Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation
8/8
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nc6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation8.7M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
18%1.6M48%
8.4%731k50%
7.2%623k51%
2.2%191k48%
2.1%181k46%
2.1%180k47%
1.8%160k50%
1.6%136k51%
Famous games in this line35k master games
Nepomniachtchi, I. (2773) – Carlsen, M. (2865)Erigaisi, Arjun (2799) – Carlsen, M. (2831)Nakamura, Hi (2795) – Carlsen, M. (2830)Kramnik, Vladimir (2812) – Caruana, F. (2810)Carlsen, M. (2851) – Harikrishna, P. (2763)Nepomniachtchi, I.. (2792) – Caruana, F.. (2820)Carlsen, M. (2837) – Ding Liren (2774)Nakamura, Hi (2814) – Giri, A. (2793)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M. · Ding Liren
- 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
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Szén Variation5.Nb5 · 2 deeper linesSicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation5.Nc3 Nf6 · 4 deeper linesSicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation, Bastrikov Variation5.Nc3 Qc7 · 3 deeper linesSicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation, Exchange Variation5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Nxc6
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