Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Bird Variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 Be6

ECO B33

The Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Bird Variation is a chess opening line in the Sicilian Defense complex, reached after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 Be6.

It is catalogued under code B33 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move Be6 is chosen by Black on move 8.

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Beat the Sveshnikov Sicilian course: a GM-authored repertoire you study move by move, then practice against a human-like AI opponent.

Every chess term used here is defined in the chess terms glossary. Browse all opening courses or the full ECO code index.