B48 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation, English Attack
11/11
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nc65.Nc3Qc76.Be3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation, English Attack374k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
82%306k54%
14%54k53%
2.3%8.7k47%
0.2%75343%
0.2%74936%
0.2%73038%
0.2%59448%
0.1%48842%
0.1%43037%
0.1%33430%
Famous games in this line12k master games
Carlsen, M.. (2847) – Nepomniachtchi, I.. (2792)Nepomniachtchi, I. (2773) – Carlsen, M. (2865)Erigaisi, Arjun (2799) – Carlsen, M. (2831)Carlsen, Magnus (2872) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2757)Kramnik, Vladimir (2812) – Caruana, F. (2810)Nepomniachtchi, I.. (2792) – Caruana, F.. (2820)Carlsen, M. (2837) – Ding Liren (2774)Nakamura, Hi (2814) – Giri, A. (2793)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M. · Ivanchuk, Vassily · Ding Liren
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B48
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3
Aggressive
★ Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Taimanov VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines →Keep exploring
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From the archives
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.
Study this opening