Chess Openings Lab
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Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation

The Richter-Rauzer Variation is 6.Bg5, where White attacks the f6 knight and makes a ...g6 setup awkward. White prepares Qd2, long castling and f4, while Black wants ...e6, ...Bd7 or ...a6 to blunt the bishop and start queenside counterplay.

Moves
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5
ECO
B60, B62
Engine
+0.36 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
759 games in our lichess sample
White scores
51.9%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Follow with Qd2 and O-O-O, putting the rook on d1 against Black's d6 pawn.
  • Push f4 to support e5 or f5 breaks; against ...h6, retreat Bh4 and keep the pressure on f6.
  • Against 6...a6, trade on c6 and play Bc4, aiming at Black's weakened queenside pawns.

Black

  • 6...e6 is solid: it covers d5 and f5, and the queen stays ready for ...Qc7 or ...Qb6.
  • ...Bd7 and ...a6 prepare ...b5 and a queenside pawn storm if White castles long.
  • Use ...h6 to question the bishop at a moment when a trade on f6 costs White time.

Plans and pawn structure

White's plan is simple: Qd2, O-O-O and f4, then e5 or f5 to open the center against a king that has not castled. Black usually plays ...e6, ...a6 and ...Bd7, then castles long or delays castling while pushing ...b5 on the queenside. The d6 pawn is the main target for White's rook on d1. When Bxf6 comes, Black's pawns are damaged but the dark squares and the bishop pair offer counterplay.

Where the engine's main line heads: Scheveningen small center: Black pawns d6 and e6. The Scheveningen small center: Black pawns on d6 and e6 cover the central squares and wait for the right moment to break with ...d5 or ...e5.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.36: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.36 6...Bd7 7.Qd2 a6 8.f4 e6 9.O-O-O
  2. +0.42 6...e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.O-O-O Bd7 9.f3
  3. +0.44 6...a6 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.Bc4 Qa5 9.Bd2

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

759 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.9%.

1200–159952.1%
1600–199953.8%
2000 and up50.8%

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

Where it goes next

  • Richter-Rauzer Variation, Modern Variation6...Bd7 · rare
  • Richter-Rauzer Variation, Classical Variation, Kantscher Line6...e6 · rare

How to play against it

As Black, play 6...e6 or 6...Bd7 and do not rush ...g6, since Bxf6 wrecks the pawns. Prepare ...a6 and ...b5 for counterplay before White's f4 and e5 arrive. Keep d6 well covered, because White's rook on d1 is aimed straight at it.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files these lines under the same name, though they reach a different position: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6; 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd3.

Questions

What are the moves of the Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation?

The Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation starts 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5. Its ECO code is B60, B62.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.36 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 759 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.9%. A rich attacking line for White players who like opposite-side castling, while Black needs patience and exact defense of d6.

What is the main idea of the Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation?

White develops the bishop to g5 to pressure f6 and prepares Qd2 with long castling. Black answers with ...e6 or ...Bd7 and races on the queenside with ...a6 and ...b5.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Bd7, with e6 and a6 close behind. 6...Bd7 connects Black's development and waits for White to commit to Qd2 and long castling.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.