ECO B82 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Tal Variation

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. f4 Nc6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qf3

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

8… e5+0.39

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Tal Variation (B82), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. f4 Nc6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qf3, Stockfish 18 recommends 8… e5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.39).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.398… e5 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. f5 Rb8 11. O-O-O Qa5 12. Bc4 O-O 13. Bb3
  2. +0.568… Nxd4 9. Bxd4 e5 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Bxd7+ Qxd7 12. fxe5 dxe5 13. Bxe5
  3. +0.798… O-O 9. O-O-O Nxd4 10. Bxd4 e5 11. fxe5 dxe5 12. Bxe5 Qa5 13. Bxf6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Tal Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. f4 Nc6 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qf3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8… e5 for Black, continuing 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. f5 Rb8 11. O-O-O Qa5 12. Bc4 O-O 13. Bb3. White is slightly better (+0.39). The next best moves are 8… Nxd4 (+0.56) and 8… O-O (+0.79).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Tal Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.39: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation, Tal Variation?
B82. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; B is the volume for semi-open games (other than the French).

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).