The Scheveningen Variation, Classical Main Line is a variation of the Sicilian Defense, catalogued as ECO B85. The line runs 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Be3 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. Qe1 O-O, reaching the position shown below after 20 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on e4. Development is level at four minor pieces each. It is White to move after ten moves. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.
On the Sicilian Defense generally: The most popular and aggressive response to 1.e4. Black fights for the center asymmetrically, leading to rich tactical play.
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The Scheveningen Variation, Classical Main Line goes 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Be3 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. Qe1 O-O. It is a variation of the Sicilian Defense and is catalogued as ECO B85.
The Scheveningen Variation, Classical Main Line is ECO B85. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Sicilian Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Be3 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. Qe1 O-O at +0.33 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for White, within normal opening margins. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
White holds the centre with pawns on e4. Development is level at four minor pieces each. It is White to move. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.