Sicilian: Taimanov, 6.g3 a6 7.Bg2

Sicilian: Taimanov, 6.g3 a6 7.Bg2

Definition

The sequence 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. g3 a6 7. Bg2 is a sub-variation of the Sicilian Defence, Taimanov Variation. White abandons the standard attacking set-ups (such as 6. Be3 or 6. Bg5) and instead fianchettoes the king’s bishop. The resulting positions often transpose to a Hedgehog-type structure in which Black’s pawns sit on a6, b6, d6 and e6 behind the “spines” of bishops on b7 and e7, while White enjoys more space but must avoid over-extension.

Typical Move Order

The most common road into the line is:

1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 e6
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nc6
5. Nc3 Qc7  (The Taimanov “flexible queen” move)
6. g3 a6  (preventing Nb5 and preparing …b5)
7. Bg2

Alternative move orders:

• 5…Qc7 6. g3 without …a6 first – Black can still decide between …a6 or …Nf6 next.
• The sequence 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. g3 also reaches the same set-up.

Strategic Themes

Key ideas for both sides:

• White
  • Fianchettoing offers long-term pressure on the a8–h1 diagonal.
  • Typical set-up: 0-0, Re1, Nf3 (or Ndb5), Be3, Qe2, Rd1. White may advance f4 or e5 to cramp Black.
  • In Hedgehog structures, central pawn breaks with e4-e5 or f4-f5 are thematic.
• Black
  • …a6 and …b5 gain queenside space and challenge the Bg2–diagonal.
  • …Nf6, …Be7, …0-0 then …d6 aims for a solid Hedgehog. …h5 is a modern twist to restrain g-pawn pushes.
  • Tactical shots against the c4 or e4 squares can appear once White advances his centre.

Historical Background

The Taimanov Variation is named after Soviet grandmaster Mark Taimanov, who championed 5…Qc7 in the 1950s–60s to keep his development flexible. The g3-fianchetto idea was explored by Lev Polugaevsky and Vladimir Tukmakov in the 1970s as an antidote to ever-sharper main-line theory. It gained fresh popularity when elite players such as Viswanathan Anand and Peter Svidler began using it in the early 2000s to avoid the heavy analytical workload of the English Attack.

Illustrative Example

The following miniature shows typical Hedgehog manoeuvres and break-outs:

[[Pgn| e4|c5| Nf3|e6| d4|cxd4| Nxd4|Nc6| Nc3|Qc7| g3|a6| Bg2|Nf6| O-O|Be7| Re1|d6| a4|O-O| Nb3|b6| Be3|Rb8| f4|Bb7| g4|d5| exd5|Rfd8| g5|Nxd5| Nxd5|exd5| c3|d4| cxd4|Nxd4, arrows|e4e5 d6d5|squares|d4 f4]]

White’s aggressive 15. g4 aimed to seize kingside space, but Black’s timely …d5 break equalised and soon opened tactical counterplay on the d-file.

Model Games to Study

• Anand – Kramnik, Tal Memorial 2008 (½-½): textbook Hedgehog with balanced chances.
• Grischuk – Gelfand, Wijk aan Zee 2014 (1-0): Grischuk’s slow build-up culminated in an e4-e5 breakthrough.
• Khalifman – Taimanov, Tbilisi 1975 (1-0): one of the earliest high-level encounters featuring 6. g3.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• Despite lending his name to the whole variation, Mark Taimanov himself preferred …a6 after 6. g3, believing that the move order forces White to show his hand before Black commits his kingside knight.
• The English Grandmaster Michael Adams used the 6. g3 line as a surprise weapon in the 2004 World Championship knockout, scoring 2½/3 with it.
• In engine practice, the g3-Taimanov often reaches a “+0.20” plateau for White— an echo of its reputation as a pragmatic weapon: sound, solid, but rarely leading to forced wins.

Practical Tips

For tournament players looking to add the line to their repertoire:

• Memorisation burden is modest; focus instead on typical plans and pawn breaks.
• Study the Hedgehog classics (Andersson, Ljubojević, Kasparov) to feel the timing of e4-e5 and f4-f5.
• If you play Black, be ready for move-order finesse; inserting …d6 before …a6 can sidestep certain Nb5 tricks.