Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation
The Kan Variation is 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6, where Black plays ...a6 instead of developing a knight. Black keeps pieces flexible and prepares ...b5 or ...Qc7, while White chooses between Bd3, c4 or Nc3 setups.
- Moves
- 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6
- ECO
- B41
- Engine
- +0.35 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 5,981 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 48.2%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- 5.Bd3 covers e4 and prepares O-O and c4, the setup the top engine line follows.
- c4 grabs space at once; after ...Nf6 and Nc3, the ...Bb4 pin puts e4 under fire.
- Nc3 develops quickly and keeps both the Be3, f3, Qd2 plan and the Bd3 plan available.
- Qf3 is unusual but guards e4, eyes f7 and supports a later trade on c6.
Black
- ...Nf6 and ...Qc7 are standard: the knight hits e4 and the queen watches e5 and c4.
- ...Bb4 or ...Bc5 bring the dark bishop out actively against a knight on c3 or d4.
- Against c4, ...d6 and ...Nbd7 or ...Nc6 build a compact hedgehog behind the a6 pawn.
- Prepare ...b5 so a bishop on b7 can join the pressure against e4.
Plans and pawn structure
The pawn on a6 keeps White's knights off b5 and prepares ...b5, but Black has not yet decided where the knights go. White usually picks one of two plans. With Bd3, O-O and c4, White builds a Maroczy bind and Black answers with a hedgehog: pawns on a6, d6 and e6, then ...b5 or ...d5 at the right moment. With Nc3, Be3 and Qd2, White goes for a faster kingside push, and Black expands at once with ...b5 to hit the c3 knight.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.35: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.35 5.Bd3 Nf6 6.O-O d6 7.c4 Nc6
- +0.28 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Qf3 Bxc3+
- +0.26 5.Qf3 Qc7 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.Nxc6 Qxc6
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
5,981 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 48.2%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Kan Variation, Knight Variation5.Nc3 · 2,460 games
- Kan Variation, Maróczy Bind, Réti Variation5.c4 · 1,018 games
- Kan Variation, Modern Variation5.Bd3 · 597 games
- Kan Variation, Maróczy Bind, Bronstein Variation5.c4 · rare
- Kan Variation, Gipslis Variation5.Bd3 · rare
- Kan Variation, Wing Attack, Christiansen's Dream5.Nc3 · rare
How to play against it
With White, choose one setup and keep it simple: Bd3 with c4 is solid, while Nc3, Be3 and Qd2 is direct. Keep e4 protected at all times, because ...Nf6, ...Bb4 and a bishop on b7 can all aim at it. Do not let Black get ...b5 in for free.
Questions
What are the moves of the Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation?
The Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation starts 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6. Its ECO code is B41.
Is the Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.35 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 5,981 lichess games from our sample, White scored 48.2%. Good for flexible Black players who enjoy hedgehog-like structures; White needs to know one solid setup.
What is the main idea of the Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation?
Black plays ...a6 to keep flexible and prepare ...b5 and ...Qc7. White picks Bd3 and c4 for a bind or Nc3 for quick development.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is Bd3, with c4 and Qf3 close behind. 5.Bd3 covers e4 and prepares O-O and c4.
Related lines
- Sicilian Defense
- Bowdler Attack
- Old Sicilian
- Closed
- Alapin Variation
- Modern Variations
- How to beat the Sicilian Defenseguide
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.