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
Nearby lines in the family
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