Sicilian: Taimanov, 5...a6 6.Be2
Sicilian Defence: Taimanov Variation, 5…a6 6.Be2
Definition
The sequence 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 defines a branch of the Sicilian Taimanov (sometimes reached with 2…Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6). After Black’s flexible 5…a6, White calmly develops the bishop to e2 instead of the more aggressive 6.Be3 or 6.Bg5. This move order keeps options open, avoids early commitments, and prepares quick castling, leading to a rich middlegame in which each side fights for the central dark-squared complex (d5–e4) and queenside play.
Typical Move-Order
The main crossroads arise after 6.Be2:
- 6…Qc7 – the most popular reply. Black puts pressure on the c-file and keeps the option of …Nf6, …Nge7 or …Bb4.
- 6…Nf6 7.O-O – leads to Scheveningen-style positions; Black can choose …d6 or …Bb4.
- 6…d6 – directly transposes to a Classical Scheveningen with …a6 included, reducing White’s sharpest anti-Sicilian tries.
Strategic Ideas
- White
- Speedy kingside safety with O-O, reserving the f-pawn for later advance (f4/f5).
- Flexible central set-up: c2-c4 or f2-f4 depending on Black’s response.
- Avoiding early simplifications—6.Be2 keeps the queen knight on d4 undisturbed.
- Black
- …a6 controls b5, preparing …b5 or a future …d5 break.
- Can choose Scheveningen structures (…d6) or Kan-style setups (…Qc7, …Nge7).
- The bishop on e2 is slightly passive; Black hopes to equalise before White reorganises with Be3, Qd2, and long-term kingside pressure.
Historical & Theoretical Significance
Named after the Soviet grandmaster Mark Taimanov, who cultivated the variation in the 1950s–70s. The early …a6 had two revolutionary ideas: preventing Nb5/e5 tactics and freeing Black’s b-pawn. 6.Be2 emerged later (mid-1960s) as a pragmatic weapon: it sidesteps extensive theory in the razor-sharp English Attack (6.Be3) and the highly analysed 6.Bg5 lines. Modern elite players such as Sergey Karjakin, Anish Giri, Fabiano Caruana and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave still adopt the line when they want a solid but unbalanced fight.
Model Game
The following miniature shows White’s strategic plan of central expansion after quiet development:
[[Pgn| e4|c5|Nf3|e6|d4|cxd4|Nxd4|Nc6|Nc3|a6|Be2|Qc7|O-O|Nf6|Kh1|Bb4|f4|d6|Nde2|O-O|Be3|b5|arrows|e4e5,d4c6|squares|e4,c6,d6]]Typical Middlegame Plans
- White
- Re-routing the d4-knight via b3 or f3 to gel with c2-c4 breaks.
- Pawn storm with f4-f5 once Black castles short.
- Minor-piece pressure on d6 and e6 if Black adopts Scheveningen structure.
- Black
- …b5-b4 chasing the c3-knight, then occupying the centre with …d5.
- Piece pressure on the c-file: …Qc7, …Rc8, …Nf6-d7-c5 manoeuvres.
- Exchanging dark-squared bishops with …Bb4 and …Bxc3 to weaken e4.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Mark Taimanov, a concert-level pianist, joked that “…a6 is like a rest before the crescendo”—illustrating Black’s patient build-up.
- When Bobby Fischer was preparing for the 1971 Candidates match versus Taimanov, he reportedly analysed 5…a6 extensively but concluded that 6.Be3 was “the critical test,” leaving 6.Be2 relatively unexplored—one reason it remains a useful surprise weapon even today.
- Because of the restrained bishop, engines initially evaluate many 6.Be2 positions as slightly better for Black, but strong practical results for White (especially in rapid chess) show the human appeal of easy development and low risk.
Practical Tips
- If you play the Taimanov as Black, prepare a repertoire against both 6.Be3 and 6.Be2—many opponents switch between them to avoid heavy theory.
- As White, remember that 7.O-O is almost always correct; delaying castling can invite …Nf6 followed by …Bb4 pin-tactics.
- In club play, the manoeuvre Be2-f3-g3 (targeting e5) is surprisingly effective once central tension is clarified.