Chess Openings Lab
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Sicilian Defense: Brick Variation

The Brick Variation is 2.Nh3, an offbeat Sicilian move that sends the king's knight to the rim. White hopes to use the knight from f4 or g5 and keep f2-f4 possible, but the move does little for the center and Black gets an easy edge with natural development.

Moves
1.e4 c5 2.Nh3
ECO
B20
Engine
−0.52 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
34 games in our lichess sample
White scores
38.2%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Use the knight on h3 to reach f4, where it eyes d5 and e6, or g5 to hit f7 and h7.
  • Keep the f-pawn free: f4 is possible since the knight is not on f3.
  • If Black plays ...g6, the engine line shows d4 and a queen recapture on d4 to get some central presence.
  • Avoid early adventures; the knight on h3 is not a strong attacker by itself.

Black

  • 2...Nc6 is the engine's best: develop and use ...Nd4 to take central squares.
  • 2...d5 hits the center at once; after Bb5+ Nc6 and Ng5, ...f6 stops the knight.
  • 2...g6 with ...Bg7 targets the long diagonal and the weak d4 square.
  • Keep developing normally; White's knight on h3 does not control the center.

Plans and pawn structure

White's knight on h3 does not fight for d4 or e5, so Black takes the center with ...Nc6, ...e6 and ...d5 or with a fianchetto. Black can use ...Nd4 as a strong post because White has no knight on f3 to challenge it. White's best try is quick development with Nc3, Bb5 and castling, then f4 with the h3 knight jumping to f2 or f4. Black should avoid early trades and just build a big center.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.52: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.52 2...Nc6 3.Nc3 e6 4.Bb5 Nd4 5.O-O
  2. −0.38 2...d5 3.Bb5+ Nc6 4.Ng5 f6 5.exd5
  3. −0.38 2...g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3

Pawns, from White's side.

How to play against it

With Black, develop with ...Nc6 and ...e6 and aim for ...Nd4 and ...d5. Do not panic about Ng5 ideas; ...f6 or ...h6 handles them. With White, if you want this line, play it as a surprise and know it is objectively worse.

Questions

What are the moves of the Sicilian Defense: Brick Variation?

The Sicilian Defense: Brick Variation starts 1.e4 c5 2.Nh3. Its ECO code is B20.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Brick Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.52 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. A rare surprise that gives Black an easy game; only for White players who like offbeat lines and accept a slightly worse position.

What is the main idea of the Sicilian Defense: Brick Variation?

White develops the knight to h3 to keep f4 open and reach f4 or g5. The move ignores the center, so Black gets an edge with natural moves like ...Nc6, ...e6 and ...d5.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Nc6, with d5 and g6 close behind. 2...Nc6 develops and prepares ...Nd4, using the fact that White's knight doesn't control d4.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.