Theoria
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Sicilian Defense

O'Kelly Variation, Venice System, Barcza Line

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  1. 1.e4c5
  2. 2.Nf3a6
  3. 3.c3Nf6
454 games53%41%

Rare O'Kelly Sicilian line where Black meets the Alapin-style 3. c3 with 3...Nf6, hitting e4 at once and inviting White to advance the e-pawn.

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About the Barcza Line

The Barcza Line, 3...Nf6, brings the familiar Alapin reply ...Nf6 into the O'Kelly move order. The knight attacks e4 immediately, because 3. c3 has taken the c3-square away from White's queen's knight, so Nc3 is not available to defend the pawn. The most common answer by a wide margin is 4. e5, which drives the knight away with tempo. 4. d4 and 4. Bd3 are much less frequent. The engine gives White a slight edge, and White scores well in online games.

Popular continuations