Chess lessons › Chess openings
The Closed Sicilian
White plays 2.Nc3 and g3 instead of d4, keeps the centre closed, and attacks slowly on the kingside.
The idea
White plays Nc3 and g3, keeps the centre closed and goes for f4.
- Black’s bishop on g7 looks at the knight on c3.
- White’s bishop on g2 waits behind the pawn on e4.
- White plans f4 on the kingside; Black plays on the queenside.
In a game: If White keeps d4 back and plays g3, expect a slow kingside push with f4.
How the lesson begins
In the Closed Sicilian, White plays 2.Nc3 and keeps the d-pawn back. Lichess files every 2.Nc3 under this name, though White can still go for Nf3 and d4 later, or for f4. Among players rated 1200 to 1599 on Lichess, 2.Nc3 is chosen in 8% of games after 1...c5.
- 1... c5 2. Nc3
A typical set-up: both sides put a bishop on the long diagonal with g3 and ...g6. Black’s bishop on g7 looks at the knight on c3. White’s pawn on e4 stands in front of the bishop on g2, so that bishop is quiet for now.
- 2... Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6
A question
Why is White’s bishop on g2 quiet in this position?
Show the answer
White’s own pawn on e4 blocks its diagonal towards d5.
Right. It wakes up if the pawn on e4 moves or is traded, or after f4 and e5.
In numbers
How often it is played
| Rating | Value |
|---|---|
| Under 800 | Too few games |
| 800 to 1199 | 3.8 |
| 1200 to 1599 | 5.2 |
| 1600 to 1999 | 8.7 |
| 2000 and up | 15 |
How the games ended
White won 48%, 4% were drawn and Black won 48%, over 13,837 games that start this way, in a sample of rated Lichess games from 2026.