Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Modern Line

20/20
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nc65.Nb5d66.c4Nf67.N1c3a68.Na3Be79.Be2O-O10.O-Ob6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Modern Line1.8k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
71%1.3k50%
14%26648%
4.2%7748%
2.4%4558%
1.8%3342%
1.5%2836%
1.2%2339%
1%1942%
1%1932%
0.3%650%
Famous games in this line834 master games
Kramnik, Vladimir (2744) – Svidler, Peter (2738)2005½–½Ivanchuk, Vassily (2733) – Wang, Yue (2705)20131–0Kasimdzhanov, R. (2706) – Radjabov, T. (2726)2014½–½Ivanchuk, V. (2747) – Najer, E. (2679)20161–0Karpov, Anatoly (2705) – Kasparov, Garry (2715)19841–0Naiditsch, Arkadij (2707) – Navara, David (2705)2011½–½Naiditsch, Arkadij (2676) – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2728)20060–1Ivanchuk, Vassily (2740) – Lautier, Joel (2645)19981–0
Heroes of this opening Ivanchuk, Vassily · Karpov, Anatoly · Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
Family
Sicilian Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B44
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nb5 d6 6. c4 Nf6 7. N1c3 a6 8. Na3 Be7 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O b6
★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Taimanov VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →
Keep exploring
Nearby lines in the family
Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation, Yugoslav Attack, Old Line2…d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 …Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Main Line5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2 a6 7.O-O Nf6 …Sicilian Defense: Sozin Attack, Main Line, Sherbakov Variation2…d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 …
From the archives

No reply to 1.e4 is played more. Fischer made the Najdorf his main weapon, and Kasparov's Sicilians are pillars of chess history — the Scheveningen against Karpov, the Dragon he unveiled against Anand in 1995. When you play 1...c5 you refuse symmetry, the same refusal that carried two world champions.

Study this opening
Videos on YouTube ↗Wikipedia: Sicilian Defense ↗