Chess Openings Lab
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Sicilian Defense: Closed

The Closed Sicilian begins with 2.Nc3, a flexible move that keeps both the open d4 push and the closed g3 and f4 setups available. White waits to see Black's setup, while Black chooses between ...Nc6, ...g6 or ...a6 and must be ready for both plans.

Moves
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3
ECO
B23, B24, B25, B26
Engine
+0.13 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
30,565 games in our lichess sample
White scores
50.6%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • With Nf3 and d4, steer into Open Sicilian positions where the c3 knight is already developed.
  • With g3, Bg2, d3 and f4, build the closed setup and a slow kingside attack.
  • Against ...g6, d4 and Qxd4 put the queen on the long diagonal toward h8, as in the engine line.
  • Use the c3 knight to watch d5; Nd5 becomes a strong outpost in many closed lines.

Black

  • 2...Nc6 is the engine's first choice and works against both the open and closed plans.
  • 2...g6 prepares a fianchetto; if White plays d4, recapture and hit the queen with ...Nf6 and ...Nc6.
  • 2...a6 prepares ...b5 and fits well against open lines with Nf3 and d4.
  • Against the closed setup, plan ...g6, ...Bg7 and ...d6, with ...e5 or ...e6 and ...Nge7 to follow.

Plans and pawn structure

In the closed lines, White builds with g3, Bg2, d3 and f4, then pushes f5 or g4 against Black's king. Black uses the queenside: ...Rb8, ...b5 and ...b4 to push the c3 knight away, or ...e5 to block the center and stop f4 from gaining space. If White plays Nf3 and d4, the game becomes an Open Sicilian with an early Nc3, and Black's second move decides which variation appears. Move order matters, so Black should pick a setup that works in both cases.

Where the engine's main line heads: Open Sicilian: White traded the d-pawn for Black's c-pawn. An Open Sicilian: White traded the d-pawn for Black's c-pawn. White has a lead in development and the d-file, Black has the half-open c-file and two central pawns.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.13: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.13 2...Nc6 3.Nf3 g6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4
  2. +0.21 2...g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Qa4
  3. +0.30 2...a6 3.Nf3 e6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

30,565 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 50.6%.

under 120048.0%
1200–159949.2%
1600–199950.8%
2000 and up52.2%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Closed, Traditional2...Nc6 · 9,471 games
  • Closed, Botvinnik Defense, Edge Variation2...Nc6 · rare
  • Closed, Korchnoi Defense2...e6 · rare
  • Dragon Variation, Classical Variation, Stockholm Attack2...d6 · rare

How to play against it

With Black, play 2...Nc6 or ...e6 to stay flexible. Do not commit to ...d6 and ...g6 too early if you dislike certain open lines. With White, decide between the open and closed plans after seeing Black's second move, and keep Nd5 and f4 as your main ideas in the closed setup.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files these lines under the same name, though they reach a different position: 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6; 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.g3; 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.f4 Nc6 4.Nf3 d5.

Questions

What are the moves of the Sicilian Defense: Closed?

The Sicilian Defense: Closed starts 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3. Its ECO code is B23, B24, B25, B26.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Closed good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.13 at depth 20, which is level. In 30,565 lichess games from our sample, White scored 50.6%. A flexible choice for White players who like to avoid main lines, while Black needs to know a setup that works against both plans.

What is the main idea of the Sicilian Defense: Closed?

White plays Nc3 to keep options open. Black must choose a setup that works against both open d4 lines and the closed g3 and f4 setup.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Nc6, with g6 and a6 close behind. 2...Nc6 develops flexibly and prepares to meet both Nf3 with d4 and the closed g3 setup.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.