Chessy
Sicilian Defense: Open (cxd4) – A Small Edge for White
After 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 you've reached the Open Sicilian — one of the most critical battlegrounds in chess. The trade on d4 has opened the centre and given White a lead in development. Stockfish rates this position at +0.43, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly better here, but the game is far from decided. Black has many popular replies (e5, g6, Nf6, and more), and your task is to build on your initiative move by move. Play the position below against our adapting engine and see if you can turn that small plus into something bigger.
Play the Sicilian Defense: Open: cxd4 against the engine
Free, no signup — you play white, the engine adapts to your level.
Ready to test your Open Sicilian skills? Play the position from 4.Nxd4 against our adapting engine and learn to handle every Black reply — free with a Chessy
Create a free account →What You're Fighting For
Right out of the opening you have the centre — a pawn on e4 facing Black's pawn on e7 — and your knight on d4 is actively posted. Your queen's bishop and king's rook are still at home, but your king's knight is already developed and your queen's pawn has been traded for Black's c-pawn, giving you a space advantage and the half-open d-file to work with later. The engine's small edge (+0.43) reflects real, if modest, pressure. You are not winning by force, but you have exactly the kind of position where understanding typical plans matters more than memorising long lines.
The Engine's Top Choice: 4...e5
Black's most popular move by a wide margin is 4...e5 (5,333,603 games in the database). With this push Black attacks your knight and stakes a claim in the centre at the same time. The engine's best continuation is 5.Nb5, intending to follow up with d6 and N5c3. After 5.Nb5 d6 6.N5c3, Black has spent two tempi on pawn moves while you have kept a lead in development and can target the d6 weakness later. If you face 4...e5, keep calm, retreat to b5, and look forward to a solid positional game with your bishop pair and central control.
The Numbers Behind the Moves
Across 21,314,254 games at this exact position, White wins 48.7%, draws 4.0%, and Black wins 47.3%. That is a healthy practical score for White, especially considering the draw rate is very low — most games produce a winner. Black's most-played responses after 4.Nxd4 are: e5 (White scores 48.6%), g6 (47.0%), Nf6 (46.5%), Nxd4 (54.8%), e6 (47.3%), and d6 (48.1%). The standout is 4...Nxd4, which actually gives White the best score (54.8%) — but it is also listed as a mistake in this position, losing about 0.6 pawns compared to better alternatives. If Black trades knights early, you recapture and enjoy a pleasant development advantage.
The Mistake to Punish
The database identifies 4...Nxd4 as an inaccuracy in this position. Black has given up the two bishops and let White enjoy a development advantage. Black's better move was 4...Nf6, which scores 46.5% for White — a tougher fight. If your opponent plays Nxd4, White's score jumps to nearly 55%. In a practical game that is a handy edge to have, and the drill below will let you practise following up in the most principled way.
Results across 21,314,254 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| e5 | 5,333,603 | 48.6% |
| g6 | 4,142,749 | 47.0% |
| Nf6 | 3,133,561 | 46.5% |
| Nxd4 | 2,914,999 | 54.8% |
| e6 | 2,285,981 | 47.3% |
| d6 | 1,913,531 | 48.1% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Open Sicilian good for White?
Yes. After 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4, Stockfish gives +0.43, a small edge for White. In practice White wins 48.7% of games, Black wins 47.3%, with only 4.0% draws — a solid plus for the first player.
What is the most common Black reply to 4.Nxd4?
The most popular move by far is 4...e5, played in over 5.3 million games. The engine recommends 5.Nb5 followed by d6 and N5c3, keeping White's development lead and leaving Black with a slightly loose pawn structure.
Should I be worried about 4...Nxd4 as Black?
No — you should welcome it. The move 4...Nxd4 is actually an inaccuracy. White scores a strong 54.8%, and Black gives up the two bishops and central influence for no compensation.
What does White score against 4...g6?
Against 4...g6 (4,142,749 games), White scores 47.0% — slightly below the overall average of 48.7%. This setup leads to a Dragon-style position where White should continue with standard development and prepare a kingside attack.
How many games feature the Sicilian Defense: Open: cxd4?
Over 21 million Lichess games have reached the Sicilian Defense: Open: cxd4 position. White wins 48.7%, Black wins 47.3%, with 4.0% draws — based on real rated games.