Chess Openings Lab
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Sicilian Defense: Pin Variation

The Pin Variation is 5...Bb4, where Black pins the c3 knight to increase pressure on e4. Black wants to trade on c3 and hit e4, while White's best answer is the sharp e5, chasing the f6 knight and using the queen against g7.

Moves
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4
ECO
B40
Engine
+0.72 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
651 games in our lichess sample
White scores
50.2%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play 6.e5 at once; after ...Nd5, Qg4 attacks g7 and the bishop on b4, and Black's king must step to f8.
  • The calmer Bd3 and Bd2 defend e4 and c3; after a3, Black usually takes on c3 and plays ...e5.
  • Nb5 with a3 forces a decision from the bishop and gives White the bishop pair after the capture on c3.

Black

  • After 6.e5 Nd5 Qg4, play ...Kf8 and later ...h5 and ...d6 to drive the queen off and undermine e5.
  • Against quiet moves, trade ...Bxc3 at a good moment and play ...e5 or ...d5 to fight for the center.
  • Castle early when White is slow, so the king is safe before the center opens.

Plans and pawn structure

The pin on c3 is the whole point. Against slow play Black trades the bishop for the knight and builds with ...d6 and ...e5, or strikes with ...d5, aiming to make e4 weak. White's most testing plan is e5, which kicks the f6 knight and opens g7 to the queen. Black's king then steps to f8, and the play turns on whether White's lead in development outweighs Black's solid center.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.72: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.72 6.e5 Nd5 7.Qg4 Kf8 8.Bd3 h5
  2. +0.38 6.Bd3 d6 7.Bd2 O-O 8.a3 Bxc3
  3. +0.33 6.Nb5 O-O 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.Nxc3 d5

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

651 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 50.2%.

1200–159951.8%
1600–199948.0%
2000 and up52.1%

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

Where it goes next

  • Pin Variation, Koch Variation6.e5 · rare
  • Pin Variation, Jaffe Variation6.Bd3 · rare

How to play against it

As White, answer with 6.e5 and Qg4, using your lead in development before Black can castle. If you prefer a quiet game, defend with Bd3 and Bd2, but then expect ...Bxc3 and ...e5. Do not leave e4 hanging while you defend c3.

Questions

What are the moves of the Sicilian Defense: Pin Variation?

The Sicilian Defense: Pin Variation starts 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4. Its ECO code is B40.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Pin Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.72 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 651 lichess games from our sample, White scored 50.2%. A practical try for Black players who like early pressure, but it demands good defense against White's e5 and Qg4 plan.

What is the main idea of the Sicilian Defense: Pin Variation?

Black pins the c3 knight so that e4 loses a defender. White's sharpest reply is e5, kicking the f6 knight and attacking g7 with the queen before Black castles.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is e5, with Bd3 and Nb5 close behind. 6.e5 drives the f6 knight away from the kingside, so Qg4 can hit g7 and the b4 bishop at once.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.