Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations, Main Line: what to play after Nf6?
- Games played
- 203K
- To move
- White
- Evaluation
- +0.38
- Depth
- 25
Game counts: Lichess opening book. Move ranking and evaluation: Stockfish. How this page is built
White to playPosition before the recommended move. Green arrow: the recommended move.
One way to reach it: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6
FEN
rnbqkb1r/pp2pppp/3p1n2/8/3NP3/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKB1R w KQkq -Understanding the position: Nc3 and the alternatives
In the Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations, Main Line (ECO B54), White's primary and most critical response is Nc3. Developing the queenside knight defends the pawn on e4 while maintaining pressure on central squares. Engine analysis evaluates Nc3 as the leading choice at +0.38, and across 203,252 recorded games at this position, it appears in 17440.1% of entries (35M recorded) with White scoring 49.5% of points.
The Role of Nc3 and Core Continuations
Playing Nc3 develops an undeveloped minor piece to its natural central post while stabilizing the pawn on e4. It allows White to retain classical control over the center without making structural concessions. The illustrative engine line continues with Nc3 a6 f3 e5 Nb3 Be6, transitioning into traditional Sicilian structures where White repositions the knight to b3 to organize piece activity against Black's central pawn advances.
Alternative Setup Options
White possesses several playable alternatives that veer away from the absolute main line. The check Bb5+ carries an evaluation of +0.15 and is recorded in 288.2% of games (586K recorded), scoring 47.2% for White through the continuation Bb5+ Nbd7 O-O a6 Bd3 Nc5. Another frequent developing attempt is Bd3 (+0.11), seen in 991.3% of games (2.01M recorded) with a 47.4% score, leading to Bd3 Nc6 Be3 Ng4 Nxc6 bxc6.
Positional Adjustments
White can also defend the e4 pawn directly with f3, which achieves an evaluation of +0.06. This move has appeared in 566.8% of games (1.15M recorded) and holds a 53.5% score for White, illustrated by f3 e5 Nb3 d5 Bg5 d4. Lastly, Qd3 offers an equal evaluation of +0.00, leading directly to Qd3 e5 Nb3 Be6 Nc3 Be7.
What else gets played here
Move choices from 203K games in the opening book, with the engine's evaluation of each.
| Move | Evaluation | Played | Games | White score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nc3Engine pick | +0.38 | 35M | 50% | |
| Bd3 | +0.11 | 2.01M | 47% | |
| f3 | +0.06 | 1.15M | 54% | |
| Bb5+ | +0.15 | 586K | 47% | |
| Qd3 | +0.00 | — | — | — |
Evaluation in pawns, from White's point of view: + favours White, − favours Black. White score: White's wins plus half the draws, over the games where that move was played and the result is known.
The line
More positions in the Sicilian Defense
- White to playBest moveNf3Knight g1 → f3Sicilian Defense276M games
- White to playBest moveBb5Bishop f1 → b5Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian129M games
- White to playBest moved4Pawn d2 → d4Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations109M games
- Black to playBest moveNc6Knight b8 → c6Sicilian Defense: Closed74M games
- White to playBest moveNxd4Knight f3 → d4Sicilian Defense: Open74M games
- Black to playBest movecxd4Pawn c5 → d4Sicilian Defense: Open73M games
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move for White in the Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations, Main Line?
White to play. Stockfish recommends Nc3 (Knight b1 → c3), evaluated at +0.38: White is slightly better.
How often does this position occur?
This position has been reached 203K times in the opening book.