played 18.4% of the time at 400, much less so up top). It looks fine but quietly hands the better-prepared side an edge.
- 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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