B44 · 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
Be371%1.3k50%
Nc214%26648%
f44.2%7748%
Bf42.4%4558%
f31.8%3342%
Kh11.5%2836%
Bg51.2%2339%
Bf31%1942%
b31%1932%
h30.3%650%
Famous games in this line834 master games
Kramnik, Vladimir (2744) – Svidler, Peter (2738)Ivanchuk, Vassily (2733) – Wang, Yue (2705)Kasimdzhanov, R. (2706) – Radjabov, T. (2726)Ivanchuk, V. (2747) – Najer, E. (2679)Karpov, Anatoly (2705) – Kasparov, Garry (2715)Naiditsch, Arkadij (2707) – Navara, David (2705)Naiditsch, Arkadij (2676) – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2728)Ivanchuk, Vassily (2740) – Lautier, Joel (2645)Heroes of this opening Ivanchuk, Vassily · Karpov, Anatoly · Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
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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.
- 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
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