Sicilian Defense: Closed
ECO B23, B24, B25, B26 · 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3
The Closed Sicilian, 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3, avoids opening the center with d4. White prefers a slower setup with g3, Bg2, d3 and f4, aiming for a kingside attack rather than the open lines of the main Sicilian.
Plans for White
White builds with g3, Bg2, d3, Be3, Qd2 and f4, then pushes f5 or uses the f-file. The Grand Prix Attack (an early f4 with Nf3 and Bc4 or Bb5) is a more aggressive version.
Plans for Black
Black fianchettoes with ...g6 and ...Bg7, plays ...Nc6, ...d6 and ...e6 or ...e5, and expands on the queenside with ...Rb8, ...b5 and ...b4.
Typical pawn structures
Closed center with White pawns on d3 and e4 and Black on c5 and d6: play happens on opposite wings.
Who it suits
White players who like attacking setups without heavy theory; Black players comfortable in slow maneuvering games with queenside play.
Common traps
Black must not castle kingside blindly into f4-f5 and Qh6 attacks; White must not ignore the queenside pawn storm.
Variations
- Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation — 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5
- Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional — 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6
- Sicilian Defense: Closed, Chameleon Variation — 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nge2
- Sicilian Defense: Closed, Fianchetto Variation — 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3
- Sicilian Defense: Closed, Grob Attack — 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g4
- Sicilian Defense: Closed, Korchnoi Defense — 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. g3 d5
- Sicilian Defense: Closed, Portland Attack — 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. d3 g6 4. g4
- Sicilian Defense: Closed, Carlsen Variation — 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Qd2
- Sicilian Defense: Closed, Botvinnik Defense, with f4 — 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. f4 e5
- Sicilian Defense: Closed, Botvinnik Defense, with Nge2 — 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. Nge2 e5
- Sicilian Defense: Closed, Smyslov Variation — 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 e6 6. Be3 Nd4 7. Nce2
- Sicilian Defense: Closed, Botvinnik Defense, Edge Variation — 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. f4 e5 7. Nh3 Nge7
Related variations
- Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit
- Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon
- Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Czerniak Attack
- Sicilian Defense: Kronberger Variation
- Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack
- Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit
- Sicilian Defense: French Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations
- Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation
- Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Grand Prix Attack
- Sicilian Defense: Morphy Gambit
- Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack
- Sicilian Defense: Hyperaccelerated Pterodactyl
- Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted
- Sicilian Defense: Chekhover Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Prins Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Pin Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation