Sicilian: Taimanov, 6.Be3 a6 7.Be2 Nf6 8.O-O Be7
Sicilian: Taimanov, 6.Be3 a6 7.Be2 Nf6 8.O-O Be7
Definition
The sequence of moves
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Be2 Nf6 8. O-O Be7
defines a branch of the Sicilian Defence, Taimanov Variation. It belongs to ECO code B48. After the characteristic …Qc7 (5…Qc7) and …a6 (6…a6), Black keeps a flexible structure while postponing the development of the king’s bishop and knight. White chooses the restrained setup with 7.Be2 followed by castling rather than the sharper 7.Qd2 or 7.f3 lines that often lead to the English Attack. The position reached after 8…Be7 is balanced, rich in strategic nuances, and commonly transposes to Scheveningen-style middle games.
Move-by-Move Purpose
- 5…Qc7 – Keeps the d-file clear, supports …Nc6-e5 and …d7-d5, and sidelines an early Nb5.
- 6.Be3 – Develops, controls d4 & f4, and hints at pieces-to-kingside plans.
- 6…a6 – Prevents Nb5, prepares …b5, leaves options for the dark-squared bishop on b7 or c5.
- 7.Be2 – A positional choice: White castles quickly and retains flexibility instead of launching a pawn storm.
- 7…Nf6 – Normal development, hits e4, eyes g4 if White pushes f2-f4 later.
- 8.O-O Be7 – Both sides complete development; Black’s bishop heads to e7 instead of b4, avoiding early tactical skirmishes.
Strategic Themes
- Central Tension – The d-file remains semi-open. Both sides consider breaks with d4-d5 (White) or …d6-d5 (Black).
- Scheveningen Structure – After …d6, …e6, …a6, the pawn formation resembles the Scheveningen, offering Black solid pawn chains and counterplay on the queenside.
- Minor-Piece Battles – The knight on f6 vs. White’s knight on d4/e2, plus decisions about whether Black’s light-squared bishop goes to b4, c5, or e7.
- Pawn Storm Timing – White can still switch to f2-f4-f5 or g2-g4 if conditions permit, but development leads the way.
Typical Plans
- White
- Castle quickly, then choose between a central thrust (f4, e5) or a queenside minority attack with a2-a4.
- Place a rook on d1 to pressure the d-file; sometimes double rooks after Qe1–g3.
- If Black plays …b5 early, react with a4 or slip the bishop to f3 targeting b7.
- Black
- Prepare …d5 under favorable circumstances (often after …Nxd4 …exd4).
- Expand with …b5–b4 to dislodge the c3-knight and seize dark-square control.
- Maintain king safety: keep …g6 in reserve and sometimes trade dark-squared bishops via …Bg7 and …0-0.
Historical Background
Named after Soviet grandmaster Mark Taimanov, the variation grew popular in the 1960s–1970s when players sought a flexible antidote to the ever-sharpening Najdorf. Taimanov himself defeated strong contemporaries with it, while Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov, and more recently Magnus Carlsen have adopted this structure at elite level.
Illustrative Games
-
Karpov vs. Timman, Tilburg 1989
Karpov shows the restrained 7.Be2 plan, slowly squeezing Timman on the light squares before converting an endgame edge. -
Carlsen vs. Giri, Tata Steel 2019
A modern heavyweight bout where Carlsen steers toward a Maroczy-style bind and eventually outmaneuvers Giri in a long grind.
Interesting Facts
- Because White castles before committing the queen to d2, engines rate the line as slightly less double-edged than the English Attack—making it an ideal surprise weapon for positional players.
- Mark Taimanov was also a world-class concert pianist; he once joked that the variation is “as harmonious as Bach—until White tries f2-f4!”
- The move order with 5…Qc7 allows Black to enter the Paulsen, Kan, or Taimanov depending on subsequent choices, giving unparalleled transpositional flexibility.
Practical Tips
- If you play Black, remember the thematic pawn break …d5. Proper preparation (…Nf6, …d6, …Be7, …0-0) is essential before striking.
- White players should watch for …b5-b4 ideas; keeping control of the c3-knight’s outpost is critical.
- Move-order tricks: after 7.Be2, Black can sometimes try 7…Bb4!?, immediately questioning the c3-knight and transposing to a Hybrid Taimanov-Nimzo line.