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Sicilian DefenseClosed

B23For BlackAggressive

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3

A line for Black. Every figure below is computed separately for each rating band, and every one carries its own sample size.

Win rate, Black
48.7%49.7%49.1%46.6%
Band 600, n = 14,195Band 1000, n = 69,437Band 1400, n = 72,094Band 1800, n = 233,562
Blunder rate
63.6%38.2%23.3%24.5%
Band median 44.6%Band median 42.9%Band median 40.0%Band median 36.4%
Tier
CBBB
Black, band 600Black, band 1000Black, band 1400Black, band 1800
Share of games
0.3%0.5%0.7%1.1%
Of band 600 gamesOf band 1000 gamesOf band 1400 gamesOf band 1800 games
Every band, source period 2026-05
BandWhiteDrawBlackBlunderBook exitGamesTier
60047.2%4.1%48.7%63.6%ply 3.014,195C
100046.9%3.4%49.7%38.2%ply 3.069,437B
140047.4%3.5%49.1%23.3%ply 3.072,094B
180049.1%4.3%46.6%24.5%ply 3.0233,562B

Results by band

What it actually does, band by band.

All four bands are on the page. The one matching your rating is marked. Nothing here is averaged across bands.

600Your bandC at 600Blunder rate 63.6%, band median 44.6%

At 600, the Sicilian Defense: Closed scores 48.7% for Black across 14,195 games. That is below average at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 2 on average, and 63.6% include an early material blunder (11 games at 600).

1000Your bandB at 1000Blunder rate 38.2%, band median 42.9%

At 1000, the Sicilian Defense: Closed scores 49.7% for Black across 69,437 games. That is close to the average at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 2 on average, and 38.2% include an early material blunder (55 games at 1000).

1400Your bandB at 1400Blunder rate 23.3%, band median 40.0%

At 1400, the Sicilian Defense: Closed scores 49.1% for Black across 72,094 games. That is close to the average at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 2 on average, and 23.3% include an early material blunder (43 games at 1400).

1800Your bandB at 1800Blunder rate 24.5%, band median 36.4%

At 1800, the Sicilian Defense: Closed scores 46.6% for Black across 233,562 games. That is close to the average at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 2 on average, and 24.5% include an early material blunder (159 games at 1800).

Variations

Where the line goes next.

The lines that continue the Sicilian Defense: Closed, most played first at your band. Switch the band in the header and both the figures and the order follow.

  • CCBCB23

    Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional

    1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6

    0.1% of games at 600, n = 6,0550.2% of games at 1000, n = 32,2130.3% of games at 1400, n = 34,2910.5% of games at 1800, n = 109,350

  • CBCCB23

    Sicilian Defense: Closed

    1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6

    0.1% of games at 600, n = 2,2510.1% of games at 1000, n = 14,7270.2% of games at 1400, n = 17,0920.3% of games at 1800, n = 55,037

Questions

Common questions about this page.

At 600, the Sicilian Defense: Closed scores 48.7% for Black across 14,195 games. That is below average at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 2 on average, and 63.6% include an early material blunder (11 games at 600).

At 1000, the Sicilian Defense: Closed scores 49.7% for Black across 69,437 games. That is close to the average at this level. Games in this line leave known theory around move 2 on average, and 38.2% include an early material blunder (55 games at 1000).

The Sicilian Defense: Closed (B23) is a line for Black. The main line runs 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3.