B44 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Szén Variation
9/9
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nc65.Nb5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Szén Variation384k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
42%163k49%
25%95k42%
11%42k38%
9.5%37k48%
7.5%29k40%
2%7.8k45%
1.4%5.4k42%
0.7%2.6k46%
0.2%88640%
0.1%53431%
Famous games in this line3.4k master games
Kasparov, Garry (2825) – Anand, Viswanathan (2770)Aronian, L. (2744) – Praggnanandhaa, R. (2785)Leko, Peter (2753) – Morozevich, Alexander (2765)Leko, P. (2730) – Grischuk, A. (2783)Leko, Peter (2752) – Morozevich, Alexander (2750)Kramnik, Vladimir (2744) – Svidler, Peter (2738)Leko, Peter (2737) – Morozevich, Alexander (2736)Leko, Peter (2741) – Svidler, Peter (2727)Heroes of this opening Grischuk, A. · Leko, Peter
- 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
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Gary GambitB44 5…d6 6.c4 Nf6 7.N1c3 a6 8.Na3 …Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Modern LineB44 5…d6 6.c4 Nf6 7.N1c3 a6 8.Na3 …
Nearby lines in the family
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