Sicilian Defense Taimanov Szen Variation
Sicilian Defense – Taimanov Szen Variation
Definition
The Taimanov Szen Variation is a branch of the Sicilian Defense that
arises after the moves
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4
4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3.
It is named jointly for the 19-century Hungarian master
József Szen, who first experimented with 6.Be3, and
Soviet GM Mark Taimanov, whose extensive studies of
5…Qc7 popularised the entire system in the 1960s.
Typical Move-Order
- e4 c5
- Nf3 e6
- d4 cxd4
- Nxd4 Nc6
- Nc3 Qc7
- Be3 (Szen)
Black’s two most common replies are 6…a6 (preventing Nb5 and preparing …b5) and 6…Nf6 (classical development).
Strategic Themes
- Flexibility for Black: …Qc7 keeps both bishops undeveloped, allowing quick switches between Scheveningen, Kan, and pure Taimanov structures.
- Rapid space for White: 6.Be3 shores up d4, eyes the h6–c1 diagonal, and prepares O-O-O followed by a kingside pawn storm (f4–f5, g4–g5, or h4–h5).
- Control of the c-file: The half-open file is critical. White often plays Rc1; Black counters with …Rc8.
- The d6 outpost: After …a6 and …Nf6, White may plant a knight on d6 via b5 or f5, creating an “octopus” in Black’s camp.
- Central break …d5: Timed correctly, the thematic pawn thrust can equalise or seize the initiative for Black.
Historical Background
Although Szen introduced 6.Be3 in the 1850s, the line slept in obscurity until Taimanov’s analytical revival a century later. By the 1980s it had become a main weapon for Kasparov, Anand, and Polgar, and today it represents roughly 40 % of all Taimanov games in large databases.
Typical Plans
For White
- Castle long, place rooks on g1/h1, and launch a kingside pawn storm.
- Pressure the c-file and consider the exchange sacrifice Rxc6 to wreck Black’s queenside.
- Push e4-e5 when Black adopts a Scheveningen setup with …d6.
For Black
- Expand with …a6–…b5–…b4, forcing White’s pieces off ideal posts.
- Break in the centre with …d5, exploiting the queen’s presence on c7.
- Choose between kingside safety with …Be7 O-O or dynamic fianchetto plans with …g6 …Bg7.
Notable Sub-Lines
- 6…a6 7.Qd2 Nf6 8.O-O-O – the Mainline, often followed by …Bb4 or …Be7.
- 6…Nf6 7.f4 – a modern aggressive tabiya; Black can reply
7…Bb4 8.Ndb5.
- 6…Bb4 7.Qd2 Nf6 8.f3 d5!? – a sharp pawn sacrifice fashionable in elite play (Caruana specialty).
Illustrative Game
Mamedyarov – Carlsen, Tal Memorial 2012
Showcases opposite-side castling and mutual pawn storms.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Mark Taimanov was a world-class concert pianist; his opening is often praised for its “harmonious” piece placement.
- Taimanov never got to use his pet system in his 1971 Candidates’ match with Fischer—he lost 6-0, but his opening lives on.
- Because of Szen’s nationality, older German literature sometimes calls 6.Be3 the “Ungarische Variante” (“Hungarian Variation”).
Further Study
Recommended players to follow: Taimanov (classical groundwork), Kasparov (dynamic middlegames), and modern specialists Anish Giri & Dmitry Jakovenko.