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)Nepomniachtchi, I. (2773) – Carlsen, M. (2865)Erigaisi, Arjun (2799) – Carlsen, M. (2831)Carlsen, Magnus (2872) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2757)Kramnik, Vladimir (2812) – Caruana, F. (2810)Carlsen, M. (2851) – Harikrishna, P. (2763)Nepomniachtchi, I.. (2792) – Caruana, F.. (2820)Carlsen, M. (2837) – Ding Liren (2774)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M. · Ivanchuk, Vassily · Ding Liren
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- 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
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation, English Attack6.Be3Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation, Ponomariov Gambit6.Ndb5 Qb8 7.Be3 a6 8.Bb6Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Classical Main Line6.Be2 a6 7.O-O Nf6 8.Be3 Be7 …
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