ECO B44 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6

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

5. Nc3+0.31

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation (B44), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Nc3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.31).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.315. Nc3 Nf6 6. Bf4 d6 7. Ndb5 e5 8. Bg5 a6 9. Bxf6 gxf6
  2. +0.235. Nb5 d6 6. c4 Nf6 7. N5c3 Qa5 8. Bd2 Be7 9. Bd3 Qc7
  3. +0.215. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Bd3 Nf6 7. O-O Qc7 8. Re1 e5 9. h3 Bb4

Other move orders

  • 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

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Nc3 for White, continuing Nf6 6. Bf4 d6 7. Ndb5 e5 8. Bg5 a6 9. Bxf6 gxf6. White is slightly better (+0.31). The next best moves are 5. Nb5 (+0.23) and 5. Nxc6 (+0.21).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.31: 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: Taimanov Variation?
B44. 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+).