Sicilian Taimanov

Play as BlackDefence

A flexible Sicilian where Black keeps many options open.

The main line, move by move

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8. O-O-O Bb4

1. 1. e4 — Claim the center and open lines for the queen and bishop.
2. 1... c5 — The Sicilian: fight for the d4 square from the side.
3. 2. Nf3 — Brings the knight into the game.
4. 2... e6 — Prepare to develop the pieces flexibly.
5. 3. d4 — Open the center: White is happy to trade a wing pawn for the center pawn.
6. 3... cxd4 — Takes the pawn on d4.
7. 4. Nxd4 — Takes the pawn on d4.
8. 4... Nc6 — Brings the knight into the game.
9. 5. Nc3 — Brings the knight into the game.
10. 5... Qc7 — Put the queen on a flexible square, ready for ...a6 and ...Nf6.
11. 6. Be3 — Brings the bishop into the game.
12. 6... a6 — Stop Nb5 and prepare ...b5.
13. 7. Qd2 — Prepare to castle long.
14. 7... Nf6 — Brings the knight into the game.
15. 8. O-O-O — Castle long: the king is safe and a rook joins the game.
16. 8... Bb4 — Brings the bishop into the game.

Related openings

• Sicilian Defense (Najdorf)
• French Defense
• Caro-Kann Defense
• Scandinavian Defense
• Pirc Defense

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