Chessy
The Sicilian Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Fianchetto Variation: Bxc6 — Playing as Black
After 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.Bxc6 bxc6, you have traded a knight for a bishop and opened the b-file for your rook. This is the Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Fianchetto Variation, and you are playing Black. The engine gives +0.44, a small edge for White, so you are slightly worse — but the statistics tell a fairer story: across nearly 395,000 games, Black actually wins 46.8% of the time against White's 49.1%, with only 4.1% draws. That narrow gap means you have real chances if you know where to put your pieces. Step into the interactive drill below and test your response to the critical early moves.
Play the Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Fianchetto Variation: Bxc6 against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Jump into the interactive drill and practise Black's responses to all of White's popular fifth moves. Create a free Chessy account to track your progress and b5
Create a free account →What You're Fighting For
By playing 4...bxc6, you accept doubled c-pawns in exchange for the two bishops and a half-open b-file. White's extra pawn in the centre is real — Stockfish rates the position +0.44, which is a small edge for your opponent — but it comes with a catch. Your light-squared bishop on g7 will enjoy a long diagonal, and your pawn structure gives you simple, clear targets: put pressure on e4 and make White prove the advantage. The statistics back up the fighting spirit: you win 46.8% of games from here, only a hair behind White's 49.1%. This is not a survival exercise — it is an imbalance you can play for a win.
The Engine's First Choice: Castling
The most-played move in this position is 5.O-O, appearing in 125,692 games and scoring 50.0% for White. It is also the engine's top recommendation, with the follow-up plan O-O Bg7 Re1 Nf6. White castles, develops the bishop to g7, then centralises the rook and brings the knight to f6. Your job as Black is straightforward: mirror the kingside development. Put your bishop on g7, your knight on f6, and castle — but stay alert to White's central ideas. After O-O, the most common setup for Black is to meet Bg7 with ...d6, keeping the centre solid while preparing to challenge White's e4 pawn with ...f5 or ...d5 at the right moment.
What the Numbers Tell Us About Your Best Replies
White has several options, and knowing how they score helps you set your priorities. If White plays 5.d4 (90,479 games, 49.2% for White) or 5.d3 (55,019 games, 48.8% for White), you can develop naturally — Bg7, Nf6, O-O — and the slightly lower White scores suggest these lines give you comfortable equality. A very common move is 5.c3 (28,872 games, 48.6% for White), preparing d4. Here you can consider ...d5 immediately, striking at the centre before White gets organised. The most dangerous-looking White move, 5.c4 (23,152 games, 49.1% for White), is actually classified as an inaccuracy that loses roughly 0.7 pawns — the engine prefers O-O instead. Against c4, your plan is simple: fianchetto the bishop and challenge the d4 square with ...e5 or ...d5, punishing White's premature pawn push.
Two Common Mistakes to Punish
The statistics flag two inaccuracies that cost White around 0.7 pawns each, and both are popular enough that you will face them. The first is 5.Nc3 (44,501 games). White develops the knight to c3 instead of castling, which blocks the c-pawn and gives you time to seize the centre. Your best reply is ...d5, hitting e4 immediately — after the trade on e4, your bishop pair and open b-file start to matter. The second is 5.c4, mentioned above. Here, a quick ...d5 or ...e5 followed by ...Bg7 puts White on the back foot. In both cases, the engine says White should have castled first, and your job is to make them regret the deviation. Keep these two continuations in your memory: when you see Nc3 or c4, know that you have already gained an edge in the opening battle.
Results across 394,901 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| O-O | 125,692 | 50.0% |
| d4 | 90,479 | 49.2% |
| d3 | 55,019 | 48.8% |
| Nc3 | 44,501 | 47.5% |
| c3 | 28,872 | 48.6% |
| c4 | 23,152 | 49.1% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack with Bxc6 good for Black?
Statistically, it is very playable for Black. Across 394,901 games, Black wins 46.8% and White wins 49.1%, with only 4.1% draws. The engine gives a small plus for White (+0.44), meaning you are slightly worse, but the practical winning chances are nearly equal — this is not a dangerous line for Black.
What is White's best move after 4.Bxc6 bxc6?
The engine prefers 5.O-O, followed by the plan O-O Bg7 Re1 Nf6. Castling is White's top choice and also the most popular, appearing in over 125,000 games. It scores 50.0% for White — your best response is simply to develop your bishop to g7 and knight to f6.
Should Black be afraid of doubled c-pawns here?
Not at all. The doubled c-pawns are a feature, not a weakness — they open the b-file for your rook and give your light-squared bishop a clear diagonal to g7. Many Black players deliberately choose this line because the pawn structure creates attacking chances while White's extra central pawn is hard to convert.
What are White's biggest mistakes in this position?
Two moves are flagged as inaccuracies that lose roughly 0.7 pawns: 5.Nc3 and 5.c4. The engine says White should castle instead. If your opponent plays either of these, you can gain an edge by striking in the centre with ...d5 or preparing ...e5 against the c4 push.
How many games feature the Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Fianchetto Variation: Bxc6?
Over 394K Lichess games have reached the Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack, Fianchetto Variation: Bxc6 position. White wins 49.1%, Black wins 46.8%, with 4.1% draws — based on real rated games.