B47 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation

10/10
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nc65.Nc3Qc7
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation757k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
14%104k46%
11%80k46%
8.4%64k46%
6.9%52k49%
3.5%27k48%
2.5%19k42%
2%15k40%
1.6%12k49%
1.5%12k48%
Famous games in this line26k master games
Carlsen, M.. (2847)Nepomniachtchi, I.. (2792)2021½–½Nepomniachtchi, I. (2773)Carlsen, M. (2865)20220–1Erigaisi, Arjun (2799)Carlsen, M. (2831)20240–1Carlsen, Magnus (2872)Ivanchuk, Vassily (2757)20130–1Kramnik, Vladimir (2812)Caruana, F. (2810)2016½–½Carlsen, M. (2851)Harikrishna, P. (2763)20161–0Nepomniachtchi, I.. (2792)Caruana, F.. (2820)2021½–½Carlsen, M. (2837)Ding Liren (2774)20170–1
Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M. · Ivanchuk, Vassily · Ding Liren
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B47
Line
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7
Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Taimanov VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines
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No defense has won more games at every level than the Sicilian. Bobby Fischer played almost nothing else against 1.e4, and Kasparov's Najdorf battles with Karpov and Anand are pillars of chess history. When you play 1...c5, you're refusing symmetry — the same refusal that carried two world champions.

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