28. Taimanov Variation (4...e6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 Qc7)
The Taimanov (2...Nc6 and 4...e6) is very flexible: Black puts the queen on c7, develops the f6-knight and attacks e4 with ...Bb4, without committing early with ...d6 or ...d5.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 Qc7 7.O-O Nf6 8.Be3 Bb4
Move by move
- 1.e4 – White occupies the center with the king's pawn, controls d5 and f5 and frees the queen and the f1-bishop. This is the move we answer with the Sicilian.
- 1...c5 – The Sicilian Defense: Black controls d4 with a flank pawn instead of occupying the center. If White plays d4, Black will trade c5 for d4 and have two central pawns against one and the half-open c-file.
- 2.Nf3 – White develops the knight toward the center and prepares d2-d4 to open the game: it is the road to the Open Sicilian, the most ambitious try against us.
- 2...Nc6 – Black develops the knight toward the center and controls d4: it is the move order of the Accelerated Dragon, which postpones ...d6.
- 3.d4 – White opens the center: it offers the d-pawn for the c-pawn trade to develop the pieces quickly.
- 3...cxd4 – Black trades and opens the c-file. With the knight already on c6, after Nxd4 it will be able to choose between the Accelerated Dragon (...g6), the Taimanov (...e6) or the lines with ...Nf6 and ...e5.
- 4.Nxd4 – White recaptures with the knight, which dominates the center from d4. Now Black chooses the type of Sicilian.
- 4...e6 – The Taimanov: Black plays ...e6 with the knight already on c6. It keeps the f8-bishop free, controls d5 and postpones the choice between ...d6 and ...d5.
- 5.Nc3 – White develops the knight and controls d5 and e4. It is the main scheme against the Taimanov.
- 5...a6 – Black takes the b5 square away from the d4-knight and prepares ...Qc7 and ...b5, without yet deciding where to develop the g8-knight.
- 6.Be2 – White quietly develops the bishop and prepares short castling.
- 6...Qc7 – The queen goes to c7: it controls e5, watches the c-file and prepares ...Nf6 without allowing e4-e5 with tempo.
- 7.O-O – White castles and completes the first phase of development.
- 7...Nf6 – The knight develops and attacks e4. Black is ready to play ...Bb4 to pin the c3-knight that defends it.
- 8.Be3 – The bishop defends the d4-knight and prepares f4 or Qe1, but does nothing for the e4-pawn: Black can increase the pressure with ...Bb4.
- 8...Bb4 – The bishop attacks the c3-knight, the only defender of e4: Black threatens ...Bxc3 followed by ...Nxe4. White must react with Na4, Nxc6 or Qd3.
How to exploit the position
A balanced position: Black has active development and pressure on e4, White has space in the center and must find a way to defend e4.
- If 9.Na4, retreat the bishop to e7 and castle: the a4-knight is off-center and can be attacked with ...b5.
- If 9.Nxc6, recapture with ...bxc6 (or ...dxc6) and prepare ...d5 or ...Bxc3 with ...Nxe4.
- Castle early and prepare ...d5 or ...b5: the Taimanov chooses its structure according to White's moves.
- The c6-knight can be traded on d4 with ...Nxd4 to free the c6 square for the b7-bishop after ...b5.
Master tips
Pressure on e4 with ...Bb4
In the Taimanov the c3-knight defends e4: attacking it with ...Bb4 creates a threat at once.