Chess opening · ECO B41
Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation
Black reaches the Open Sicilian in the Kan with ...e6 and then plays 4...a6 before any black knight has moved. Black keeps the pieces back and waits to see where White puts the queen's knight and the light-squared bishop. With the d-pawn still on d7, the f8 bishop has open roads to e7, d6, c5 and b4, which gives the setup more options than a quick ...d6 would.
- Rank by weighted share
- #113 of 159
Key moves
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6
- 2... e6This little pawn step decides the family. It covers d5, opens the a3 to f8 diagonal for the dark-squared bishop, and prepares ...d5 one day, without yet deciding where the queen's knight belongs.
- 4... a6The square b5 is now guarded by a pawn, so neither the d4 knight nor the f1 bishop can use that square. Black also gets ready for ...b5 and ...Bb7, which points the light-squared bishop at e4.
Queen on c7, bishop wherever it fits
Black often follows with ...Qc7, which watches e5 and the half-open c-file at the same time. The kingside knight usually waits until White commits, then comes to f6 or sometimes e7.
Because d7 has not moved, the f8 bishop can choose. Against Nc3 it may go to b4 and pin that knight to the white king, which loosens White's hold on e4. Against 5.Bd3 it may go to c5, hitting the d4 knight directly.
White's c4 clamp and the Hedgehog reply
One standard answer is Bd3 followed by c4, with pawns on c4 and e4 taking d5 away from Black for a long time. The bishop guards e4 first, so the c-pawn can advance before the b1 knight comes to c3 behind it.
Black then often builds a compact wall with pawns on a6, b6, d6 and e6, pieces tucked behind them. That structure waits for a well-timed ...b5 or ...d5 to break out.
Bd3 and the c-pawn advance
5. Bd3 Nf6 6. O-O Qc7 7. Qe2 d6 8. c4
White's c-pawn joins the e-pawn and clamps d5. Black has a6, d6 and e6 in place and can add ...b6, ...Bb7 and ...Nbd7, keeping the pieces behind the pawns until a break is ready.
Top replies by rating
Nc3 leads every band. The c4 clamp sits in the top three from 1400 up, and at 2000 and up its share is more than twice that of Bd3.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200–1399 | Nc3 49% | Bc4 18% | Bd3 12% |
| 1400–1599 | Nc3 56% | c4 12% | Bd3 11% |
| 1600–1799 | Nc3 48% | Bd3 15% | c4 11% |
| 1800–1999 | Nc3 49% | c4 17% | Bd3 15% |
| 2000 and up | Nc3 48% | c4 31% | Bd3 12% |
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.