Chess Openings·Sicilian Defence, English Attack

Semi-Open Game

Sicilian Defence, English Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3

Step through

15 / 15
  1. 1.
  3. 2.
  5. 3.
  7. 4.
  9. 5.
  11. 6.
  13. 7.
  15. 8.

Tap a move to jump to that position.

Instead of copying the centre, the reply comes from the side. Both kings come under fire early, so one slip decides it. Of the four central squares, pawns stand on e4 · e5. 2 pieces have left the board. Neither side has castled yet.

The position

Length
15 moves
To move
Black
Legal replies
35
Minor pieces out
White 3 · Black 2
Material
level
Castling rights left
KQkq
FEN
rn1qkb1r/1p3ppp/p2pbn2/4p3/4P3/1NN1BP2/PPP3PP/R2QKB1R b KQkq - 0 8

Move by move

Each move spelled out: which piece went from where to where.

  1. 1.e4White: Pawn e2→e4
  2. 1…c5Black: Pawn c7→c5
  3. 2.Nf3White: Knight g1→f3
  4. 2…d6Black: Pawn d7→d6
  5. 3.d4White: Pawn d2→d4
  6. 3…cxd4Black: Pawn c5→d4 (capture)
  7. 4.Nxd4White: Knight f3→d4 (capture)
  8. 4…Nf6Black: Knight g8→f6
  9. 5.Nc3White: Knight b1→c3
  10. 5…a6Black: Pawn a7→a6
  11. 6.Be3White: Bishop c1→e3
  12. 6…e5Black: Pawn e7→e5
  13. 7.Nb3White: Knight d4→b3
  14. 7…Be6Black: Bishop c8→e6
  15. 8.f3White: Pawn f2→f3

Nearby lines

first 10 moves shared

Sicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation…Nf6 Nc3 a6Sicilian Defence, Poisoned Pawn Variation…Bg5 e6 f4 Qb6Sicilian Defence, Open Variation…Nxd4 Nf6 Nc3Sicilian Defence, Dragon Variation…g6Sicilian Defence, Scheveningen Variation…e6Sicilian Defence, Classical Variation…Nc6

Common questions

Q. What are the moves of Sicilian Defence, English Attack?

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3

Q. Which family does it belong to?

Semi-Open Game — 1.e4 met by anything other than 1…e5.

Q. Who is to move next?

After 15 moves it is Black to move.