Chess Openings Lab
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

Sicilian Defense: Löwenthal Variation

The Löwenthal Variation is 4...e5 after 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4, kicking the knight before Black plays ...Nf6. Black gains time and dark-square control, while White aims to use the d5 hole and often builds a Maroczy-style bind with c4.

Moves
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5
ECO
B32
Engine
+0.42 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
6,347 games in our lichess sample
White scores
50.5%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • 5.Nb5 eyes the d6 square and forces ...d6, the engine's top choice.
  • Follow with c4 and N5c3, grabbing d5 with pawns on c4 and e4.
  • The a3 knight can return via c2 to e3 to add pressure on d5.
  • 5.Nb3 Nf6 and Bg5 is a calmer route, aiming to trade the f6 knight.

Black

  • Answer Nb5 with ...d6 and develop ...Be7 and ...Nf6, castling quickly.
  • After Nb3, ...Bb4+ forces White to block with N1d2, slowing development.
  • Use ...a6 to kick a knight on b5 and play ...b5 when possible.
  • Look for ...f5 later to challenge e4 if White's pieces drift to the queenside.

Plans and pawn structure

After ...e5, Black has a backward d-pawn and a hole on d5, but the knight on c6 and the e5 pawn control the dark squares. White's best plan is c4 to form a Maroczy-style bind, then N5c3, Na3-c2 and a strong grip on d5. Black aims for ...Be7, ...O-O and a later ...f5 or ...b5 break. If White's bind holds, Black faces a slow, passive game. If Black breaks with ...f5 at the right moment, the dark-squared bishop and rooks come alive.

Where the engine's main line heads: Maroczy bind: White pawns on c4 and e4. The Maroczy bind: White pawns on c4 and e4 clamp the d5 square, so Black's ...d5 and ...b5 breaks are hard to play.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.42: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.42 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4 Be7 7.N5c3 Nf6
  2. +0.06 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Bg5 Bb4+ 7.N1d2 h6
  3. −0.07 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.Qh5 Qc7 7.Bg5 Bb4+

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

6,347 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 50.5%.

under 120048.9%
1200–159951.4%
1600–199951.0%
2000 and up47.8%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

How to play against it

As White, play 5.Nb5 and follow with c4 to fix the d5 square. Do not take on c6 early, since that helps Black's center. Develop calmly, keep pressure on d6, and do not rush into kingside attacks.

Questions

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

The Sicilian Defense: Löwenthal Variation starts 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5. Its ECO code is B32.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Löwenthal Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.42 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 6,347 lichess games from our sample, White scored 50.5%. A combative line for Black players happy to defend a weak d6 pawn, while White players who like space will enjoy the c4 bind.

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

Black kicks White's knight with ...e5 to gain time and control dark squares, accepting a hole on d5. White answers with Nb5 and c4 to build a bind and pressure the backward d6 pawn.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Nb5, with Nb3 and Nxc6 close behind. 5.Nb5 hits d6 and forces ...d6, then c4 builds the bind around d5.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.