for Black · advanced
Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation
8/8
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nc6
A flexible Sicilian where Black delays committing the d-pawn and develops the knight to c6. It keeps many pawn structures available and is prized for its flexibility and for avoiding some of White's most dangerous attacking setups.
Key ideas
- Keep the pawn structure flexible with ...e6 and ...Nc6
- Develop with ...Qc7, ...a6 and ...Bb4 to pressure e4
- Choose between ...d6, ...d5 and ...b5 depending on White's setup
- Aim for harmonious development and later central breaks
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
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