Statistically the best Sicilian defense (50+% winning rate for black) !

The Sicilian Defense O’Kelly variation is both a surprise weapon by Black and a way to transpose to other variations. Since Black will almost invariably play …a6 in the Sicilian Defense, he decides to play it on move 2 and hopes White will reveal his cards too soon. This variation provides an incredible 50+% win rate for black in all games! With white winning just 25% and the rest being drawn. O'Kelly!

There’s no bigger advantage in chess history, so, why don’t we see this variant every time that black plays?

Well, because it relies on the player with the white pieces moving 3. d4. And guess what? At the top level of play, everyone knows this, and they’ve stopped playing it against the O’Kelly Variation. You can certainly find this opening in use in ranked matches below around 2,200 but above that? It’s not going to happen. 

The O'Kelly Variation of the Sicilian Defense, 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6, is an offbeat line that sets a bit of a trap at move 2! White's natural response, and easily the most popular move in the databases, is 3.d4?! That move, however, gives Black an easy game, and a 59% score!

Grand masters and masters aren’t where they are because they love to hand their opponents a massive advantage and thus, the O’Kelly variation(1.e4-c5 2.Nf3-a6) is the best version of The Sicilian Defense that you will never see.

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