Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, English Attack, with f3
The English Attack with f3 is 6.Be3 e6 7.f3, where White prepares Qd2, long castling and a g4 pawn storm against the Scheveningen setup. Black aims for queenside counterplay with ...b5 or uses ...h5 to slow g4.
- Moves
- 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.f3
- ECO
- B90
- Engine
- +0.50 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 452 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 59.8%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Follow with Qd2 and O-O-O, then push g4 and g5 to chase the f6 knight.
- After ...b5, play g4 at once; if ...b4 comes, Nce2 keeps the knight near the center.
- Against ...d5, push e5 and then f4 with Qg4, gaining space on the kingside.
Black
- Play ...b5 and ...Nbd7, then ...b4 to drive the c3 knight away from e4 and d5.
- The 7...h5 move stops g4 for now and makes long castling less dangerous for Black.
- A quick ...d5 opens the center, but after e5 Black must defend the kingside carefully.
Plans and pawn structure
This is a race. White castles long and storms with g4, g5 and h4, while f3 keeps e4 safe. Black uses the a6 pawn to push ...b5 and ...b4 at once, often keeping the king in the center a little longer. The ...h5 plan slows White's storm but loosens g5 and g6. If Black's queenside play is slow, White's pawns reach the king first.
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 +0.50: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for Black:
- +0.50 7...h5 8.Qd2 Be7 9.Be2 Bd7 10.g4
- +0.52 7...b5 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.g4 b4 10.Nce2
- +0.52 7...d5 8.e5 Nfd7 9.f4 Nc6 10.Qg4
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
452 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 59.8%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
As Black, start counterplay at once with ...b5 or ...h5; slow development lets White's g4 and g5 arrive with tempo. Do not castle short into the pawn storm. If you choose ...d5, be ready for e5 and a cramped kingside.
Questions
What are the moves of the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, English Attack, with f3?
The Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, English Attack, with f3 starts 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.f3. Its ECO code is B90.
Is the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, English Attack, with f3 good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.50 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 452 lichess games from our sample, White scored 59.8%. A favorite setup for attacking White players, and Black needs fast, accurate counterplay to survive the pawn storm.
What is the main idea of the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, English Attack, with f3?
White sets up Be3, f3, Qd2 and long castling, then storms the kingside with g4. Black races on the queenside with ...b5 and ...b4 or stops g4 with ...h5.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is h5, with b5 and d5 close behind. 7...h5 stops g4 before White castles long, taking the sting out of the pawn storm.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.