Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional
The Closed Sicilian, Traditional, is 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6, where Black answers the closed knight move by putting the queen's knight on c6. White now picks a setup with Nf3, f4 or g3, while Black keeps the d4 square under watch and waits to see which plan White chooses.
- Moves
- 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6
- ECO
- B23
- Engine
- +0.21 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 9,471 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 49.7%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- 3.Nf3 with e5 coming from Black leads to Bc4, d3 and a4, as in the top engine line, a slow game with a grip on d5.
- Push f4 to reach the Grand Prix Attack, then add Nf3 and a bishop to b5 or c4 for kingside pressure.
- Fianchetto with g3 and a bishop on g2 for the true Closed setup, then build with d3, Be3 and a later f4.
- 3.Nge2 keeps the f-pawn free; if ...Nd4 arrives, trade on d4 and meet ...cxd4 with Ne2 again.
Black
- Jump to d4 with the knight against Nge2 or Bb5. The outpost is hard to remove without giving Black the c-file.
- Against Nf3, ...e5 followed by ...Be7 and ...d6 builds a solid wall and takes d4 for good.
- Fianchetto with ...g6 and a bishop on g7 so it eyes the long diagonal and supports ...Nd4.
- Keep ...d6 flexible and add ...Rb8 and ...b5 if White commits to a slow kingside setup.
Plans and pawn structure
The c5 pawn and the c6 knight both hit d4, so White rarely plays d4 early here. Instead White plays around the center: f4 and Nf3 aim at the kingside, while g3 and a bishop on g2 point at d5. If Black sets up ...e5 and ...d6, a4 stops ...b5 and the c4 bishop or a knight on d5 becomes White's best piece. Black usually expands on the queenside with ...Rb8 and ...b5 or plants a knight on d4 and swaps it off to open the c-file.
Where the engine's main line heads: Open game: e4 against e5. An open game: e4 against e5. Development, the f7 and f2 squares, and the d4 or d5 break are what count.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.21: level. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.21 3.Nf3 e5 4.Bc4 Be7 5.d3 d6
- +0.14 3.Nge2 Nd4 4.Nxd4 cxd4 5.Ne2 e5
- −0.09 3.Bb5 Nd4 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.Nf3 e6
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
9,471 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 49.7%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Grand Prix Attack3.f4 · 3,477 games
- Closed, Fianchetto Variation3.g3 · 1,060 games
- Closed, Chameleon Variation3.Nge2 · rare
- Closed, Grob Attack3.g4 · rare
- Closed, Portland Attack3.d3 · rare
- Grand Prix Attack, Schofman Variation3.f4 · rare
- Closed, Botvinnik Defense, Edge Variation3.g3 · rare
How to play against it
With Black, pick squares that fit every White plan: ...g6, a bishop on g7 and ...d6 work against both f4 and g3 setups. Watch for Bb5 pins on c6 and be ready to jump to d4. Do not rush ...e5 against an early f4, since White's knight and queen use the f-file quickly.
Questions
What are the moves of the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional?
The Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional starts 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6. Its ECO code is B23.
Is the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.21 at depth 20, which is level. In 9,471 lichess games from our sample, White scored 49.7%. Good for players who like slow maneuvering and know one or two White setups well, with less theory than the open lines.
What is the main idea of the Sicilian Defense: Closed, Traditional?
Both sides avoid the open Sicilian. White chooses between f4, g3 and Nf3 setups, while Black uses ...Nc6 with ...g6 or ...e5 to control d4 and play on the queenside.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is Nf3, with Nge2 and Bb5 close behind. 3.Nf3 keeps options open and meets ...e5 with Bc4 and d3, aiming the bishop at f7 and d5.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.