Chess Openings Lab
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation

The Taimanov Variation is the Open Sicilian where Black meets 4.Nxd4 with 4...Nc6, keeping the e6 pawn flexible and the f8 bishop free. White wants quick development and a space edge in the center, while Black aims for ...a6, ...Qc7 and a well-timed ...d5 or ...b5.

Moves
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6
ECO
B44, B45, B46
Engine
+0.36 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
7,440 games in our lichess sample
White scores
49.8%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • 5.Nc3 is the engine's first choice and the main road: develop, cover d5 and e4, and keep every attacking setup available.
  • Look at Bf4 against the d6 square, and the trade Nxc6 bxc6 followed by Bc4 to aim at the weakened e6 point.
  • Be2 and short castling is a calm setup, with Be3 and f4 later to gain kingside space.
  • Watch the d6 hole: a knight jump to b5 is annoying whenever Black delays ...a6 or ...d6.

Black

  • Play ...a6 early so Nb5 never lands, then use ...Qc7 to watch e5 and the b8-h2 diagonal.
  • Keep the d-pawn on d7 for now. ...d6 or ...d5 can come later, once White commits the bishops.
  • The f8 bishop can go to b4 or c5 in one move, pinning a knight or hitting the d4 knight.
  • After a trade on c6, recapture ...bxc6 and use the extra center pawn to support ...d5.

Plans and pawn structure

The pawns are e4 against e6, with an open c-file for Black. White usually develops with Nc3, Be2 or Bd3, castles and later pushes f4 to gain kingside space, sometimes castling long with Be3 and Qd2. Black keeps a flexible shell: ...a6, ...Qc7, ...Nf6 and ...Be7, then strikes with ...b5 on the queenside or ...d5 in the center. If White trades on c6, Black's pawn mass on c6, d7 and e6 supports ...d5 and frees the light-squared bishop.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.36: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.36 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bf4 d6 7.Nxc6 bxc6
  2. +0.20 5.Be2 Nf6 6.Nc3 Qc7 7.Be3 a6
  3. +0.15 5.Qd3 Nf6 6.Nc3 Qc7 7.Be2 Nxd4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

7,440 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 49.8%.

under 120048.5%
1200–159949.5%
1600–199948.8%
2000 and up52.4%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Four Knights Variation5.Nc3 · 3,327 games
  • Taimanov Variation, Modern Line5.Nb5 · rare
  • Scheveningen Variation, Classical Main Line5.Nc3 · rare

How to play against it

As White, develop first with 5.Nc3 and keep an eye on d6. Do not grab space with f4 before your pieces are out, because ...Bc5 or ...Qb6 then hits the d4 knight along the g1-a7 diagonal. Trading on c6 is fine when you can follow with Bc4 or Bd3 at once.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files these lines under the same name, though they reach a different position: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3; 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 a6.

Questions

What are the moves of the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation?

The Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation starts 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6. Its ECO code is B44, B45, B46.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.36 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 7,440 lichess games from our sample, White scored 49.8%. A good fit for Black players who like flexible, maneuvering Sicilians, though it demands knowing when ...d5 works; White needs a clear setup choice.

What is the main idea of the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation?

Black develops the queen's knight to c6 and keeps the d-pawn back, so the bishops and the ...d5 or ...b5 breaks stay flexible. White tries to use the space edge and the d6 weakness before Black finishes setting up with ...a6 and ...Qc7.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Nc3, with Be2 and Qd3 close behind. 5.Nc3 develops, guards e4 and d5, and keeps open both the Bf4 idea and long castling setups.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.